Scotland (End of September)

      After touring Ireland, I traveled to Edinburgh Scotland, and the day I arrived also happened to be my birthday. After just leaving Ireland's varied cities and green country sides, that had been broken up by countless stone walls, I was expecting that Scotland would probably be very similar. I was, however, surprised to find that Scotland held a magic that really called to me personally.
      To start, Edinburgh may have been the only city I have ever visited that I would want to live. It was filled with not only a unique personality, but each building and city block whispered stories to all those that past. Edinburgh captured and presented to me everything I expected and hoped to find in a Celtic city.

      That first night, I stayed in my second and final hostel in my journey. It had the best accommodations, and had it's own bar/pub that served both good food and drinks for a great prices. After settling into the room, the option to go on a haunted ghost tour presented itself and I could think of no better way to spend my birthday night then ghost hunting in Scotland. The tour went through dark alleys, courtyards, a cemetery, and the grand finally was entering the under ground vaults where they had once been the site of torture chambers for the Scotland witchcraft trials. In one of the rooms an entire family, including little children, had been tortured to death.  And whether it was the stuffy humid atmosphere of the subterranean vaults or an otherworldly presence, there was definitely a feeling of unease in those dark spaces.

         
       The next morning was a longer drive up to the highlands of Scotland. The first difference that I noticed about Scotland opposed to Ireland was that instead of rolling green fields and stones walls, Scotland was thick with dense forest and otherworldly fog. It really felt like I was traveling through a land of magic and fantasy, one where at any moment a monstrous troll would simple step out upon the road.

     
       After the long day of driving through the winding mountain roads of north eastern Scotland, my path at last came to the shores of the famed Loch Ness. And upon inspection, it was easy to see how so many myths about creatures living in it's depths could come into being. The calm and clear waters would suddenly develop shadowy bodies that would shortly after appearing vanish. Or suddenly an underwater current would make its way across the Loch, only to fade away like a memory. The embracing mist only added to the mystery of Loch Ness.

       Shortly after visiting Loch Ness, I arrived at Eilean Donan Castle, the historical clan seat of my Scottish ancestors, the Mackenzie clan. Unlike many of the castles that we had passed, Eilean Donan had been rebuilt and served as a popular tourist attraction. Throughout the castle and the castle grounds I encountered many seals, badges, and crests telling of my ancestors time there. The castle itself was on the lake itself, and could only be accessed by either boat or the one stone bridge that led to its gates. Visiting Eilean Donan was one of the highlights of my journey through Scotland.

         The next part of my Scottish quest was a pilgrimage straight out of a fairy tail. I journeyed the Isle of Skye to find the legendary Fairy Pools of Scotland. They were well hidden, and most roads that led to the region were narrow on placed precariously on cliff edges. Then once I went as far as my car could go. I parked and continued on foot.
Hiking towards the pools, fools you into thinking that they are not even their, as the lay out of the country shows you only a larger stream that weaves in and out of the grand hills, but then, as if you stepped through a veil of glamour, you are surrounded by the Fairy Pools. This was by far the most beautiful, and awe inspiring part of Scotland, and my overall favorite location I visited. The waters were crystal clear, and as cold as ice. In several of the pools there were underwater arches, and unique stone formations. According to the legends the waters were supposed to hold magical properties that were rumored to heal people. So while I was there I could not help but dive in head first to one of the pools and retrieve a few stones. It proved to be both a chilling and empowering experience that I will never forget.

I must say that I really did leave a part of myself in Scotland.