My bank account might be more aligned with the stretched to the limits category, but it's better not to think about that.
Scotland was a lot of things, but most importantly it was a lot of things that I wasn't expecting. There was haggis (only about three quartres as good as the chicken innards soup we had last semester), there were dudes in kilts, and there were sheep and bagpipes and scotch, but there were also some of the friendliest people from all over the world hanging around our hostel, rolling green hills for hiking on the fringe of Edinburgh, a cozy old world feel reverberating from the cobblestone streets, and a sense of removed familiarity. St. John's on steroids.
More will come -- much more. It's after midnight now though, after a weekend that began at 5:30 on Friday morning and didn't include enough time to see all of the city, let alone get proper rest. For now, these glimpses will have to do.
Before we left Edinburgh this morning, myself and a small group went to the top of Arthur's Seat, a hike in Holyrood Park that goes about 250 metres up and offers a panoramic look at Scotland's capital. On the way up, it came up how we often get ourselves into these situations where we don't really see the world around us because, instead of actually looking at it, we're so preoccupied with taking a camera out and clicking away, we create an artificial memory to savour later, rather than just existing in the present. It's not the same -- not even close. But we all do it.
This time around, I didn't bite. I still took pictures, but I also took the opportunity to sit on the edge of a grassy knoll on a Sunday afternoon overlooking Edinburgh and just take it all in for a real, legitimate moment. The memory of today just might stick around for a long time yet.
You should stick around too, and I'll tell you all about it, as soon as I get the chance.
Cheers,
rb
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