Some local toughs. They didn't scare us.

Edinburgh Castle. Massive and sitting on top of its volcanic rock, up close it looks like something out of Lords of the Rings.

Last evening in Scotland, back in Edinburgh.

Is this really "Braveheart" William Wallace's sword? You be the judge!

Making the most of another dark and drizzly day in Scotland, at Stirling Castle.

Is that snow I see?

The boys get a well-deserved break from sightseeing.

Often things were familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

The ferry ride from the Isle of Skye back to the mainland.

During our visit to Neist Point no whales or basking sharks showed up as they are said to do, but this lone gray seal did.

Jake and friends.

More Neist Point.

It was around this point--Neist Point, Isle of Skye, to be exact--that we began pinching ourselves.

We came to learn that sheep, while undeniably photogenic, are not the smartest of animals. Students of the New Testament may find this interesting.

Having a nice bright sun behind you always makes for a great picture!

The red sign says
"Changed Priorities Ahead." Indeed.

We did find time to work in some exercise.

Ok just one more shot of Eilean Donan.

The castle that inspired the trip--Eilean Donan, the Jewel of the Highlands. Mike took 4,200 pictures of this structure or so the boys say.

One tough customer!

Here Mike discovered that the phrase "Hot Chocolate!" sometimes works better than the usual

"Cheese!"

Cruising Loch Ness. Nessie was too cold to get out of bed for an appearance. Such a diva!

Kristy and Jake examine a 3,000-year old calendar and wonder what a checkbook version looked like.

Here Kristy is patiently waiting for the traditional Scottish breakfast of fried eggs, bacon (think ham hocks), pork sausage, sauteed mushrooms, broiled tomatoes, fried toast, black pudding, haggis, baked beans, porridge, and potatoes. Oh and fat-free Yoplait.

Here Mike's standing on a footbridge over a river. We forget its name. Christopher suggests we remember it as the Smirk River.

The only bummer destination--we drove all the way to the east coast to see Dunnottar Castle perched over the North Sea, and it was totally shrouded in fog. Mel Gibson's version of Hamlet was filmed here.

Ok this one wasn't for rent. We did get to tour it though--Glamis Castle, pronounced Glams. The Queen Mum grew up here.

Borthwick's Red Room, which is aptly named for more than the obvious reason and which has quite a story behind it, all unknown by Jake fortunately. We'd say more, but we don't want you to lose sleep like we did.

Our room at Borthwick Castle. This gives one a good idea of the thickness of the outer walls. Behind the curtain? An ensuite, retrofitted bathroom which was not deemed a necessity in the 15th century.

The covered roof of Rosslyn Chapel, which unbenownst to us at the time has significance for readers of Da Vinci Code...whatever!

After dinner a fellow castle resident gamely tried to explain Scottish royal emblems to a puzzled American.

View from one of 'our' castle's windows.

The castle's lounge and portion of dining room on the first floor. Mike was sure he saw the knight on the left shift his weight more than once.

The boys made some neighborhood friends with the help of some sugar cubes pocketed at breakfast.

This is Christopher 'preaching' to his attentive family. The text was from his new devotional, My Utmost for His Highest.

This is Borthwick Church next door to the castle. Our concierge gave us the key to explore it.

Personally, this was my favorite part of our vacation. We stayed at Borthwick Castle just South of Edinburgh. This castle is over 600 years old and once harbored Mary Queen of Scots while she was on the run. We stayed on the top floor...76 steps up a stone spiral staircase. During our tour, we found it was once (and may still be) haunted. Needless to say, Jake did not sleep well...and he did not even go on the tour of the room that was haunted. If you look at the space between the towers, this is where the Lord of the Castle would require his prisoners to jump from one to another...None survived.

Easter Sunday at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh...We had a 5 minute sermon and a 45 minute Communion for 800 parishioners...2 Goblets of wine to share along with 2 loaves of bread. Needless to say, we prayed for God to sanctify the elements!!!

This is the face of a very excited young man...heading to Scotland!