The Loch Lomond Monster!
Cafe Arriba in Portree on Skye
Does Sarah know that the Loch Lomond Monster is right behind her?
This little adventure all started originally because of an inadequate breakfast at our Airbnb on Skye. Let’s just make it clear that this was our second visit to Skye. Our first visit there was when we stayed at the Airbnb caravan owned by Cheryl McCulloch, an Archers Chit-Chat friend of mine, whom I finally came to meet. Breakfast at her place was good. We cooked it ourselves, and enjoyed eggs from Cheryl’s hens.
Anyway, I digress. After some rather dull sliced white toast and a strawberry mousse at our over-night stop, we decided that it was time to move on and find something better. We had also not had any coffee, as it was too much bother and mess to make it using our bag of fresh coffee with no proper facilities and not even a jug. Paul quickly had a look online, and decided that we should head for a cafe in Portree http://cafearriba.co.uk/
I have to say that the breakfast there was superb, with an excellent menu choice, with options for a full breakfast or pastries and filled croissants. I went for a croissant filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese, and Paul chose the waffles with fresh fruit and maple syrup. The coffee (we like ours strong and black) was very good too.
One of my faults or strengths (whichever way you look at it!) is a tendency to engage people in conversation – be it strangers on trains and buses, or hotel and restaurant staff. Where we come from in the South East, this is more unusual, although I do not agree that people on public transport are unfriendly! Our waiter, Josh, was very friendly, and I took the opportunity to tell him that we were travelling to Loch Ness to have more of a touristy day. Having spent many days in remote locations with the wind and the rain beating down, for me this was to be an exciting diversion. I love tourist tat, and was keen to investigate paint-your-own Nessie monsters, maybe even a blow-up Nessie for the bathroom.
This is why it is so good to talk to people! Josh then told us a funny story, and I asked his permission to reproduce it here. He has lived in the area for most of his life, and for 22 years he visited Loch Lomond, hoping to catch sight of the Loch Ness Monster! His family did not take the trouble to explain to him that the Loch Ness Monster (apparently!) resides in Loch Ness, not Loch Lomond!
Of course after visiting Loch Ness, we went to Loch Lomond to see if we could spot the monster there; we have named the Loch Lomond Monster Josh, and you may catch a glimpse of him in some of these pictures.
If you go to the Scottish Isles, do take the opportunity to visit Josh at the Cafe Arriba, and at Loch Lomond of course!
Submarine searching for the Loch Lomond Monster