Invergordon, Scotland

 Paul, Cruise Director, and John, Assistant Cruise Director, do a morning informational show, as do all the cruise lines, I believe.  Most days they have a "challenge" to perform that then earns you 1 Regent Point.  When we remember, we participate.  Today's was to do your best Loch Ness Monster impression.  When we saw Paul I first did a monster growl and then hid behind Michael, because "Nessie" has never actually been seen.  I think I really cracked him up.  All good fun.

Our tour today was to Dunrobin Castle, which is the historic home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland.  One of these days I'll learn the difference between an Earl and a Duke.  The castle was first established in the 13th century and, as is typical, has been added to over the years, mostly in the late 1700s when a daughter married a VERY wealthy man whose money came from coal and railroads.  Apparently it was one of 6 holiday homes for the Duke.  Unbelievable.

Just a little country house with 189 rooms.

Gardens patterned after Versailles

The total landscaped area is 1,379 acres

The leaves on this "Giant Rhubarb" were big enough to use as an umbrella.

Fuschia everywhere

A cozy dining room

This is a painting of the Doge's Palace in Venice which is now a hotel and we stayed there in 2011 

What's a den/library without a couple of lion skins?

The nursery with toys of the times on display.

One of the modern bathrooms with various chamber pots on display

Then nanny's room with the baby bath in front of the fireplace

The back entrance.

We had a pot of tea and a cake and then wandered the gift shop.  I noticed a phone left at the checkout counter which I pointed out to the cashiers.  Outside, I saw an older woman with a gift shop bag going through all her pockets.  I asked if she were, by any chance, looking for her phone, which she was.  She was quite relieved when I suggested she ask at the gift counter.  Hope it was hers.

Back at the port there were oil rigs in various states of deconstruction.

What's left of the oil rig.

One waiting for deconstruction.

After a light lunch back on board, I started watching the new Downton Abbey movie and Michael went to the fitness center.  We got 11/15 on Trivia but it wasn't enough to get any points.  Terry Bishop gave a talk on the Magna Carta and then we had dinner at Compass Rose.  I went to the production show "Tuxedo", but left about halfway through as I've seen it before and I was a bit sleepy.  Michael chose to hit the sack early.