Scotland was everything I’d hoped for and more.
But the weeks leading up to my departure were fraught with nerves and a fair amount of anxiety. This trip was more of a spiritual journey than a physical exploration of a beautiful country. It was an opportunity for this introvert to spread her wings, overcome her fears, and network with a group of amazing authors she’d never met before.
I’m proud to say I did just that. And more.
I hope you enjoy my journey.
Day 1- The beginning of the adventure
Okay, I’ll admit, this was the leg of the trip I’d been most worried about. How would I get myself from the airport to Edinburgh University where I was staying? I drive everywhere. But renting a car wasn’t an option.
First things first though…The luggage carousel. I wasn’t one of the first people off the plane, so when I arrived at pickup, the bags were already circulating. I waited, and waited, and waited some more. Our gate in Boston had changed, so after all the bags had disappeared, I’d started to fear that maybe my luggage hadn’t made it to Scotland. Maybe it was on its way to Atlanta like the unlucky lady beside me whose bag was, in fact, en route to Georgia.
I was standing in line at the claims window, sweating because I couldn’t feel the a/c. (apparently we’d arrived during a heatwave) ready to file a missing luggage report when I glanced over my shoulder, and lo and behold, I saw my bag on the conveyor.
I may have jumped for joy.
From there, I took the Skylink 300 to the university, which was about a 1 ½-2 hour trip through Edinburgh. Scotland’s capital is a walking city, so after the bus dropped me off, I hauled my fifty-pound suitcase along the cobblestone sidewalk for a ½ mile trek, marveling at the architecture as I went.
When I arrived at the university, the lady at the reception desk was kind enough to offer to find me a room so I could immediately check-in. I think I may have looked quite frazzled, my hair wild due to the humidity. However, there was some kind of problem, so after fifteen minutes or so of waiting, she was able to link my room so I wouldn’t have to move when the conference began. I dropped my bags off, changed my shirt, and headed off to explore Edinburgh on foot.
Mapless.
Ha! Now I understand why Google warns you to double-check your route when you’re on foot. Google maps is not a walker’s friend. At least not in an old city like Edinburgh. The ten or more miles I walked that day contributed to the five pounds I lost, so in the end, it was a win-win for me!
I hope you enjoy the photos of Arthur’s Seat and downtown Edinburgh. I’ll be back next week to share Edinburgh Castle, Roslyn Chapel, Dunfermline Abbey & Palace, and more of beautiful Scotland.
Take care,
Lora
