I try to be a bit cynical when I travel to different cultures. I remind myself that the portrayals in art are usually romantic hyperboles, and I anticipate commercialism to have polluted the society into a level of artificiality.
In Scotland, however, I found the villages to be genuinely quaint, the landscape shockingly beautiful, and the people robustly amiable. I wasn't disappointed in the least! When I walked out of the Glasgow airport, the air was cold and, to my personal delight, the sky was gray with gloomy clouds.
I love the rain. And I love the cold. Scotland certainly fulfilled both of these loves as it misted or sleeted most days (and the temperature remained below freezing in the north).
I find that many introverts like these conditions; they encourage us to find comfort within ourselves - creatively and intellectually. Also, we're given a perfectly legitimate excuse to remain bundled inside with delicious hot drinks and wonderful, wonderful books (or what have you)!
That first day we drove through the Scottish countryside, the sky was patched with misting clouds while sunlight shone crisp and golden onto the steep crags.
My first impression of Scotland was of epic natural beauty. As we drove through the countryside, I decided firmly that this place came closer to magical than anywhere I'd been - no hyperboles necessary.
No comments:
Post a Comment