Day Five!

Yesterday on Monday morning, we woke up for our first morning in Castlebay at the hostel. By 10, we had to be out, so we woke up and got ready to go out and have breakfast. We ate at a café down the road called the Tartan Table Café, where we had some eggs and sausage (and tea!). Outside the door, we met an incredibly sweet gentleman whose name we never learned, but we call the Scarf Man. He had what looked to be a wool scarf tied around his head and under his chin, for warmth. He was so nice, but seemed so lonely. We ate in the same place, and when we went over to the grocery store we ran into him again. We were picking up some snacks and dinner to make for later on, and we said hello again. Once we had some groceries, we were going down the road to see if we could visit the heritage centre in Castlebay where we saw him again! He was so cheerful and sweet. It seemed he was walking everywhere and didn’t have a car or a bike, so we all felt a bit sorry leaving him to go on his way.

The heritage centre had historical information on Castlebay, but there was an admission price and we were all running low on cash so we decided to leave! It was a bit disappointing, but there were other things to see. We all loaded up in the car; the next plan was to drive around Barra to see the airport on the north side. The airport is famous, because there is no landing pad and the small planes have to land on the sandy beach. This can only happen when the tide is out!

On our way, we went over a small bridge and ended up in Vatersay, another island. It’s known for its crystal waters and white beaches which look more like they are in a tropical destination than Scotland! We drove around, windows down. We stopped about twice to see the beaches and take some pictures, but then we continuted back onto Barra and drove around the whole island. Funny enough, we missed the airport! We never did end up going back to it. There are, however, Youtube vidoes of planes landing on the sand!

Vatersay

When we got to the hostel we were too tired to do anything more. We had some tea and sat in the living room where there was a fire going. My mom and I met some guys (fellas, as she says) who were from Kent in England, who were travelling around and camping. They said they were living off the land and catching seafood to eat every day! Two of them were chefs (and when they made their dinner, it smelled amazing). After an hour or so, we decided to do something more and head down to where you can catch a boat to Kisimul Castle.

Heading over to the castle was awesome! It is definitely a smaller castle than you would think, but inside it is amazing. It was the first time I’d ever been into a real medieval castle!!! As a medieval studies major, it was way cool!!! (: The castle, as I mentioned before, is about 1000 years old; built in the 12^th century by the Norse or Celts. Inside was a small courtyard that housed several smaller buildings with the tiniest doorways you ever did see. There was a chapel, two kitchens, a great hall, and some newer rooms where the clan MacNeils recently have lived. There was also a shop and a information/tickets desk. Some of the cooler parts where a tunnel leading into the castle walls, a lookout tower, and other cool passageways and rooms! I was having the time of my life inside, it was the coolest thing ever! We explored and went up some pretty stony staircases, narrow passageways and short doorways. It was mostly all stone. A lot of it was rebuilt after a fire, however some parts were original. I put my hands on the walls and tried to imagine people living there! The chief of Clan MacNeil would have been the main resident in the medieval period, and even until more recently (I think!).

We took so so so many pictures and sadly had to leave as the boat was departing, but it was incredibly amazing and I am so glad we decided to visit. Once we were done at the castle, I believe we went back to the hostel for a bit of a rest before we headed to a spot on Barra just before Vatersay where there are ruins of all time periods, dating back to 5600 years BC as well as the 18th century AD. There was definite clear outlines of stone structures that used to be there! I might add some more about these later, they were awesome.

I do have pictures of these but they aren't uploaded just yet!

At the hostel, we decided to make our dinner in the shared kitchen. It was a hub of activity. My mom and me made chicken stir fry with some of our groceries and we all sat down in the living/dining room to eat. Others were in the room chatting around the fire, like the guys on their camping adventures. After dinner we cleaned up, posted some postcards and sat in the living room for the rest of the evening, with a fire and games and people filling in and out. It was so nice! And there was an adorable dog there too which made everyone else that much more cheerful.

If I forget anything, I will add later! I have to finish writing about today as well, and I am so tired! We are constantly in motion, from land to sea to air. Everyday I still feel a little motion sick. This evening we arrived in England for the first time! I’m writing from a youth hostel in Manchester. It’s awesome here!

I love the U.K.!