Mull & Iona [Western Isles]

 We drove through Mull to get to Iona. It is a long way from anywhere, and took three ferries, two of which took our bus.

So I can only say that Mull has some high mountains, but they are not as jaggedy as the real Highlands, and there was more rolling pastures. Mull is an island within the county of Argyll & Bute, second only in size to Skye. I kept trying to take pictures of said mountains, and lonely cottages at their bases, but very few came out. I needed sunshine for best photographic effect.

Iona is the site of the first Christian settlement in Scotland when Saint Columna arrived from Ireland. He spent his years writing gospels on calf skin, and keeping a close eye on his monks. He converted the local king of Dal Riada to Christianity, and from they spread just about everywhere. 

The main special things are turquoise colored waters around it, lots of grave slabs dating from 700AD, and an abbey dating from 1200AD. I misunderstood to think that the abbey was a reconstruction, and I went around thinking ‘they have really done a good job with this green and worn stone’. So it was old, but because it has been left alone since 1560 when the Scottish Reformation closed all the Catholic monasteries and abbeys, it has remained in good shape. A little repair work and ready for the tourists.

This Cross of St John has stood outside the abbey for 1200 years, pretty amazing.

We had Dinner in a pub near the ferry terminal - carrot and chili soup - I made a good effort Mimi. Then gluten free pizza, as one of our group has coeliac disease, so we often get all gluten free. A table of people were speaking an odd language, but the three little kids spoke English. 

We finally asked them what they were speaking, we had to guess, it was Romanian. The children had been born here in Scotland and refused to speak Romanian! Their granddad was not pleased.

Imagine trying to log onto this WiFi after a few whiskies.

And finally, another bus that I wish I was on: