Scotland Summary

It has been so long since I have been able to sit and reflect on our travel experiences. Our experience in Europe is responsible for this. I feel that from Amsterdam on I didn't even have a moment for anything other than what we were doing next. A very busy, but most worthwhile, part of our trip. I don't know what else I expected with only 10-12 days to see everything that we could.

Because of our time constrictions we did not see everything that we could have but I feel that, what we did see, we saw well. I am glad to have had the advice that it is better to see a few things well than to sprint past everything. Even though we were in constant motion it was still so pleasant to be there. I felt a familiarity that I hadn't felt before. Maybe it was that everyone spoke the same language again (if you can call the Scottish accent the same as English), or maybe it was the familiarity with the vegetation and landscape, or still maybe it was a familiarity and similar history of the people. I don't know but it was so very nice to be there.

We were very lucky in Scotland. We were there 10 days and the majority of them saw the sunshine. I don't think it rained even once during our stay. Travel was very easy and distances between destinations were short. The longest bus ride we had was four hours; an easy feat after our twenty one and thirty one hour trips through Peru. Hostels were easy to come by in the cities that we needed them and we were able to cook our own food at every opportunity. Our main fortune however, was that we had friends staying in the country. They were our hosts, our tour guides, our friendly faces, our cooks, and our entertainment.

Scotland's charm lies in its rich history, its people, its more remote culture, and especially its landscape. The right to roam within the country has created a trail system that can be walked from north to south without backpack, tent, or care in the world if one so desires. This of course would only be recommendable with the proper rain gear and time to stay in a town if the weather gets ugly. The land has been tamed but the ocean surrounding the country seems to take offence to this sending vengeful wind and rain throughout the country.

Another charm and a surprising one for me was how sparsely the country is actually populated. Even its capital city has a population of only 500,000. Though it is quite touristy it still retains a small town feel and stays true to its roots.

Scotland's only detriment for us was how expensive it is. Even bargains took bites out of the budget and left us wondering how much we will have to adjust for the next three months. Luckily it did not break the bank and we are actually doing okay on that end of things.

Ashley and I both loved Scotland and I would love to go back again if only to breath the air and listen to the silence.