Dreaming of the Scottish Highlands
There’s a part of me that almost doesn’t want to talk about Scotland.
When something you’ve dreamed of for so long is suddenly within reach, it’s exciting and unbelievable and scary at the same time. You kind of don’t want to talk about it too much or share your excitement with other people because…what if you jinx it? What if something happens at the last minute and it doesn’t push through?
Ahh, but what if it does?
What if — just a little over a month from now — I really do find myself in places like these?
The Scottish Highlands is where my sister and I will hopefully be for a few precious days next month. We will be going on a day tour from Inverness with Andrew MacDonald of Hame Tours and to say that we’re looking forward to it is an understatement. Andrew specializes in Highland tours that dig deep into the country’s cultural marrow — their website calls it “Highland heritage tours & musical encounters” and that’s exactly what my sister and I are interested in. Andrew is also an accomplished folk singer and his love for his home spills into each page of his website. The people over at TripAdvisor can’t say enough good things about him and his tour — seriously, each and every review is 5 stars — so it should be an unforgettable day.
(Plus — and I know this is silly but — isn’t “Andrew MacDonald” such a Scottish name? I’m always like: oooh, I have an email from Andrew MacDonald! I guess I really am going to Scotland!)
Almost too good to be true but…well, I’ve got the tickets and the visa so…I guess I really am going to Scotland — yay!
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So excited for you! Have a fabulous time.
Alison <3
Thank you Alison! How are you and Don? I hope you are both well and planning your own adventures too. 🙂
Hi Alison! So silly, I was cleaning out my Spam folder and I’d clicked the Empty button before I realized that one of the comments was from you. I don’t know why WordPress put it there! But I did see the word “Turkey” before it completely disappeared so I assume that’s where you are or heading to next. Have a great time there. All the best to you both. <3
Yes, Turkey, Jordan and Egypt – on Aug 23. So excited! WP does funny things sometimes 🙂
I found this in the Spam section again! Plus one from another WordPress friend. Something’s definitely up. Anyway… Turkey, Jordan and Egypt! Sounds wonderful. I hope you both have a wonderful time there. <3
Thank you ladies for the mention of Hame Tours. I,m looking forward to meeting you and helping you enjoy the Scottish Highland in all its many moods and majesty.
Andrew Ross MacDonald
We can’t wait. Thank you Andrew!
You’ve got to be bursting at the seams with excitement! I’m happy to hear the trip is so near and as a reader just cannot wait get your thoughts on your Scotland experience and see the beautiful photographs you’ll have taken. The pictures you posted are making me jealous! If I could lay on that grass and never move I would. I only spent 2 days in Scotland but it was truly a long-time dream come true so I relate to how you’re feeling and I’m sincerely thrilled for you!
Thank you! I’m so afraid I’ll jinx it by talking about it because ugh life has a weird sense of humor sometimes. But I’m really, really, really looking forward to it. We’ll just be two days in Inverness too, so I don’t expect I’ll be able to see everything, but I would be happy with 2 days of that stunning landscape. I wish you could come with us, your photographs would do Scotland justice for sure.
I need one of those thingies from Harry Potter that looks like a random boot to transport me to Scotland. I think you’ll see so much in 2 days anyway and the landscape will be so breathtaking. The rest of your trip is in England right?
I just found this comment in my Spam folder! Together with one from another WordPress friend. I wonder if I’ve accidentally not replied to your (or anyone else’s) comments because I just emptied the Spam folder right away. 🙁 Anyway, yes, London will be our base for most of our trip. If we all had portkeys, I wonder if traveling would be as special? A portkey would be fun, though, like it could be a tradition, when we “come of age” we get a portkey that will work only 10 times, and we can choose when/where/how we want to use it. 🙂
That happens to me now and then and I can’t figure out why!
Portkey–I forgot the term. I like your plan, a limited-use portkey. Maybe I’ll brainstorm a list of what I’d use it for. It’s a bit different than the “Where would you vacation?” question because it eliminates the experiences we have getting to and from and everything we see and learn in between which is sometimes a really great part of travel or at least an invaluable learning experience. Or am I taking this too seriously?? I think I shall make a portkey list. Thanks for the inspiration.
London will be amazing!! The changing of the keys!! Keep your peepers open for Cillian!
A portkey list will be fun! If I see Cillian, I’ll make a fool of myself and beg him to say hi to you on video.
(and for Mark Strong! and maybe Jude Law! and…that’s it!)
Ever since we watched the blockbuster Braveheart, we’ve been wanting to visit the verdant country of Scotland. Just look at those photos; it is impossible not to be tempted to go there! Haay, if milyonaryo lang mi noh, nag hike na mi dha.
Nice daw kaayo i-hike sa West Highland Way. Kaya ra na nah ninyo uy, pag-ipunan lang ang airfare kay mao man dako2 jud, but ang uban ma-hinay-hinay ra man ug bayad. Di gani ko milyonaryo (or dili gani even half-milyonaryo lang hehe) but ma-hinay-hinay ra man sya ug save. I hope maka-adto mo someday soon! 🙂
oh my god… I’ve been dreaming about the Scottish Highlands for years… I’m so happy you are going to visit there… are you excited? 🙂 I’d love to see them through your eyes 🙂
I’m so excited, I’m actually scared something will happen and it won’t push through. Fingers crossed. Maybe when our boys are bigger we could take them to the Highlands and meet up there! ^_^
ps. my internet is so slow it would not even load the “like” button… and I need a “love” button anyway lol 🙂 will be catching up with you soon… xx
xx enjoy over there!
lol, finally got the internet connection to “like” the post… 🙂
it’s nice to return to it actually, as you are really so happy and excited about it… everything will be all right of course and you will then come up with unforgettable posts about your trip 🙂
Thank you! <3
So jealous! My dream as well. 😀
Let’s go meekay! 🙂 Uy how was Paris??
Paris was as beautiful and crowded as expected. I now wish I didn’t go to Versailles and instead went to Giverney or Mont St Michel. Haha. I will plan a better next time, sobra ka haphazard!
My host family used to live in Scotland. And they swear that it is a lovely place! So glad that you will get to travel there soon!
P.S. There are direct flights from Scotland to the Faroe Islands. 😀
Really?! I wish I could drop by the Faroe Islands! But ugh no time and no budget. If you can go to Scotland, my sister and I would love to have you come with us. 🙂
Another time, then! 😀 The Faroes is beautiful no matter which season. I would love to, but getting a visa for the UK is a real pain. :(((