Getting here, take two (here being Oban, Argyll, Scotland)

Here's the white Japanese cherry tree at Inveraray. Not very well defined as a slight breeze decided to come and sway the branches. A very pleasant evening it was, though, mild and almost summery. On the bus went, after a short break, through the old town gate at Inveraray and up the beautiful, remote-feeling Glen Aray to Cladich by Loch Awe
The sun almost setting by Loch Awe near the Pass of Brander...
... and still only almost setting at Dunbeg...

As I said in the previous post, we reached Oban just before 9pm. A tourist disembarked from the bus, looking tired and disoriented. She wanted to know where the Royal Hotel was, and -- whayhaay! -- I was able to direct her, remembering that it was just around the corner from where the buses all stop by Oban harbour/train station. Made me feel a lot less like the incomer that I actually am.
Then I picked up my heavy backpack and my even heavier suitcase (it weighed 29,9 kilos!) and made my way across to the taxis. But it was going to be a while yet until I actually climbed into one, because I was distracted by this fantastic view:
Oban at dusk, May 8, 2008.
I was getting ready to clamber into the nearest taxi when a very pleasant young man approached me, asking whether I'd like him to take a photo of me. He complimented me on my vivaciousness and I simply blurted out that I had just arrived to stay. His young wife joined him and we had a lively chat. They were a Yorkshire lass and a Lancashire boy -- the War of the Roses transformed into a Bed of Roses, obviously -- now living not far from where some of my mother's relatives used to live. And the young man's name is identical to that of my middle brother's -- as one of my friends would say, that must prove there's a god... ;)
Anyway, Stefan took a photo of me and I reciprocated, of course:
Cheers, Della and Stefan! And thanks again for making my first night in Oban (as a "local", I mean) so very memorable. I really enjoyed that noisy hour at the oldest pub in town. Must remember to get a Swiss flag for their ceiling!

More soon, I hope!