Strolling Sojourner

Rare sunny day at Edinburgh, Scotland

I had meant to write and post this earlier but my schedule has been really tight after getting back from my month-long trip and my plans kept getting pushed back. But now that things have slowed down and life is returning to normal there's finally time to sit down and reflect. 

My last day had consisted of nearly a total of 24 hours of travelling, and though tiring, it finally hits me that my crazy adventure is over. In a span of 28 days I've visited 2 countries, including approximately 20 cities, ranging from only stopping for lunch to staying at the same place for a couple of days. I have never been on the road for such a long time, and at times it was draining me both mentally and physically, but more times I've learnt to be more appreciative of my surroundings and the people around me. There had been so many things I have taken for granted living in Canada. Some of these things included the way I was treated, the infrastructures, and believe or not, even the prices. This is not to say the UK or France was bad in any way, this trip just made me realize how big of a sheltered bubble I was living in, and it was rye-opening to be outside of my comfort zone. I can't wait for the next opportunity to explore other places which will continue to challenge me and to break down my walls of comfort. 

Busy Saturday morning at Portobello Market, London

I loved how dynamic this trip was, though, as I was able to experience the busy city life, the slow countryside, and everything in between, including all the evidences left by the countries' rich history. There were so many times I was left astonished at both how smartly people adapted to their surroundings and the way nature leaves its mark on this planet. This trip, however has confirmed me as a suburban girl. Though I enjoyed how the fancy city life excited me and how the peaceful country life calms me, those feelings were just temporary. I would quickly get tired of the extremity of the two lifestyles and wish there was something in between. 

Quiet but moody weathered Isle of Skye, Scotland

As like any other trip, not everything goes as smoothly as planned, there were many hiccups along the way. One complain I'd like to make in particular would be about the weather. The weather was more or less constant in France and England, albeit it was more gloomy than what I prefer, along with the random rain, but Scotland really threw me off. Though I went knowing that the weather would be bipolar, it was tough to be in the situation where 4 seasons would be experienced within a 1-hour span. One moment there were blue skies but the next there would be hail, and all that time the wind would be threatening to throw you off a cliff. I had never felt so scared of my life before, though the view was always worth it.

Even though I feel like I complained a lot about this trip, I don't regret doing it. Now I know, however, that it is better to space out my travels. Spending such a long time away from home sounded nice at first, but after a while, I started to miss home which is strange because I've never felt that way before. Right now, I'd just like some down time to rejuvenate myself while preparing for the next adventure, whenever that may be. Over the next couple of weeks or even months if I decide to slack)there will be more posts about my adventure in Europe, so look forward to them!