I’ll Be in Scotland ‘Afore Ye

Moody, wild, variable, cold, then hot, then cold. You might think I’m talking about someone I know. But no. I’m talking about the wonder that is Scotland. I’ve been a lifelong fan, stemming from PBS specials, historical drama and yes, Outlander – books and TV series. I also follow a number of UK photographers that showcase the landscapes of Scotland and I knew I had to get there some day.

That day came in June, as part of the guided tour I spoke about in my last post. Although there were elements of the tour that didn’t fully appeal to me, none of that applies to the country, the people, the culture and the history of Scotland. I loved every minute of my time there.

This post is about what I saw, along with photographs. I hope you enjoy the tour as much as I did. A couple disclaimers: I don’t typically photograph people, so you won’t see many here. You also need permission to post their image if you feature individuals, although some of my relatives just might appear here regardless. And I did alter some photographs to remove the massive crowds and other distractions at some of these venues. And I don’t really talk about or showcase the shows that we attended. Just so you know…

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Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round…

I’ve just returned from a whirlwind tour of Scotland and Ireland, arranged through a tour company, and executed as a bus tour. It lasted 16 days, including a day each to fly over and back. There were a number of firsts here for me and I thought as I work on the photos from the trip, I would share some impressions of travelling this way.

Bus tours are very popular for seniors, providing a way to see large swaths of the world without the need to hike, climb, paddle, run, bike or any of the physical effort needed in more traditional multi-country tours. They are second for seniors only to cruises, both of which are now in my travel playbook at this stage of my life.

Find out what I loved, what I didn’t love and what you might want to consider if looking at this travel option.

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