May 30- Portee- Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye is a popular destination for tourists. The romance of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the misty Cullin Hills help this be true. Portee is the population center of the island and is a pleasant place clustered around a small and sheltered bay. We anchored in the bay and tenders transported people ashore to the charming town.

Bonnie Prince Charlie had a sad history as the “prince in the heather” and the pretender to the British throne. At the disastrous Battle of Culloden, George II’s army outnumbered and destroyed Charles’ Jacobite forces. After the battle, Bonnie Prince Charlie wandered over the highlands, a passive object, handed like a bail of contraband from one smuggler to another, numbered with constant applications of whiskey- the beginnings of the alcoholism that finally killed him.

He then escaped to the isles where he met Flora Macdonald, the woman who took

him, disguised as her maid, “over to the sea to Skye” and then back to the mainland

. His Scottish exploits were the stuff of legend. Having spent three years of my college life at Flora Macdonald College in Red Springs, NC I have always been fascinated by this s

tory. We even had to learn to do the Highland Fling to graduate and Flora Macdonald is buried on what was that campus. I sure didn’t realize poor Charlie had such a sad life with such personal challenges with alcohol. Maybe as good Presbyterian young women our history professor wanted to spare us all that stuff.

The Royal Hotel is the site of McNab’s Inn, the last meeting place of Flora Macdonald and Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1746.

Castle Dunvegan, home of Chiefs of MacLeod for 800 years, features a lochside setting and dramatic scenery. Dunvegan's Fairy Flag is reputed to have magical powers. Legend

says a MacLeod married a fairy, and, when she returned to her people, she left behind the flag to protect the family from harm. The castle featured clan mementos, ancestral portraits, and a dungeon. Flora MacDonald lived here at one time.

From the ship we saw Kilt Rock. Columns of two types of rocks- and thus two colors- create a folded, pleated effect like a kilt.

Around the harbor were many cages from fish farms dotting the water. The tender had to navigate through these cages carefully. As the day at Skye was coming to an end the sun came out and being on our balcony was really wonderful- good ending to a perfect day….and dinner is still ahead.

Sailing away offered this great view of the misty Cullin Hills

We shared dinner with friends from the San Francisco area who have lived in so many locations abroad and their friends from Spartanburg, SC who have also had some

great experiences. The evening ended with Jack from Spartanburg doing some amazing card tricks. What a great day!