Keep The Heid!

Urqhart Castle, Loch Ness, Scotland

Loch Ness Beauty

 "Keep the heid!" (keep the heed) is a Scottish saying that means "Stay calm, don't get upset." I loved it, and thought it would be the perfect title for this post. My journey has been so full since I last wrote, it is amazing how much can happen in such a short amount of time. I am having a great time for sure, but this is definitely a more challenging road than I anticipated. I really think the hardest part for me, is that I am doing and seeing and experiencing so many wonderful things, but I have no one to share it with! I find myself in a new places, or on gorgeous landscapes, exploring so much beauty, breathtaking sites, and rich history, and so often I want to turn to my left (or right) and say "Can you believe this!?," or "Look at that!," or Isn't this amazing!?" ...and no one is there. I almost feel as if I am doing you all an incredible injustice by even attempting to put into words all that I am seeing and doing, because it just doesn't compare to the actual experience. I have always been someone who appreciates having my alone time and taking moments to spend with myself, and love that I have the freedom to do that here. I can go wherever I want, do whatever I want, and experience anything I can imagine. I really don't take that for granted...but sometimes, I wish I had someone here to share it with, and it makes me feel a little lonely and sad. This usually happens when I'm feeling tired, or when I lay down in a hostel on a bunk bed in the room I'm sharing with 15 other people. It really is so important to take a day or two every now and then when you don't have to be "on the go" ...just to hang out and rest, and not feel as if you have to do all this sightseeing and walking through town. It's hard not to feel a little guilty on those days -- I worry that if I spend a day resting I will run out of time and not get to see or do something that I really wanted to. But you have to make yourself rest! I have found that I really look forward to my train rides from city to city. It is a great time for me to catch up on my personal journal, or nap, or enjoy the scenery. I have tried so many times to take pictures out the train window, but unfortunately my camera doesn't capture the sights well. I guess those incredible views are a little something special just for me :-) With all that said, I am meeting some truly incredible folks over here, and  spending time with new friends from all over the world has been one of the most enriching parts of my trip thus far. And surprisingly, most of them have been travelling solo as well! So we meet and share our stories of what brings us to the travelling side of life, and what our post-journey plans might be. Having people to talk to, get to know, and go sightseeing with really eases the anxiety whenever I feel homesick. And I am getting better at just throwing myself into the melting pot of travellers, as opposed to keeping to myself until someone comes and talks to me. None of you will believe this, probably, but I am actually quite shy if/when I find myself in an unfamiliar situation. I know, I know, it was a surprise to me too ;-)

My first picture with a Bagpipe

So I have been in Scotland for nine days now, and it has been a wonderful rollercoaster ride of experience! I began in Inverness (smack dab in the middle of the country), where I luckily was able to meet up with a friend of a friend who took me on a walk around town. Inverness is a great town, not to big, not too busy...really just perfect. Oh, random thought: I LOVE BAGPIPES. Seriously could listen to them all day. I knew this before coming to Scotland, but I was worried I might get tired of them...NOPE. Can't get enough. If I didn't have my guitar to lug around, I would buy a set of them so I could learn. It is nuts how much I love these things. I'm pretty sure I must have been a bagpipe in a past life. So Inverness is great, met a wonderful crew at the hostel I was staying at, particulary Lili, who is from Belgium...I just thought the world of her, she was so kind and wonderful to spend time with...and she has a beautiful french accent that I could listen to all day! 

Me at Urquhart Castle with Loch Ness in the background

So in Scotland...people DRINK. Like, a LOT. And on a level so far above my capabilities, Haha! I have done my fair share of drinking in Scottish pubs over the last week and a half. I loved this one Pub, Hootananny -- it was the epitome of whatever you are imagining a Scottish Pub to be like. Wood floors (great for stomping!), traditional Scottish music (I swear I will get some videos posted soon!), loud, boisterous, dancing, frivolity...I went there on my first night in Scotland (and several nights after!) and the moment I walked in, I thought "WELCOME TO SCOTLAND, ANNIE!" The great thing is that they have Strongbow (Dry English Cider) on tap in most pubs (and I must also mention that they sell it in 2-liter bottles here, but I haven't brought myself to go there just yet! :-) haha), which happens to be a favorite of mine. Of all the pubs I've been to, this one gets my vote, simply because it had such a traditionally Scottish feel to it. I took a day trip to Loch Ness (about a 30 minute bus ride from Inverness) where I toured Urquhart Castle and the Loch (pictured above). No Nessie sightings unfortunately, but I was scanning the water pretty intently for a while! I also went down to the village of Drumnadrochit,  just off Loch Ness and walked around in their shops full of Nessie memorabilia and Scottish souvenirs. 

