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I was listening to a song last night and this line struck me…..
”She said, ‘Where do you want to go? How much do you want to risk?’”
I feel like since my adventure began 4 years ago with that first trip to France, I am always asking this. I am always ready to go, and an impulsive nature I never even knew I had (that contrasted drastically to my previous self) emerged since that June in 2013. While that first trip was planned to the t, I now feel free and confident enough to just go; unexpectedly, anywhere, with just a backpack. I have become a master at scraping money together for last minute airfare, I can fit a week’s worth or more of clothes in a backpack, and I navigate Airbnb like it’s my job. If someone says “hey let’s go”, I just say “where?” not “how?”.
After a trip to Australia, and a chance meeting I found myself with an invite to Scotland. It’s funny how life evolves like that. Ok, so of course I would go. Who wouldn’t. So I was off! I didn’t think there was a place I could love like France. Although my trip to Australia (as I mentioned in a previous post) was by far the hardest to come home from due to my dear friends I left behind. But I am learning that countries are like people; you can love them all as much, but differently. The second I stepped out of the train station in Edinburgh I was in heaven. Enough medieval buildings and nooks and crannys to make me swoon! I knew I would have to come back. The architecture, the whole vibe was even better than I expected. I had less than a day in Edinburgh (the sacrilege) and jam packed as much as I could in those few hours. I had an apartment literally UNDER the castle and could sit at my little table and peer up at the castle while I drank my coffee. I didn’t actually do this, because I couldn’t figure out how to use the coffee machine, but I COULD have if I wanted to!
After meandering the wet stone streets and exploring some medieval alleys in the greying light, I popped into a dark paneled pub snuggled into the curve of an ancient street. There I had my first haggis that was artfully disguised as Chicken Balmoral; a comfort food of haggis, chicken, thick bacon, and a gravy like whiskey sauce. Paired with my stout, this was a good way to spend my first few hours in Scotland! I moved on to an under city visit of Mary King’s Close, a network of buildings that town officials decided to just build over hundreds of years ago, leaving a sort of city under the city that was inhabited as late as the 20th century. It was the type of place that makes those little soft hairs on the back of your neck stick up just a bit!
Next day and I began exploring. I did an obligatory visit to Edinburgh Castle, high tea in an elegant old hall with tremendously high ceilings, and snapped pictures of the panorama of Edinburgh. I skipped the crown jewels, which I regret a bit, but with such a small amount of time waiting in lines wasn’t really an option. If you have more time do it.
The next two nights would be in Stirling, Scotland, a small city with an imposing castle looking over it and “guarding” it, but we had a couple of stops to make on the way. First Culross, with pastel hued little cottages and tiny narrow streets, right on the water. You step out of the car and kind of feel like you’ve traveled through time. I got a little guilty pleasure out of seeing the square where part of Outlander was filmed (yes I am obsessed). I didn’t want to be a typical tourist but it was kind of neat. Next stop Dumfermline Abby and Castle and probably one of my favorite places on the trip. What I loved about Scotland was that all the history books I poured over were coming to life in front of me. Here Robert the Bruce was buried, and William Wallace’s mother lay in the cemetery not far away. The ancient abbey erected by Saint Margaret was exquisite in it’s simplicity and distinct architectural features. It just made my heart beat a little faster.
Stirling Castle the next day was an unexpected surprise. I have seen some castles by now but this one, perched high above town and meticulously preserved, with almost all the buildings accessible to guests, was spectacular! Definitely worth a detour out of your way if you happen to be travelling in the area. A short drive away I climbed the steep hill to Wallace Monument (after William Wallace, aka Braveheart of movie fame). Really tight spiral staircases that never seemed to end (and made my heart beat a little faster in a different way) finally brought us to the top with the 360 degree views of the surrounding area. You kind of just wanted to breathe for a bit and soak it all in. Which is just what I did. I didn’t want to go home, but fish and chips were calling and after such a sturdy climb we were famished! And really, when food calls, you listen!
My time in Scotland was all too brief and before I knew it we were off to Lincoln, England. In my short time in Scotland I fell in love with the places, and the history, and knew I would have to come back. Though i fit a LOT into those couple of days, I was disappointed that I hadn’t had the full haggis experience in all it’s, ahem, glory. My haggis covered in bacon and whiskey sauce in Edinburgh didn’t quite seem like I had done the experience justice. So on the very last stop in Scotland I grabbed some at the local grocery and planned on making it that night after arriving at the Airbnb in England. More on that fiasco, I mean attempt, in my next post. Along with details on the cathedral in Lincoln (Notre Dame has nothing on this place).
Until the next time though, happy travels and kisses from me….And hopefully details on my next trip! Italy? Or Morrocco?