My trip to Iona was a long one. They call it a holy place, maybe because it takes so long to get here. I left the hotel at 8:45 am, walked to the bus station, bought my ticket for the train and waited for it at Queen Street Station. The trains are very prompt, they pride themselves on being withing 30 seconds of the stated departure. The train ride was about 3 hours across Scotland and it was beautiful. The Highlands are gorgeous and breathtaking. Not like the Alps we saw in Germany and Austria, but more rugged.

Then after getting off the train at Oban, I got a round trip ferry ticket for Mull, the port of Craignore, which is on one side of Mull, then an hour bus ride across Mull to Fionaphort. The road was a one lane road, about 50-60 miles with little pull offs along the way for oncoming traffic. The bus driver just kept right on going, blowing his horn as we travelled. There were sheep along the way, freely grazing, but most of the drive was desolate uninhabited land, rough and rustic.  Near the two ports about 5 miles or so prior to our stop, there were some farms, with sheep and cattle grazing in the hills, and lowlands. There were several inlets where they were doing mussel farming. And then finally, our bus arrived at Fionaphort, and then another 10 minute ferry ride to Iona. I arrived at Iona ahout 6:15 pm or 18:15 hours, as they say here. Having been enroute, since the morning. I had a lengthy layover at Oban, at the advice of the ticket agent, since she said I would have a two hour wait at Craignore. I asked her which was the better place to wait and she told me Oban, and I am glad I did. The ferry company has a large customer waiting area there, and there were food places to eat. So the time went quickly.

Although I was glad to finally arrive. I walked about 400 yards to St. Columba Hotel and it was about 6:30 pm...was shown my room and told that dinner was ready to be served and that they were ready for me anytime.

I am in a room  overlooking the water, and Mull in the short distance and it is beautiful. The walk to The Abbey, the main building of Iona community is 5 minutes away. After dinner last night I went to silent vespers, arriving early at 8:30.  About 50 people quietly came in and after a brief introduction, the rest of the service was mostly quiet ending with the Nunc Dimitus from Simeon in Luke 2, "Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, for I have seen the salvation of the Lord." When I left the Abbey, there was a sea mist rolling in, and the Isle of Mull could not be seen and within a short time, I couldn't even see the shore line of Iona, everything enshrouded in the mist. The air was heavy with humidity and it contributed to a quiet walk back to the hotel feeling the fullness of God's presence.

More later on the Abbey and the tall crosses.

It was about 10 pm till I got to my room and I quickly fell to sleep. This morning when I awoke, the sun was shining brightly and the clouds were lifting and it is a bright and beautiful day. The waiter this morning told me that they have been enshrouded with fog and sea mist for three days and that today is the first he could see across to Mull on the other side. So I am blessed with beautiful weather, bright sunshine and dwelling for 5 days in a mystical place.

Iona has the claim that it is the birthplace of Christianity for Scotland. And Scotland is the birthplace of Presbyterianism, so this is a trek to the roots of faith--truly a place of mysticism, aura and holiness.    

Dan