Day Twenty-One - Invergordon, Scotland Friday 01 August 2014

The Zeendam docked at 7:40 am and we were off the ship by 8:00 am.  Invergordon with a population of  4,000 is a busy industrial service area for the repair and maintenance of oil rigs -- which are evident all over this region.

A handsome young man in a kilt greets us by playing the bagpipes as we stroll down the gangway.  At the end of the dock are two tourists shops (I think they have the same owners), and a small Information Center Booth with volunteers providing maps and answering questions.

Handsome Young Man with Bagpipes!

 We continue to the High Street and walk from one end to the other -- passing some of the city's eleven murals  -- each depicting an event in Invergordon's history.   We take a street to the train station and then walk up to the street behind town coming back down on the same street as the Church of Scotland.   This Church runs a Seafarers' Club for the crew of any ship stopping in Invergordon -- they provide free internet and calling cards as well as a cup of tea and some sustenance.    The free wifi is not for passengers -- just crew.

One of the Charity Shops -- love the plaid bike!

We go back to the ship to use the facilities and to drop off a purse I bought in one of the charity shops -- then we head in the direction of the Invergordon Museum where they are having an Arts and Crafts Fair.   The museum is well done -- it has a section on the town's naval history --  models of oil rigs -- and some very old medical artifacts  including an iron lung.   

For WiFi -- Invergordon!

 At the Arts and Crafts Fair -- I purchased a small tartan plaid bag and Phil likes a watch plaid bow tie -- both very Scottish.  We go back to the other side of the High Street where we pop into the Purple Turtle -- a coffee shop advertising free wifi.   I order a scone and coffee -- Phil orders coffee and potato/leek soup.   Everything is very good except for the wifi -- it is not working properly and the proprietor is getting flustered.   He doesn't seem to realize that we here for the wifi -- not the food.   Finally he does reboot the system -- but it's never great --- very slow.  There is always tomorrow.

Phil and I wander around separately for while --- I go back to the ship stopping at the tourist shop on the dock to get a scarf.    When I get to the room Phil is there and asks if I'll go back out with him so I do --- he buys a hat for a son of a friend of his at the tourist shop.

Phil in Invergordon.

 The ship leaves Invergordon  about 4:30 pm -- with a whole band of bagpipers serenading us on the dock -- it is lovely. 

Tonight is our dinner with Simon, the Hotel Manager for the Zeendam.    He is Dutch and I'd say in his late 40's.   He is an interesting guy -- very confident with a bit of a "my way or the highway" attitude.  However -- when one is responsible for housing and  feeding 1200 plus people multiple times per day  those traits probably come in handy.   Three other couples joined us and we had a lovely evening -- of course the food was great -- and the dessert looked much too pretty to eat but I did.

Today was our first visit to Scotland -- we will definitely come back again -- it is a lovely country.

Thanks for Reading!

Pat