We Found The Loch Ness Monster!

So one evening in November I received a message from my dear friend Bethany from back home saying "My friend Jenifer and I are planning a trip to Scotland in March. We're planning to fly into London. Wanna join us?" Without any hesitation I said "yes!"

 They gave me some ideas of where they wanted to visit. I quickly searched them up on Pinterest and simply agreed to everything. I had no high expectations on anything. I just knew that I was going to see gorgeous views.

Between the time of November and March I went to see my family in Florida. I arranged with the girls to meet up and discuss our trip. I got my Mum to tag along since she's my personal travel agent. In one afternoon,  we got our whole trip figured out. We left with hugs, smiles and a sense of excitement. For we knew that in less than 30 days we would start the #jfbgreatscotlandadventure!

As soon as Bethany and Jenifer landed in London the adventure began, literally. We had some problems with our car rental. Since most people in the UK drive manual, we had to wait for a few hours till an automatic car came along. 😐 Then having Bethany drive from the airport to my house (being jet lagged and having a few cups of coffee) sent my heart through a few roller coasters. Let's just say we almost went on the right side of the rode. But we got home safe, had a homemade Italian dinner (maybe Sainsbury had a lot to do with that dinner) and got ready for the start of the adventure.

Our trip actually started in Birmingham. And yes, Bethany was a safe driver the rest of the trip. I had my sign language assembly there. So the girls attended half of the assembly and then sight seed. While I  continued to watch fingers flashing at my face, lol. But they enjoyed it. They got to meet a good chunk of the people I know here in the UK. The day after the assembly we set off to our next leg of the trip, Glasgow. 

I heard so many negative things about Glasgow. People told me it was boring and not a lot to do there. Even though we only spent one night there, I quite liked it. It had a small city urban feel to it, but still homey. It was raining through most of our drive up there. But we had Disney tunes and 90's classics to keep us going.  As soon as we got into Glasgow it cleared up (but still cold.) We were welcomed but the sweetest lady at the reception desk. She gave us pointers about some places we wanted to see. "As soon as they opened the curtains and I saw the castle ruins, I cried." We knew had to see Castle Urquhart. The next morning we had to say goodbye Glasgow and head over to Fort William.

This was right outside our hotel room in Glasgow.

When we met up to discuss the trip with my Mum. She told we had to drive through Glencoe on our way to Fort William. Jenifer and Bethany already had it on her list. As soon as we got in the car my Mum said "your grandmother loved Glencoe. It was here favorite place to visit for our holidays." If my Nanny Isobel and Shasha loved it, so would I. 

I think our drive to Fort William was my favorite part. Anytime we saw anything breathtaking. We would stop the car and take pictures. No words can describe it and the pictures don't do it any justice.

Our whole trip was full of scenery like this. Just after every corner something beautiful and jaw dropping. I understand why my grandmother loved it here so much. I felt like I was personally getting to know her and understand the person she was. Also coming from a Scottish background, I got to understand that part of my hertiage more. Especially since my family actually use to live in Glenco. 

The rest of the trip were full of scenery like this. 

We met these sisters in Edinburgh.

The castle we trespassed on.

Castle Urquhart

Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye

Brother Rutherford gave a talk in front of this door!

But the whole trip was full of laughter, inside jokes and memories to share for the rest of my life. We went to the Isle of Skye and saw the fairy pools, went to Edinburgh and saw gorgeous men playing the bag pipes, went to Wisky disterally and nearly got drunk, trespassed onto Castles, visited my family's friends in New Castle, met an Asian with a Scottish accent, renacted a scene from Monty Python . At one point we had the front desk had to call us to say that our neighbors complained that we were too loud. All we were doing was laughing.

Since I was having such a great time with friends from back home, it made me a little home sick. But I am not done with my adventures here in London. It's crazy that it's been a year aleady. But, I still have to much to see and accomplish.