The Jacobite Express and Oban
Hey everyone!
**Pictures added now, still trying to fix the issues of adding photos but using Emma's computer today**
Slept fairly well last night and enjoyed dinner over the road from the hostel. Turns out a lot of people on our tour have the same feelings as us! But we're all going to make the best of it.
This morning was much the same as yesterday if I'm honest, we sat around and didn't do too much. We stopped for a view and then continued down the road to 'Clan Donald' which was some ruins and a garden. I didn't go in as I had seen similar things all week and it was very steep. So Cordelia and Lexi went in while Eunice and I went walking to the ferry port. We sat in the sun with the flowers and wrote down our complaints for Haggis. I also got some planning done for the few days I've decided I'll spend in Latvia and Lithuania in October - watch this space!
Met the bus and got the 30 minute ferry back to the mainland. It was then that the excitement hit and I realised we were finally going on the Jacobite steam train!!!! This is the steam train that travels across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the 'Harry Potter' movies, especially in #2 when Harry and Ron miss the Hogwarts Express train and instead take Arthur Weasley's flying Ford Anglia to school. They end up on the viaduct with the train behind them!
Anyone who knows me knows I am a MASSIVE 'Harry Potter' fan, especially as I was/am a part of the generation that grew up as the books became more and more famous. So naturally I was very excited, and luckily for me so were Lexi, Cordelia and Eunice!
We boarded the train in Mallaig and we sat in a four seat area and took it in turns swapping seats so it was fair! We bought chocolate to keep the dementors away in case they decided to pay us a visit, and we had fun quoting lines from the books and movies. Cordelia even surprised the other three of us by asking the trolley lady selling food to come past and say "anything from the trolley dears?" as she does in HP. Hahaha. She also played the HP music on her phone.
The two most magical moments were really special to me. First of all it was raining and the windows fogged up a little, but Cordelia opened up the small windows. And for a second through them I caught a glimpse of a stag, standing majestically at the top of the ditch we were in looking into the distance. It was as if for a second Harry's patronus was right there! But the best moment by far was crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct. I was lucky at this moment to be facing forward next to the window so got an amazing photo and then just stood back in awe. Wow - amazing!!! So beautiful.
We probably annoyed the other people on the train by behaving like children, but that's what I love about HP. No matter how old I get it makes me feel excited like a little kid again, I hope that never changes. I've just booked to go to Harry Potter studios in London for my birthday so I'm very excited about that!
We enjoyed the rest of the journey and took in the incredible scenery despite the rain before arriving in Fort William. Here we grabbed some groceries for dinner and some drinks as tonight we are going to a Scottish party, aka a Ceilidh (pronounced 'kay-lee'. Very excited about this too! We are staying in Oban.
**Pictures added now, still trying to fix the issues of adding photos but using Emma's computer today**
Slept fairly well last night and enjoyed dinner over the road from the hostel. Turns out a lot of people on our tour have the same feelings as us! But we're all going to make the best of it.
This morning was much the same as yesterday if I'm honest, we sat around and didn't do too much. We stopped for a view and then continued down the road to 'Clan Donald' which was some ruins and a garden. I didn't go in as I had seen similar things all week and it was very steep. So Cordelia and Lexi went in while Eunice and I went walking to the ferry port. We sat in the sun with the flowers and wrote down our complaints for Haggis. I also got some planning done for the few days I've decided I'll spend in Latvia and Lithuania in October - watch this space!
Met the bus and got the 30 minute ferry back to the mainland. It was then that the excitement hit and I realised we were finally going on the Jacobite steam train!!!! This is the steam train that travels across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the 'Harry Potter' movies, especially in #2 when Harry and Ron miss the Hogwarts Express train and instead take Arthur Weasley's flying Ford Anglia to school. They end up on the viaduct with the train behind them!
Anyone who knows me knows I am a MASSIVE 'Harry Potter' fan, especially as I was/am a part of the generation that grew up as the books became more and more famous. So naturally I was very excited, and luckily for me so were Lexi, Cordelia and Eunice!
We boarded the train in Mallaig and we sat in a four seat area and took it in turns swapping seats so it was fair! We bought chocolate to keep the dementors away in case they decided to pay us a visit, and we had fun quoting lines from the books and movies. Cordelia even surprised the other three of us by asking the trolley lady selling food to come past and say "anything from the trolley dears?" as she does in HP. Hahaha. She also played the HP music on her phone.
The two most magical moments were really special to me. First of all it was raining and the windows fogged up a little, but Cordelia opened up the small windows. And for a second through them I caught a glimpse of a stag, standing majestically at the top of the ditch we were in looking into the distance. It was as if for a second Harry's patronus was right there! But the best moment by far was crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct. I was lucky at this moment to be facing forward next to the window so got an amazing photo and then just stood back in awe. Wow - amazing!!! So beautiful.
We probably annoyed the other people on the train by behaving like children, but that's what I love about HP. No matter how old I get it makes me feel excited like a little kid again, I hope that never changes. I've just booked to go to Harry Potter studios in London for my birthday so I'm very excited about that!
We enjoyed the rest of the journey and took in the incredible scenery despite the rain before arriving in Fort William. Here we grabbed some groceries for dinner and some drinks as tonight we are going to a Scottish party, aka a Ceilidh (pronounced 'kay-lee'. Very excited about this too! We are staying in Oban.
I went for a walk with eunice once we arrived around town and up the hill to the tower. We were lucky enough to see a pipe band playing and the sun was shining brilliantly. It is so lovely here, I can see why some of my friends loved it here so much!!
Tmro we make our way back to Edinburgh and I will then be taking the train to Glasgow to stay with my friend Emma.
Love to all
Claire
Xoxox
Tmro we make our way back to Edinburgh and I will then be taking the train to Glasgow to stay with my friend Emma.
Love to all
Claire
Xoxox
PS: Shout out to Cordelia's friend Jez!
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