SCOTLAND!  The land of tartan, bagpipes, unicorns, and accents I can barely understand!  (Let’s be honest, they couldn’t understand me either.  It must be that Cleveland aaaacent.)  What’s not to love?  Each cobblestone street leads to a different historical monument, museum, or church, the buildings marked by medieval influences and beautiful stonework. 

The people are welcoming, kind, and fiercely loyal to their country.  On the train into Glasgow, we met some men coming back from a night out who told us about Robert the Bruce and gave us a quick overview of some of the country’s history.  Though I had no idea who that was at the time, after visiting a few museums I quickly found that knowing Robert the Bruce in Scotland is akin to knowing George Washington in America. 

They also take great pride in Robert Burns, the poet and songwriter who helped draw attention to the Enlightenment in Scotland in the 1800s.  I hadn’t realized the amount of poetry and art that came out of Scotland until I saw so many museums dedicated to it.  The work is beautiful. 

And of course, no Scottish experience would be complete without, well, Scotch.  Eric and I did the Scoth Whiskey Experience, which is like a very slow-moving Disney ride complete with a scotch class at the end!  We took a 30 minute journey in a half-barrel as the ghost of former brewer explained how the scotch is brewed.  We were surrounded by barley, watched yeast rise (in psychedelic colors), passed through a metal tunnel where all the ingredients were mixed together, and saw the barrels where the clear liquid will stay for at least 12 years before it becomes the amber scotch we would taste shortly.  When we reached the end of the ride, we were given a short tutorial on the four different regions in Scotland that the alcohol can come from and why they differ in taste.  In one region, the salty sea air affects the flavor as it seeps into the barrel over time.  In another region, there is a more floral flavor because the peat used to dry the barley is taken from an area with more plant life.  I’m not a scotch drinker, but I found an appreciation for the time and dedication that goes into a process, which has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. 

While Glasgow and Edinburgh provided a good taste of what Scotland is about, I think I need more time there.  I wasn’t able to see any of the picturesque countryside I have heard so much about.  Also, I would have liked more time to talk to local people and get a better understanding of what being Scottish means to them. 

As I’m starting to see with this trip, the more I see the more I realize how much I haven’t seen.  Next time I’m here I would love to rent a car and drive to the Isle of Skye and…  Well, that is for another time and another trip.  As for now I’m excited to get to the next travel destination: Belgium!  Chocolate mmmmm…

Until tomorrow and the new adventure…

Rachel