My First Visit to My Favorite Country in the World

Trip Start Sep 29, 2001
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Trip End Jun 13, 2001


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Flag of United Kingdom  ,
Tuesday, November 13, 2001

We took an overnight train to Edinburgh. We got to know this train very well because we did the exact same trip a couple dozen times over the next several months. We didn't have to pay for a sleeper car and the seats were covered with our BritRail pass. And it saved us a night's rent at a hostel.

One of my most vivid memories of my life is the first moment stepping off the train in Edinburgh. The entire town has the most unique scent. It smells like malt or barley or something from the brewery in town. I've heard others say they don't like it. I found it magical. And felt truly far from home. For the first time ever, felt like I was living a fiction - another world, another time, another life. This is my favorite part of traveling. That feeling. It's overwhelming. It was the greatest feeling in the world. And the more I travel, the harder it is to come by. But I can always recall that first moment in Scotland. And I can feel it again, and be truly happy.

We spent 10 days in Scotland. We stayed at the Cowgate Tourist Hostel. The place was pretty nice and we met the coolest Australian couple. They were a big part of our trip to Europe, so we're very lucky we ended up in that particular hostel.
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