We started off today by going and seeing Skara Brae.  It was really interesting and I liked it a lot.  It’s older than the Egyptian pyramids- dating all the way back to 3100 B.C.   It made me realize that people then don’t live all that differently.  All our furniture isn’t made out of stone and there wasn’t any McDonalds then, but some things haven’t changed.  There were still beds, shelves, a living area, little streets, and such things.  The idea of living together as community, as a family, has been here since the beginning of time.  It’s nice to know that some things never change, even with all the advances that are made in society today.  I have to admit though, I love living in this era.  I like having the Internet, running water, and football stadiums.  However, I think society is somewhat lazier than we used to be.  When we learn about these different ancient societies, they are always so hardworking.  They spend most of their day doing hard, manual labor.  Their work ethic is admirable, and I think we could learn something from them.  We also went and saw the house where the man who discovered the village lived.  It was really beautiful, historic house.  I think it’s kind of funny that they made that part of the attraction.  What if the man who had discovered the village had lived in an unattractive, small cottage instead?  Would we still tour it?  It’s a nice for us that he happened to live in an interesting, beautiful house!

Then Keith, our driver, raced us back to catch the ferry.  Go Keith!  We had a nice ferry ride back and started making our way to Nairn.  We spent a lot of time in the bus today.  We did make a stop and saw where the Highlanders were forced from their homes when they couldn’t pay taxes.  The history of the Highlanders is rather sad.  However, I’m glad that today some of the prejudice against them is finally disappearing and that we can learn about their culture.  I didn’t know a thing about the Highlanders when I came here, and I’ve acquired so much knowledge since that time. 

            Our accommodations were a lot better in Nairn.  I thought some people were going to cry with joy when they saw that we had free Wifi.  In the evening there was a big gathering of people in the lobby to use it and people everywhere were skyping.  It was so nice to talk to my family.  Tomorrow we are seeing Loch Ness and going to a ceilgh!  I can’t wait!