Over the course of three weeks, I travelled to Italy, France, and all around the United Kingdom. And I loved all of the places I got to visit. Each city and country had so many things that were unique and amazing. But, overwhelmingly, my favorite place I visited was Edinburgh, Scotland. First thing in the morning, I climbed up to the top of Arthur’s Seat. I accidentally took the most difficult way up, but it was still so worth it. The view was so picturesque, and it was so peaceful. Also, as a lifelong Harry Potter fan, I had the chance to visit the Elephant House where J.K. Rowling wrote the books. Again, this was another thing I was able to cross off my bucket list. While at the café, I ran into some UGA graduates. Naturally, I was wearing a UGA sweatshirt. As I was paying for my meal, I heard a resounding “Go Dawgs” from two guys who had graduated from UGA in 2015 and just happened to be in the same exact place as us. Dawgs really do travel! As the day went on, I walked the Royal Mile and ate at a Frankenstein-themed restaurant. There were people dressed in full, traditional kilts playing the bagpipes up and down the streets. And as the sun was setting, I went on a historic ghost tour of the town and learned about the slightly theatrical history of the city.

I liked the small town feel of Edinburgh. It was simple to navigate, and everyone I interacted with was so incredibly polite. The town is filled with history and had an eclectic feel that I loved. It honestly reminded me a little bit of Athens, Georgia. The familiarity was very comforting after being in countries where English is not the primary language. Scotland is definitely on my list of places to visit again.