Chapter 3: "Where are you Nessie?"

Although we arrived to Stirling around three, the sun was already setting. We were anxious to make it to the Wallace Monument, but that didn't stop us from getting caught in a round about (Imagine the Griswalds on European Vacation). We didn't have time to go to the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle, so we ended up just taking pictures of the monument. Then we drove to Stirling Castle.

We only went around about three time but it's still the same effect

Stirling Castle was recently (in about the past five years) renovated by Queen Elizabeth II. Therefore, it is an ancient castle but with modern styles. The old parts of the castle were amazing but the renovated parts were just too new. The castle grounds were still fun to just wander around. Leah is convinced that Merida's castle in Brave was based off of Stirling Castle. Who knows...It was fun though to be in the great historic city of Stirling, especially with my dad who is obsessed with Braveheart. We didn't stay in the city very long but it was a perfect outing.

The Wallace Monument

Stirling 

One Angle of the castle 

Inside the castle

Next, we headed to Inverness. I know I should have been miserable in the four hour car ride, but it was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Leah talked all the way to Inverness about things only she liked. It was hilarious. My favorite part, though, had to be when we went to the gas station to pick up some snacks and Leah kept asking what everything was (as if things in the UK are foreign). She even went up to an orange Fanta and asked what it was called. "Leah it's a Fanta, Nothing special". Leah replied, "ohh, ok. What's this?" It was hilarious.

We got to our hotel around nine and ate dinner. The dinner was formal so I felt a little out of place but it was so good! The next morning we checked out of the hotel and went to the Jacobite Cruises to look for Nessie and visit the ruins of Urquhart Castle. However, in true Rosenthal fashion, we were late and were unable to go to the castle (My mom had left her credit card at the hotel). We did, however, look for Nessie. Lochness was so pretty! The lake was surrounded by hills covered in forest. It was definitely one of my favorite trips.

I found her!

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Good one Ben :D

After the cruise ended, we decided to drive to the castle and tour it ourselves. It was really cool to see a the ruins of an ancient castle. When we got there we watched a very short video on the history of the castle. Urquhart Castle belonged to a specific clan (I can't remember which one) and unfortunately was blown up in an attempt to stop the intruding clan from laying siege to the structure. After the video we got to walk around the old castle grounds. My favorite part was the tiny and steep staircase in one of the towers. It was just so weird--I couldn't picture the old servants rushing up and down those stairs without falling! At the castle, I also learned that it was fashionable for clans to have more than one castle! All in all the castle was fun.

Urquhart Castle

Sunset at 3:30!

Sunset take 2

On our way back to Glasgow we drove through Ben Nevis and Glencoe (where a lot of Harry Potter scenes were filmed). Unfortunately, the sunsets so early here and so we only saw the top of Ben Nevis for a second but it was gorgeous. It was a great way to end our highlands trip.