Lossiemouth

The Traveler

When you have communicated without using words,
When you have been invited into a stranger's home,
When you have found that "different" is not synonomous with "bad"
When you have found that people everywhere have the same fears, concerns, and joys that you do,
When you find more similarities than differences between cultures...

Then you have discovered the true difference between world traveler and tourist.



Looking back at our past week in Scotland, I have inadvertently received Scottish and English History 101. To rhythmically oversimplify:

Many many kings died,
Castles were built, witches were tried,
A king named James said, "Lets get together!"
So Scotland and England were tied forever.

Men in kilts tried to stand,
But Red Coats came and took their land,
This explains families in America named McDonald,
(But not the red-headed posterchild Ronald.)

A priest looked out over a lake,
A monster he saw-it was no mistake,
Now thousands of tourists come to see,
The swimming ancient called Nessie.

Today its mostly golf, whiskey, and hills,
However this beautiful land doesnt take bills,
It delights in using the British pound sterling,
Pay in pounds to see the Highland Games and curling.

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