LOVE Scotland
You might say this trip to Scotland wasn’t entirely idyllic—after all, my husband had always dreamed of going with a friend to play golf at the most prestigious courses! When he told me his plan, I said, “Darling, enjoy!” But to my surprise, he responded, “Darling, why don’t you come? You’ve never been to Scotland.”
“Really? You want me hanging around? Just go and enjoy! I’ll make the trip another time,” I replied.
Fast forward, and here I am—on this trip with Terry and my husband, Dennis—watching them live out their lifelong dream of golfing in Scotland. Go figure… or just shoot me! LOL.
For the record, Dennis and Terry played St. Andrews, Turnberry, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, and Prestwick.
RELAXATION
The beauty of this trip was the luxury of slow mornings. The golfers would leave early, giving me the perfect opportunity to take my time easing into the day.
As an entrepreneur, work never truly leaves me, but thanks to the time difference, I could handle emails in the mornings while my other world was still sleeping—meaning no incoming texts or emails throughout the day. LOVE that my phone was only used for taking photos!
And yes, I fully embraced relaxation. I checked out the spas, indulged in all the treatments, and even treated myself to a full-body cleanse. This trip was one of those rare times when I let go—no makeup, just moisturizer and lip balm. I let my hair blow in the wind or covered it with a hat, depending on the day. Umbrella? Nope. The wind made that impractical, so a rainproof coat became my best friend. I finally understood the art of layering.
Over breakfast, I skimmed through the local paper—a fun morning ritual. This was also the time of day when I planned where we’d have dinner with “the boys.” The waitstaff often helped me discover the best spots to eat, and their recommendations never disappointed.
This trip moved at a wonderfully slow pace, allowing me to breathe deeply and fully absorb my surroundings. I discovered that I had no problem being in my own company—who knew?!
WALKING
I may not know if I was walking the Highlands or Lowlands, but I do know that I walked—rain, wind, or shine—nothing was going to stop me from enjoying this ruggedly beautiful environment.
I walked the Old Course and the New Course at St. Andrews, explored the coastlines, wandered through harbors, and even had the privilege of seeing St. Andrews’ college graduates celebrating in town—what a sight! I also saw the house where Kate Middleton and Prince William lived during their university years. LOVE that!
One of my favorite walks was to the Turnberry Lighthouse in Ayrshire. A warm cup of tea awaited me there, and I found myself lost in reflection, always striking up a conversation with someone about, well… the weather!
Of course, I walked through every local town and indulged in a Scotch tasting (or two). We have a Scotch “library” at home, and while I’m not a Scotch drinker, I loved learning about the different taste profiles—it was fabulously fun! No need to worry about driving afterward—it was a walking holiday, after all.
Walking seemed to be a way of life here. There’s an intimacy in living like this. In Los Angeles, walking is a luxury—everything is too spread out. But here? No car needed. Just my two feet and an adventurous spirit.
FOOD
I completely indulged in the traditional Scottish breakfast. Oh my, what a feast! Black pudding, smoked haddock, kippers, Scottish oatmeal, salted butter, thick toast with marmalade, eggs with the richest orange yolks, wobbly back bacon, plump sausages, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and of course, baked beans. Choices had to be made each morning, but I LOVED the whole experience. I often found myself skipping lunch because breakfast was that satisfying.
For the first time, I tried haggis and—shockingly—loved it! If you can get past what’s in it (lungs, liver, heart mixed with spices and beef suet), you might enjoy it too. As a sausage lover, I found the taste quite pleasant. Check, check…
Dinners with Dennis and Terry were fantastic. They kindly refrained from too much golf talk—no endless recaps of missed putts! Since Scotland is surrounded by coastline, we ate a lot of fish: haddock, scallops, hake, salmon, and mussels—all incredibly fresh and delicious.
Being Brits, we have a soft spot for pub food, so we embraced the local specialties—beer-battered fish and chips served with a “mean” tartar sauce. And in contrast to America’s skinny fries, we devoured thick chips drenched in malt vinegar. Yum!
We also enjoyed a Scotch egg—an egg with a beautifully orange yolk wrapped in crispy venison sausage—and a hearty Scotch beef pie. Who doesn’t love a pie?
No guilt here! The cold weather practically demanded these hearty, comforting meals. A little extra insulation never hurt, right?!
No doubt, you can tell from this post that my trip to Scotland was nothing short of fabulous. We ended our adventure in Edinburgh—a city vastly different from the rest of our trip, yet equally unforgettable.
Cheers!
or as they say in Scotland…
Slàinte Mhath (Slanj-a-va!)
