Footsteps

Throughout my study abroad trip this summer, I made it a goal to take pictures of where my feet have been so that I don't have to keep pinching myself to remember that I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the United Kingdom. Most of the pictures probably look very similar, but the UK is just absolutely beautiful. I will always remember the wonderful times that were spent there.

Ireland

Wales

England

Scotland

This entire trip will always have a place in my heart, especially all of the places that I have visited. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that I had to be able to experience all of this.

You Know You're In Scotland When...

It's cool for guys to wear skirts (kilts).

Visiting England was incredible. Too bad I had to leave it, but the study abroad group and I carried on towards Scotland. On our way to Scotland, we stopped at Hadrian's Wall. It is a wall like the China Wall, but not really. The wall is a 72 miles long boundary that was built around AD 122. Its purpose was to keep the empire from falling into the hands of the enemy.

Finally, after a long 5-6 hour bus ride, we arrived in Scotland. It is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking and green; just like the rest of the UK. We were able to travel around the country for a bit and see the wonderful countryside. Cheesy moment: as we were driving through mountainous scenery, some of the girls and I listened to part of the Lord of the Rings soundtrack because we felt it was the perfect moment for it. (*nerd alert!*)

We visited Culloden and the known Culloden Battlefield where the Jacobites and the British government fought at the Battle of Culloden. It was a battle that the Scottish Highlanders tried to overthrow the House of Hanover and restore the House of Stuart. It wasn't a very long battle, but it was definitely a very bloody one that is in the history books of Scotland.

Staying in the Highlands, we traveled to Inverness and visited Lochness. It is the largest fresh water lake in the British Isles. You may be thinking along the lines of the Lochness monster right? That is exactly where dear Nessie has been known. I think I may have been lucky and caught a picture of her with my fast camera-capturing skills.

("It's only a model")

The next place we visited was Stirling Castle. It is the castle where many royalties such as Mary of Guise and her daughter Mary Queen of Scots lived; Kings lived there too.

On our way back to Edinburgh, we also visited William Wallace's monument. You know, the main guy in the film Braveheart. It was a very impressive and huge monument.

Scotland is one of the most beautiful places in the UK. I feel very impressed and fulfilled that it has exceeded my expectations. Not only do I hear bagpipes playing, but I also see men wearing kilts frequently.

A Castle and Cottages

After we left London, we definitely didn't stop there. We traveled on to more northern parts of England. We first traveled to Warwick Castle. If you guys have ever been to a Renaissance Festival or something like that, Warwick Castle puts it to shame. For one thing, it is actually a castle and another thing, their events and everything is family friendly, but their reenacting performances are the best! They had a Trebuchet launch, Flight of the Eagles, and their very own Jousting. It was awesome and for a moment I thought that I was back in those days of Trebuchets and Joustings.

There are also some beautiful cottages that we visited. They each had such beautiful English gardens that I hope one day, maybe, that I get to grow a garden almost like their's too.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage (William Shakespeare's wife's home where she grew up)

The Birthplace of Shakespeare

Beatrix Potter's Home (Author of the Peter Rabbit stories)

Even Peter Rabbit was there!