The cars in Scotland are so much smaller!
One major benefit of being in a country (and a big city) that has a rich history is that you get all these absolutely gorgeous, free-to-the-public amenities like art galleries, grand libraries and museums. If you’re a history buff looking for a city to live in, you should weigh this criterion heavily.
I was with my family on this trip and I realized how much living by yourself can make you gradually selfish and transactional. A clear sign I need to touch more grass.
Edinburgh feels less touristy than Glasgow even though it’s the capital and administrative centre.
There is some value in living/visiting a big city in that you get to update your fashion and general style more often. Like anything else though, all things in moderation.
Neighbourhoods in Scotland are dense and quite close to the central business district, which I found quite odd.
When visiting a new place, prioritize guided tours if possible! Tour guides make trips/venues a lot more interesting. The experience is especially rich if the guide is visibly enjoying themselves while they do the tour because they love it so much. They’ll show you whatever they find compelling, but it’s so much better than just aimlessly walking and reading all the labels.
Shopping is by far my least favourite part of travelling. Waiting for someone to try on 20 outfits for hours is very draining. I find this to mostly be a travelling-with-family issue though.
In downtown Edinburgh, some of the inner city roads are pretty deteriorated. Which is unexpected for cities I consider to be very well run.
This trip has increased my appetite for travel tremendously, and I can now see why people take travel so seriously.
