The first moment was at Edinburgh Castle. We had tea time in a private room above the gates of the castle and I wandered out to the balcony and surprisingly there was not anyone else outside. I walked around the balcony overlooking the city and all of a sudden I heard bagpipes! I had to be imagining it! I listened closely and I really heard them! I heard bagpipes in the distance! It was a magical moment to be standing above Edinburgh Castle - all by myself - listening to bagpipes.
My second "Ah Ha" moment was our last night in Scotland. Jen and I went to Biddy Mulligans, a local pub in the Grassmarket. There was live music that night so we sat in a big booth in the window listening to the musician and drinking Tennants, a local Scottish beer. We sat there talking and I looked out the window and the view was exactly what I would imagine a night in Scotland to be...it was drizzling outside and I could see a traditional red phone booth in the middle of the Grassmarket and everything was a glow from the beautiful trees adorned with white lights. All of a sudden The Kooks song, Seaside, began playing inside Biddy Mulligans. I have loved that song since my freshman roommate at Clemson, Ashley, introduced me to the British band. In that moment, I felt like a local; like it was my local pub and I was listening to my favorite local band.
Those moments in Scotland will be engrained in my memory forever and when I think of those moments, I know I will remember that Wow feeling like it was the first time. I will remember the awe I felt of being in a new country exploring and learning about a new culture. Travel opens your eyes and makes you realize what an amazing world we live in; what an amazing Creator we have.
Now, here are a few of my favorite pictures from Scotland...
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| Scottie in a whisky shop window |
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| Elderly people crossing signs in every town |
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