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A’ Ghàidhealtachd

B1
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An dàrna turas: Saothair agus tlachd

Take two: Work and pleasure

Let’s have a look at this conversation again.

Mar as trice ‘s iad luchd-turais a bhios a’ gabhail tlachd ann an cruth-tìre na Gàidhealtachd. Usually it’s tourists who enjoy [take pleasure in] the landscape of the Highlands.
Chan eil sinn ach a’ fuireach oirre. No a’ fuireach air a’ Ghalltachd agus a’ tilleadh thuice an-dràsta is a-rithist—air na saor làithean againn. We just live there. Or we live in the Lowlands and come back now and again on our holidays.
Tha sin fìor! Tha mi eòlach air fear òg Frangach a tha ag obair le luchd-turais, gan toirt air chuairtean timcheall na Gàidhealtachd ann am meanbh-bhus. Saothair [obair] agus tlachd! That’s true! I know a young French guy/man who works with tourists, taking them on tours around the Highlands in a mini-bus. Work and pleasure!
Cuiridh mi geall gur ann chun nan àiteachan àbhaisteach a bhios iad a’ dol, nach ann? I bet it’s to all the usual places they go, isn’t it?
‘S ann: a’ tòiseachadh air a’ Ghalltachd an àiteigin, a’ dèanamh air an Òban, a’ dol gu tuath seachad air Baile a’ Chaolais chun a’ Ghearasdain agus an uair sin don iar-thuath dhan a’ Chaol—Caol Loch Aillse. Ma bhios ùine aca, gabhaidh iad cuairt dhan Phloc, mus tèid iad tarsainn na drochaid … It is: starting in the Lowlands somewhere, heading for Oban, going north past Ballachulish to Fort William and then north west to Kyle—Kyle of Lochalsh. If they have time, they’ll take a trip to Plockton before they go over the bridge …
… agus an uair sin gu tuath tron Àth Leathann gu ruige Port Rìgh san Eilean Sgitheanach! Carson nach biodh iad a’ dol taobh Mhalaig? … and then north(wards) through Broadford as far as Portree in the Isle of Skye! Why wouldn’t they go by Mallaig?
Tha e nas fhasa a thaobh ùine ma bhios tu a’ dràibheadh agus buidheann luchd-turais agad. Chan eil thu air do chuingealachadh le clàr-ama aiseig. It’s easier for time if you’re driving and you have a group of tourists. You are not hampered [restricted] by a ferry timetable.
Tha mi leat! Ach nam bithinn a’ dol dhan Eilean bhithinn airson cùisean a ghabhail air mo shocair. Leumainn air trèana agus gheibhinn aiseag a-null. ‘S e sin aon de na cuairtean trèana as bòidhche—chan ann dìreach air a’ Ghàidhealtachd—ach san t-saoghal gu lèir! Agus tha cuairt an aiseig gu Armadail a cheart cho bòidheach! I’m with you! But if I were going to Skye [lit. the Island] I would want to take things easy. I’d jump on a train and get a ferry across to there. It’s one of the most beautiful train journeys—not only in the Highlands—but also in the whole wide world. And the ferry journey to Armadale is just as beautiful!
Tha fios ’am, ach ‘s e rathad brèagha a th’ ann agus chòrd an turas riutha, agus na seallaidhean brèagha: na monaidhean, na beanntan is na lochan. I know, but it’s a beautiful road and they enjoyed the trip and the beautiful views: the hills, the mountains and the lochs.
Gheibh iad an cothrom tilleadh agus an tuilleadh fhaicinn uair eile! They will have the opportunity to return and see more another time!
Dìreach! Bidh na h-Eileanan an Iar agus taobh an ear na Gàidhealtachd—Inbhir Nis, Inbhir Narann, Eilginn, Inbhir Pheofharain, Ceann a’ Ghiùthsaich is Druim na Drochaid uile a’ feitheamh riutha an-ath-thuras. Ach tha aon rud ann nach do chòrd riutha idir, idir. Indeed! The Western Isles and the east of the Highlands—Inverness, Nairn, Elgin, Dingwall, Kingussie and Drumnadrochit are all waiting for them in the next visit. But there’s one thing they didn’t like!
Dè bha sin? What was that?
Na meanbh-chuileagan! The midges!