Scotland 2008
Scotland is beautiful. Hardly an original statement, I know. But it is nonetheless. It is rugged and pure and its varied terrain is surprising as much as it is spectacular.
One minute you are driving along beautiful coastline - everything green and lush - and the next you are between two peaks on what could pass for the surface of the moon, with snow dusting your car.
We went there in April, with none other than our favorites, The Lovelies, and with a special guest appearance by Lupo, The Rockin' Economist.
We were to fly to Edinburgh via Paris but - for the first time ever - we had a delay in Atlanta (a seat in first class wouldn't recline properly, no I am not kidding) that caused us to miss our connection at Charles DeGaulle. The airline offered to make alternate arrangements that involved a connection in Manchester, but this wouldn't get us to Edinburgh until 10PM. It was 7:30 in the morning when we arrived in Paris. Their plan would have us sitting in the Manchester airport for something like six hours. Forget That! But what to do?
Out of the blue Marissa belted out, "Let's rent a car and drive from Manchester to Edinburgh!" I was a little stunned that she was so eager to wing it - maybe the lack of sleep that usually comes with our transatlantic trips had messed her up? - but she proceeded to confirm that it was less than four hours drive and she would rather walk on her knees then spend the day at the Manchester airport. So drive we did and I've got to say, it was a much better idea. We made it in under four hours and the English and Scottish countrysides were delightful companions along the way.
I will say, though, that the last two hours of the trip were a little harrowing. First, about an hour outside of Edinburgh the lack of sleep (it had been almost 24 hours) and the low sun hitting me right in the eyes made for a dangerously drowsy drive. I just kept slapping myself in the face and faking the words "Oh no, I am fine. No problem." Then, once we got in to Edinburgh it was a cruel gauntlet to run as we negotiated a strange city from the opposite side of the road, not to mention the numerous blocked off streets due to major renovations of something historical.
The Lovelies arrived the next day and it was off to Stirling. We discovered, though, that along the way was The Falkirk Wheel, which just happens to be one of the most elegant engineering marvels of the 21st century. We had read about a few years back and had been very interested in but filed away as we had no plans to visit Scotland at the time.
I love the feeling you get when seeing something you never thought you actually get to see. That is one of the major joys of traveling. The first time I felt it was when I was an exchange student in Brazil,
"The Amazon river? Holy crap, I am swimming in the Amazon River!"
And every sense is alive - the water on your skin, the color of the sky, the smell of the air, the noise of the bugs, it is all happening at once but you feel every sensation and I swear to god I can remember each one even 24 years later.
Seeing the Falkirk Wheel was like that. I remember thinking,
"I read about this in the New York Times two years ago and now here I am. Life has been kind to me."
