My original plan for my final day in Scotland was to tour the Edinburgh Castle, then the Writers Museum, then call an Uber for a ride to a brewery. A quick Google search led me to believe my best option was Caledonia Brewing, located in the Shandon area of Edinburgh, about two miles from our […]

Under the tourist-littered streets of Edinburgh lies a city all its own. A dark, damp labyrinth of chambers filled with stories of murder, and tales of woe, from hundreds of years ago.

A soft wind pulled at my jacket and the ends of my hair as if to coax me forward into the Wild Garden. I had been warned of Scottish faeries, and their habit of spiriting away unwary visitors to the garden, so it seemed wise to wait for the breeze to pass before making my way down the stone stairs and into yonder wilderness.

I settle down in the stiff blue train seat headed south to Perth and stare in awe at the book placed like the crown jewels in my lap. It is The Outlandish Companion Volume One, and nestled upon the first page lays the signature of THE Diana Gabaldon.

I glided out of the coach bus to meet the soft earth at my feet. Surrounding me were walls of ancient stone with green fields that went on for miles. To be honest I was not happy about my location. Our destination for the time was to visit the grave of Rob Roy, a Scottish Robin Hood-like figure.

I’ve found a new version of myself here in Scotland. And while I’ve been trying different and new things, and seeing a different world, there is a lot about this beautiful country that brings me back home.

I spent my evening hours at the River House restaurant with my classmates, officially ordering my first alcoholic beverage. I felt overwhelmed by the elaborate names blended onto the pages of the menu, and it was a few minutes before I finally decided on a strawberry Bellini cocktail.