There are places we dream about visiting one day as a child. Sometimes those places disappoint upon arrival. And sometimes those places carve an indelible place in our hearts. For me, a place that I wanted to go from a young age was Scotland. I had a nanny who had emigrated from Glasgow who became part of my family for nine years. When she joined our household, I was only 7 years old and she was only 23. At that point in my life, she was the most exotic person I knew and I was always intrigued by the mysterious land from which she came. What did I know about it except for the legend of the Loch Ness monster?! After a few months, I started getting used to her thick accent (now, I don't even notice it!). Little did I know that she would completely change my life in so many wonderful ways. She was the first one to introduce me to salt and vinegar chips, Maltesers, phrases like "cheeky monkey" and oddly enough, country music! Sometimes you don't have to even leave your own country to have a cultural experience...
When I finally made it to Scotland, I was 21 years old - almost the age she was when she came to the United States. I was bewitched by not only its stunning landscapes, but by its charming and kind people. My husband couldn't understand a lick the Glaswegians were saying, but I had no problem... It felt like coming home.
Here are some of my favorite snapshots:
The atmospheric Dunnottar Castle outside Stonehaven, Scotland.
Of course, portions of Mel Gibson's Hamlet were shot here in 1990.
Where else?
The famous Loch Ness. I couldn't resist.
You couldn't help but pull over on the side of the road to look at the magnificent scenery.
This was on a drive to Loch Torridon.
Sometimes we felt like we had the whole country all to ourselves...
Well, almost all to ourselves.
Enjoying some typical Scottish weather at Eilean Donan Castle.
Gorgeous waterfalls in Glen Nevis.
Could the little lanes of Crail be any cuter?
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