EDINBURGH, Scotland

This past weekend (June 19-21) JT and I traveled by train to Edinburgh, Scotland, one of the most unique places I have ever seen with my own eyes. What made the experience even better is knowing that I have Scottish blood running through my veins. These people, though encompassed by a history full of hardship & struggle, were by far the nicest and most generous I have come in contact with since leaving the States.

The National Express journey took nearly 4 1/2 hours, about the same as a trip from B'ham to Destin, FL. It felt much shorter, however, due to the pristine landscapes which sped by outside the window of the car. The closer we got to Edinburgh, the more breathtaking the scenery. Vast English farmland with medieval fortifications ultimately gave way to rolling hills full of cows, sheep, and millions of flowers. Scurrying rabbits could be seen in packs of a dozen or so. Finally, about an hour before arrival, we reached the coast of the North Sea. The train hugged immense, rocky cliffs and occasionally passed quaint port towns with populations of maybe a few hundred to a thousaand Scots. My favorite part of all were the occasional couples, obviously lovers, strolling in fields of wheat alongside the cliffsides hand in hand. I couldn't help but think of Amanda each time.

Upon arrival JT and I dominated some cheap Chinese quisine in the local mall which is adjacent to Waverly Station. Then, with ease, we found the Grosvenor Gardens Hotel - a small, but comfortable establishment just down an alley off of one of the main streets. An oriental family ran the show and were incredibly friendly and helpful during our stay. Then, after a solid nap, me and my pal explored the city and came across the Royal Mile, probably the most historical and seemingly ancient cobblestone street ever tread by our feet. Tales of the place date back to the 13th/14th centuries, if not before.

Here are some of the cool things we did over the span of the weekend:

1) Ghost Tour - This was both hilarious and frightening. The first half consisted of a tour around the streets of the old town area, with absolutely unbelieveble and obviously stretched stories of cults, sorcery, wicked religion, monsters, public executions, etc. Later on, however, we were taken down into a catacomb beneath a particularly haunted area of the city. Talk about eerie... As we went from chamber to chamber our guide - the best storyteller I've ever encountered - blew out the candles which lit the rooms. During the end of the tour a few of us standing in the back could have sworn we heard a female's voice crying, or moaning very faintly from a pitch black hallway to our rear. What was it? We'll never know... The tour ended just after midnight.

2) Edinburgh Castle - The medieval military fortification sits high upon a cliff knkown as 'The Rock' which overlooks the town, ocean, and farmlands. It was carved from volcanic activity long, long ago. The scenery looking out over the cities & hills was amazing. While everything was extremely interesting and insightful, especially the headset they provided to help guide you along your way, my favorite part was without doubt the prison deep in the belly of the castle. The curators did a great job of re-creating the atmosphere by hanging dozens of hammocks, laying out various foods and games to pass the time, and even playing recordings of conversations which may have taken place between inmates.

3) The Scotch Whiskey Experience - This was just straight up bad ass. That's the only way to put it. You ride in a 'whiskey barrel' along a slow track which teaches you the step-by-step process of making Scottish whiskey. All the while your guide and teacher is a ghostly figure which represents the man who ran the distillery for nearly 70 years in the 1800s. After, an actual fellow brought our group into a room and proceeded to explain how a whiskey's taste depends on the region of Scotland it is brewed in. There are 4 - based on geographical location and the natural resources used in the aging process. The tour ended with a tasting session in one of the largest Scotch Whiskey collections on earth, nearly 4,000 bottles strong. I'm not a big fan of its taste, but it sure helped sprout a few new chest hairs...

I love Scotland and hope to visit the entire region before my time on earth is done.