A couple of days to spare before the Caledonian Sleeper meant the next day the British Museum was on my list. I have been to London many times but never quite made it there. What an amazing museum! I was delighted to see the Rosetta Stone in the entrance. Over the years I have heard and read about it, so to actually see it, a privilege. I really enjoyed the Middle East section, including Egyptian and Syrian displays of artifacts and mummies. While in Egypt last year, I enjoyed the Egyptian Museum in all its glory but appreciated the London displays.
While in London I also took the time to go to the British Library. Although it was free entry, it left me somewhat disappointed, the ancient books were interesting, but being closed out of most of the rest of the library it was impossible to just wander in and absorb the atmosphere. I hadn’t realized a pass was required to go into the more specialized areas.
The next day was my booked Caledonian Sleeper trip to Inverness. A trip that had been on the bucket list for a very long time. After some hours mucking around at Euston Station, the train boarded at 8.30 pm. A simple matter, minutes later installed in the small cabin for the night. A comfy bunk across the train direction, with a cozy duvet. A small packet of toiletries added interest to the evening. The aromatherapy pillow spray was a nice touch.
A train buff from way back, I was asleep in minutes after leaving the station at 9.15. Waking early around 5 am, I wandered down to the lounge car for a coffee, the staff were going to charge me for a coffee, a bit of a cheek as I had paid top dollar for the trip before he realized it and said don’t worry!
It was lovely looking out the big windows as the darkness disappeared and the morning dawned over the snow that had been dumped by the ‘ Beast of the East. it covered the tops of the mountains down to the empty paddocks, although not so empty judging by all the paw prints of rabbits. I saw many rabbits up early and if there is any truth in the saying if you see 1 rabbit above ground, there is another 10-20 underground!
The mole diggings always fascinate me as we don’t have them at home in NZ. After finding out the general direction of the hotel, I discovered it was above a Chinese takeaway. I walked the cold streets to get there soon after 9 am, I was told check in was at 3 pm, but I could leave my bag at the hotel. At least that was a relief, so time for some orientation.
After leaving the hotel I wandered around the streets of Inverness in the cold, so cold that the first thing I had to buy a woolly hat, I have never felt such cold! I tried to find a tour for tomorrow and bumped into a guy with sign writing on his car saying Happy Tours! So booked a tour with him to see Loch Ness, Culloden, and various other sights in the area. Sadly not including the Isle of Skye. At least the weather appears to be stable!
