My Favorite Place: Scotland, Both City and Country

A little over a year ago, in June 2017, I got to travel to Scotland as part of a study-abroad program (in other words, I convinced my parents to pay for it by explaining I would get class credit). This program was practically tailored for me: titled "Psychology in Scotland," I was in Scotland for the entire month of June, got my capstone class out of the way, and got As in both the classes I took there. Traveling to Scotland was a once in a lifetime experience, and I have made it an item on my bucket list to return there again someday, either as a visit or a permanent resident.

As it turns out, Scotland in June is a perfect time to visit. Winters there can get extremely cold, but while I was there the weather hovered between 40°F and 75°F (it never got above 80°). It was rainy and sometimes chilly, but overall very pleasant. More so than Oklahoma weather, by far.

One of the more fascinating things about visiting Scotland is just the history there. Unlike Oklahoma (and the United States in general), there are buildings in Scotland that are literally centuries old. One of these places that we visited was the Edinburgh Castle, which overlooks the city.

Image information: a view of Edinburgh Castle. This is the entrance to the castle, where all visitors enter. Source: Visit Scotland

(Image information: personal picture I took of my ticket in front of Edinburgh Castle; photo from June 2017)

(Image information: an overview of the city of Edinburgh from the Castle; personal photo from June 2017)

The castle was amazing to tour. I got an audio guide (which I highly recommend for any kind of tours or museums) and just wandered around for an hour while examining things that were older than the United States government. 

While the cities in Scotland are amazing for their architecture, history, and overall appearance, the countryside was in a class of its own. As part of the program, the class and professors went on an overnight bus trip up north to Inverness. The bus had a tour guide who stopped at various locations, such as Loch Ness, to show off the country. The weather wasn't always quite cooperative during the trip, but it was still an incredible experience.

Image information: a view of the Scottish countryside; personal photo from June 2017

Image information: a different view; personal photo from June 2017

Both of the photos were taken on my phone through a bus window. It still doesn't do justice to the view of course, but I keep these images as the lock and home screen on my phone so I can be reminded of my experience of a lifetime whenever I want.

I look forward to the day when I can go back again. While I definitely took some pieces of Scotland back with me (both souvenirs and memories), I almost feel like I left a part of myself there. All the better reason to return.