The most beautiful place was the first place I ever went to visit - the Highlands of Scotland. I treated myself after I got my first job, and my first credit card. The first thing I ever bought was tickets to England, and I spent about three days alone in London, wandering around streets, enjoying myself immensely.
Then I took a train up to Glasgow, seeing the English countryside. Glasgow was dark and gorgeous, and then in the evening, I rode the train up to Kyle of Loch Alsh, this provincial town up north, where there was a hostel I booked at.
The hostel was massively uncomfortable (sleeping with total strangers in the same room was not the most restful experience ever for me), but I got up before the sun the next morning, checked out, and went down to the lake edge.
It was pebbles instead of sand, and I just looked out over the water as the sun rose. I had my Ultravox CD in the player, and listened to the music as the sun rose.
A sheet of clouds rolled over the top of the hills, then down the other side and over the water. I couldn't pull my eyes away, and I never wanted to leave that moment. I had a feeling that I belonged there - like, my DNA belonged there. It was hard to pull myself away.
I got back on the train back to London, and saw the landscape I'd missed in the dark on the way up. I couldn't believe my eyes.
You see pictures of these things, but the real thing floored me - it was all I could do to keep from licking the window or jumping off the train to disappear forever into those hills. I would have died, but I'd have died happy.
Decided to live and cherish the memory of it instead, which I have for many years. Would love to go back.
What is the longest trip that you have ever gone on? Where did you go?
I think the longest trip I've ever been on was a tie between the England/Scotland trip, and my trip to Maui in Hawaii. Both were about a week long. Yes, I know. I need to get out more.
Hopefully, someday. Right now, I content myself with Google Maps trips on my lunch break sometimes. My favorite virtual trips have been Italy, Denver in the mountains, Norway on those long bleak roads, Hawaii, and Ireland. Anywhere in Ireland - it's all gorgeous.
What has been your favorite vacation? Where did you go and why was it special?
My honeymoon. Sam and I couldn't afford to go on one right away after we got married (there is no lurch in the world like the lurch of showing up at work on Monday morning after you've gotten married last Saturday).
We waited a couple of years to save up for something nice, and went to Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens for our honeymoon. I think the anticipation really made it special, and it was a lovely time. Very relaxing and beautiful in the town, and had loads of fun at Busch Gardens. Bought a pennywhistle I never learned to play, but I would buy another one if I went back. Ate whatever we wanted until we died - great restaurants. Screamed on the rides. German folk dancing. Couldn't have been better.
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