Scotland Here I Come

If there’s one thing I’ve learned by having a job where I constantly travel, it’s how to efficiently plan a trip. Bordering on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I make itineraries, print maps (with routes highlighted) to the attractions that I want to see. I find photographs that show me exactly what I’m looking for. I know which cross-streets I can find an entrance to the subway/metro/tube/trolley and how close it takes me to the places where I need to be. I’ve mastered the art of hailing a cab in some of the world’s busiest cities.

I know which areas of the city where my cell-phone gets signal, and which areas to stay away from. Learning a few quick phrases beforehand helps me avoid flipping pages through an English-“insert language here” dictionary, also helping me avoid people quickly losing patience. I always have at least $100 tucked away in my shoe. I know that the essentials go in my front pockets, and that anything in my back pockets I will most likely lose. I know the importance of having a pocket full of change.

That said, I just started planning my trip to Scotland. I haven’t been since I was very young, and even then, I was sheltered by the presence of my parents. It’s time to go back to my home country, alone and unafraid. To search out the places that molded my ancestors. Anyone have any suggestions?

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