Scotland Story: Jailbreak!

After our hike, CC said he wanted us to go see the Inveraray Jail, famous for being the actual building which opened in 1820 and still held court until the 1950's. We had not gone to this on our first trip to Inveraray, knowing we would take the kids later. It's history! It's law! It's going to be interesting!

We were set up with headphones and began our tour. Within the walk up one flight of stairs and the turn into the first room, we started doubting our decision. The museum tour began with graphic drawings of punishments and actual torture devices. Cue the scary music on the headphones, and you've got a few uncertain CampbellClanKids and one adult. I've since gone back and read the reviews, and some folks say, "Bring the kids! Mine loved it! Had quite the adventure!" complete with kids having a ball with the actual implements in the prison. So, I'm just wondering when I see the photos of their children grinning and playing with the torture devices, what's different about my kids that they didn't have this experience at all?

They live a sheltered life, I'll admit that. We don't feel like we need to expose them to the every aspect of the world to equip them to live godly lives. But we have never prevented them from seeing or discussing real life either. They don't live sanitized lives here. They've seen people who are clearly being trafficked for sex. They see people on the streets here daily in horrific physical conditions. They've seen real 7-year-olds (the age of the youngest occupant of the prison) begging for food barefoot in the winter.  So, they've seen harsh realities of life. Why did it affect them (all 5!) so strongly? I've thought of this several times since and wondered. The only conclusion I can come to, is that, as they made their way through the museum, it wasn't really funny or even fun in the slightest because they kept thinking of the people who were incarcerated there. I guess they all just took it very seriously. It wasn't so long ago that high schools took field trips to prisons as a deterrent to crime. Not a bad idea!

This is not a political statement in the slightest that I am against prisons. I'm for them. I'm for the death penalty when it is deserved (I believe it is scriptural.) But each person who spent time in this place was an individual on the wrong course in life. And somehow, we all just kept thinking about that. I decided not to take many pictures. But we did finish the tour. And for any room that my two youngest didn't want to venture in, we passed by. I also felt that it revealed a very strong moral code in the Scottish culture. They didn't tolerate crime. And hence, they have a moral code that has lasted (longer than ours in the US). In later years after some reforms, the prison provided literacy courses and teaching from the Bible.

This was the actual court room with wax figures. You could sit among the figures. I did that. Even knowing a wax lady was behind me, I turned once to speak to my daughter and saw a lady and nearly fell off the jurors' bench!

This was one of the prison cells with a hammock as a bed. These photos were the only ones I took. Trust me, there was all kinds of stuff in there. One room was for mentally insane prisoners. When you peeked in, you could see the wax figure and hear the recording of his ranting! If you are curious beyond my post, you can look online. I'm not going to say, "Don't visit." It was memorable. It just provided for me a look at the hearts of my kids. They took it very seriously, and thought much of how hard life was for many people. They left there counting their blessings!

We did manage one photo op! This was at the end, while we were waiting for CC, who read every plaque and bio of every famous prisoner ever there.

This one needs a bit more time in lockup!

How could she be guilty of anything?

We got back on the road to see more beauty!

Loch Fyne!

The sun set so early! Firstborn hopped out to take these last two before it went down.

Scotland Story: On Top at the Lookout

We made it to the top, and it was well worth the hike to get there. From this vantage point, we could see the beautiful town of Inveraray in its entirety as well as the road that wove along the loch. It was cold, windy, and beautiful up there.

Inside the watchtower itself was even colder. Gusts of wind swept in without the benefit of the sunshine. I wondered at the guards who once stood at duty here.

From the top we had a perfect view of Inveraray Castle, too.

Here's the one little guy that might carry on the Campbell name, at least our branch!

We were glad we did the hike. And a couple of the kids stated, at the end of our journey to Scotland, that this was their favorite part.

Scotland Story: Hiking Up to the Watchtower

When CC was 20 and in Europe for a semester, he planned a weekend to travel to Inveraray to find his ancestral homeland. Soon, all his college buddies, in Europe with him, wanted to come too. So, he organized the trip here. He hiked a mountain to get up to the watchtower of the town. He really wanted us to do this on our anniversary trip, but it was always foggy or raining. And it's the view you want! So, the first morning our family woke up in Inveraray, it was clear. He said, "Let's do it!"

The hike was difficult, even though I've been exercising more in the last couple of years. But it was so worth it!

Just before the trip, my camera began malfunctioning. I was so sad about it. I took my phone and all of these shots are from that. I still think they are beautiful!