Kristen (Canada), Me, Andrea (Italy), Andy (Germany), Linda (Norway), Maragaret (Canada)
Pub Crawl in Edinburgh

I also spent two days in Edinburgh where I stayed at the Castle Rock Hostel which had an amazing view of Edinburgh Castle just out the front door. There I met a bunch of travellers from Canada, a couple Aussies, and a lovely girl from Norway! We all ganged up and had a blast on some city pub crawl's...Edinburgh is a great city as well...LOTS to do there. I particularly enjoyed Calton Park, which sits above the city and is full of monuments and beautiful architecture as well as plush green foliage. At the top of Calton Hill, you get amazing views of the city of Edinburgh, as well as views all the way out to the North Sea (see photos)! I also hiked Arthur's seat with a few friends. It was quite a haul, but we made it, although I did get stung by a caterpillar. Yes, I said caterpillar. You know the ones with all the bristles? Got me right on the ankle, which promptly displayed a rash and welt formation alongs with a terrible sting and swelling. That wasn't very fun, but thanks to my first aid survival kit (Shout-out to my Aunts who swore it would come in handy!) I was able to diagnose and treat my injury :-) ...The hostel I stayed at was probably the coolest so far...but the main reason it was so cool, was because the staff are IN LOVE with Bon Jovi! I walked in to Bon Jovi blasting at the front desk, a Bon Jovi backdrop on the office computer, and a poster of Crocodile Dundee that said: "Mick Dundee says 42 days until Bon Jovi!" (random!) which was counting down the days until Bon Jovi comes to Scotland :) ...Clearly it was the perfect place for me to stay! Edinburgh is also a lovely town to just walk around in. It balances itself between an "old town" and a "new town" -- extremely old buildings vs. very modern architecture. 

Me, Margaret, Paul, Ryan at the crest of Arthur's Seat

Top of Calton Hill, overlooking Edinburgh

So after lots of action and adventure in Inverness and Edinburgh, I have found myself in a small town off the coast of Findhorn Bay called "Forres." Perhaps one of the loveliest (and luckiest) stories of my trip thus far...


On my train from Liverpool to Inverness (9 days ago), I was exhausted and actually really looking forward to the nine hour train ride so that I could catch up on both sleep and writing. I had just spoken with Patrick on the phone, and was a little teary, since I was sick with a cold, tired, and missing home (I get pretty pathetic when I'm not feeling well). There was a cute, little, older woman sitting across the aisle from me, and she started talking with me. We ended up speaking for an hour at least, about well, everything. She was lovely to talk with, and made me feel better, as only "grandparents" can. :-) Just before her stop, she wrote down her contact information and told me that if I needed anything during my travels in Scotland to please get in touch with her, she would love to have me visit Forres. Little did I know that she and her husband run a small Bed & Breakfast here, where they offered to let me stay for 2 nights so that I could get some good rest, good food, and do my laundry. They have been the most delightful people to get to know on my trip so far. I just love it here. It has been so peaceful and I am really feeling rested and rejuvenated. They took me to Findhorn Bay and Moray Firth (bodies of water) and I have been enjoying tea and great conversation! Pat and Don are a wonderful couple and graciously share the spirit of true Scottish hospitality at its finest. I will be sad to leave here tomorrow, but with a pack of clean laundry and a tummy full of delicious food, I will be ready to pick up where I left off! They have truly been so kind and welcoming to a traveller like myself and I am so grateful for my time spent with them. 


I will pause for now, but will report more very soon! Tomorrow I leave for the west coast of Scotland: Kyle of Lochalsh, Eilean Donan Castle, and then a few days on the Isle Skye. Pray for good weather!


Love to all!


"And then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk to bloom." --Anais Nin


And and appropriate song...hmmm...the Scottish National Anthem on bagpipes perhaps!?