Romping Around in the Highlands

2004-09-18 | Inverness, United Kingdom Today was the most amazing day of my entire trip thus far. Last night when I arrived in Edinburgh, I got grabbed some fish and chips, talked to Dan and Mom back at home, settled in and then booked the macbackpackers tour right in the nick of time. We left this morning and I was pretty tired, but Bill (the coolest guide ever) was really enthusiastic and fun. We went from Edinburgh to our first destination in Potlochry, but before that we saw an amazing abbey along with this beautiful river. We saw the Edradour distillery which is the smallest and most primitive scotch distillery. We took a tour which would make Kirt proud. But while driving through the highlands we stopped to drink scotch while entering into the borders from lower Scotland to the highlands. Standing here drinking a single malt listening to Scotlands national anthem and enjoying the view I realized how much I love hearing about the

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2004-09-17 | Edinburgh, United Kingdom I woke up and I said goodbye to my Israeli friends; gave them a postcard. The fire alarm woke me up today. I made it to the front desk just in time to get my 10 P deposit back.

Today I saw the amazing British museum. It had everything from all over the world and I especially liked the Parthenon Sculptures.

After that (I spent about two hours) I went into a tourist shop with cheesy gifts. I bought a pair of boxers that I will remember London the most. They say "Mind the Gap". That's what the subway says every time you leave to make sure everyone (even the dumb American tourists) gets off safe. After that I went back to the hostel and picked up my backpack and went on the internet. I tried loading all my pics and putting them on the internet but the connection seemed to refuse the pics. I was pissed. I lost two pounds.

After that I went to the train and had a nice long conversation with two very nice English people. This really helped with my

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Day 4

2004-09-16 | London,United StatesSo, this morning I checked out of my first hostel and I went directly to thetrain station at Kings Crossing and picked up a ticket for tomorrow toEdinburgh!! My plan is to arrive and in the morning start this 3 day back packingtour in the highlands. This will certainly be a huge change of pace. I really didn't do a whole lot today...I did have the most amazing fishand chips. I spent a lot of time visiting the national museum. Almosteveryday I am in these museums and I get very tired from the sleepingpattern change I am in. So yesterday and the day before I took naps on thenice leather couches. A lot of people do it, so you don't have to worry. Iwas safe.I was feeling a bit lonely too this day. I think it was because I was outon the city with no accommodation and no one to hang out with. I still needto get my feet wet with these kinds of feelings. But almost like someonesent for me I met someone in the museum from NYC and I

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I was once partying with some college Cross Country friends on night. This freshman girl who got pregnant by another freshman on our Cross Country team was about 6 to 8 months pregnant and she felt the need to drink.

I was sooooo freaking pissed when I saw her with a drink and I felt morally inclined to say something to her.

I pretty much yanked out her drink and told her no. But she just bitched me out.

I hope the kid is not retarded because of it.

This entry was written in the airport before my flight left for London. I thought I might share it along with my final reflections of my trip

So I am here at the airport waiting for my adventure to begin. But unlike in the movies, where actions don't have a direct affect on you, in my life, this trip has affected me and the characters around me.

It is the most emotional thing to see the ones you love sad. They are sad of the unknown. Mostly thinking something bad is going to happen. My mom felt so much pain when she let me go off on my trip. She never tells me of any pain she is in, but I saw it in her eyes when I said my final goodbye. My throat and eyes hold back the emotions because I hate to see my mom sad. Every time I see her sad my body just folds in pain.

I hold things back because for one... I don't want to bust out crying in an airport and also because this trip will probably change my life and I will become a greater man because of it.

Those who I love are . . . Read More..