Bonnie, looking peaceful as we take the ferry ride to Iona from the Isle of Mull. The journey to Iona, including the ferries and the drive through Mull, made arriving on the tranquil island worth every mile it took to get there. May 20, 2008

The Iona Abbey on the Isle of Iona in Scotland. We left the rental car, William, on Mull’s Fionnphort and took the 10-minute ferry to the one mile wide, 3.5 miles long Iona. We attended the Abbey’s evening service and in the morning before we left, Bonnie journeyed to the island’s other side for the coveted green marbles. May 20, 2008

The Isle of Iona shoreline in Scotland. A last look of Iona as we move on with our journey to Edinburgh, Scotland. May 21, 2008

Edinburgh felt cold, old and dingy. So many of its buildings looked as if they had this layer of soot covering them. May 22, 2008

The views of Edinburgh from a top the Edinburg Castle in Edinburgh, England. May 22, 2008

Bonnie with Greybrier’s Bobby statue in Edinburgh, England. May 22, 2008

Me in front of the entrance to Edinburg Castle. May 22, 2008

Edinburgh Castle in Edinburg, England. May 22, 2008

Founded in 1446, as the Collegiate Church of St Matthew, the medieval, stoned Rosslyn Chapel is famous for its decorative art and its mysterious associations with the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail, and the Freemasons.                                                               The 15th century medieval stoned Rosslyn Chapel, in the village of Roslin, seven miles from Edinburgh, Scotland, was covered by scaffolding. The Chapel’s mysteries also played a significant role in Dan Brown’s 2003 novel “The Da Vinci Code.” Rosslyn Chapel was intended to be one of more than 37 collegiate churches that were built in Scotland between the reigns of King James I and James IV (1406-1513). The chapel is actually the choir of what was intended to be a much larger cross-shaped church. The chapel was founded by Sir William Sinclair of the St. Clair family, a Scottish noble family from Orkney descended from Norman knights and, according to legend, linked to the Knights Templar. The foundation stone of Rosslyn Chapel was laid on St. Matthew’s Day, Sept. 21, 1446. (May 22, 2008)

It may have taken most of the day to here, but Bonnie and I finally made it. We left Iona for Edinburg, Scotland. Bonnie called that day “ferry day.” Although its home to a castle, a royal mile, Rosslyn Chapel and a haunted history, Edinburgh is dingy, a lady dirty and a wee bit dark. May 21, 2008

Part of the Royal Mike, which is really a royal shop hop in Edinburgh, Scotland. May 22, 2008

Here I am at Chatsworth. May 24, 2008

Me with the statue of Mr. Darcy, played by the actor Matthew MacFayden. May 24, 2008

Inside Chatsworth. May 24, 2008

Inside Chatsworth. May 24, 2008