Everywhere we turned was beauty!

And finally we made it to the top and the watchtower! More tomorrow from "up there."

Scotland Story: Inveraray Castle

In this tiny waterfront town of Inveraray is the famous Inveraray Castle. This is why most people visit the town. This castle provides the tourists that allow for the little shops and hotels to thrive. The castle is open during the summers to tourists. In the castle lives Torquhil Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll. He is the current heir and is married to a Cadbury heiress. Think chocolate, eggs, candy bars, cocoa. I've read he is quite friendly and chats with visitors, when the castle is open. I think what thrilled us, other than sharing the family name via long lost cousins who immigrated to America, is that it was an inhabited castle. So many we visited were ancient and abandoned. It made us curious about how it was decorated, and what it must be like for his kids to run throughout such a house. We spent some of our mornings at the breakfast table looking up images of the family and the interior.

We never saw the Campbells, though we gave many glances back to see if someone might come out to stroll the gardens. We concluded surely they were out of town! Because who wouldn't want to come out and play with the Campbell cousins with the funny American accents?!

Upon leaving, I took this picture below completely unaware of how it looked, because sunlight was streaming into the picture. I like how it turned out!

We got one last picture of the Campbell family crest on the flag. And of course, we were given a lesson in all the symbolism...from CC! (which all the kids began quoting, as he's told us a time or two.)

Scotland Story: Getting to Inveraray

We left Campbell Castle and passed through the city that holds the monument to William Wallace. It was beautiful to see. We did not stop, but I was able to get this one clear picture through the trees.

We needed to stop for something to eat for lunch. The joke sort of became, "Mama wants fish and chips." because I was so impressed with fish and chips on my first visit! We found a little fish and chips place full of all white-haired people. That's a sure sign the food is good. We quickly realized we could start splitting plates of fish and chips! We also began our (sadly, unsuccessful) quest to convince CC to buy a kilt set. My kids are amazing with just a few clicks of some buttons and coming up with hilarious recreations of photos. Firstborn put this together for him so he could see how nice he would look.

This little town with the fish-n-chips was just one of so many small, beautiful and friendly towns. It had an old water mill in the center of the town. It is now a real estate office. I'm glad they don't tear things down, but embrace their heritage.

We arrived in Inveraray! CC booked us to stay in the Inveraray Inn. We went family budget this time, not 20th anniversary style like last time, so it was basic, but clean and nice. One thing I found charming about Scotland, both times, is the plaid carpet. And plaid couches. And plaid pillows. And plaid bedspreads. It's all plaid. And mixing plaids is just fine! This hotel has been around since before America gained its independence! The creaky hardwood floors and thick windows attested to it. It was wonderful!

We slept well after our big day. Breakfast was provided. Full Scottish! It was called, and we had eggs, sausage, toast, tea, a grilled tomato with cheese, and, of course, haggis.

The sun rose so much later there! So just after breakfast as it came up, we slipped back behind the hotel to see this beautiful old church tower with the sunrise as its backdrop. This is a Church of Scotland, but allows Catholic services to be held there as well.

We were so excited about our first Inveraray adventure, as the day began!

Scotland Story: Campbell Castle

I'm here! I'm here! I'm here! I've been surviving single parenthood for the last 2.5 weeks. It's been a rough time. Stress, injuries, exhaustion. But we made it, and he's back. And God is always good.

So, I'm back to blogging!!! Our first stop was a place that I didn't see on my first trip to Scotland. CC drove a bit out of the way to take the kids to see Campbell Castle. This was THEIR castle. The walk up was long and beautiful.

We just could not get over the beauty. It was obvious why they chose this spot. It would have been difficult to attack!

And what a fortress they built! The ticket agent was so much more than that. He knew more about Campbell history than any book I've ever read. He filled us in on all kinds of details we didn't know, things about their intense loyalty to the crown and the fact that they embraced Knox's reformation.

We went all through the castle, finding small rooms and great rooms where they once had roaring fires and enormous dining tables. We made it up to the roof and discovered a roof room that is now a protected bat habitat!

When Miss Middler "borrows" my camera, I am always amazed at the perspectives she finds. The next two photos were taken by her.

Our historian ticket seller told us where to stand for this picture. It became a favorite of mine.

And he's always been my favorite.

And this was, I think, one of the best pictures I have ever taken of her. Look at that moss! Look at that beautiful girl!