Edinburgh, Scotland

     In general, Scotland is an amazing country. Only here have we experienced a warm sunny morning, a blizzard in the afternoon, followed by a cool breezy evening. The capital of Scotland is Edinburgh, a beautiful old city. The architecture itself is a spectacle, the perfect balance between Gothic and Medieval styles. The city is not afraid to show off its gorgeous castle either. It sits high and proud at the top of a large rock, looking over the city. To best enjoy Edinburgh, you must take your time and walk through the city. Sit in a nice cafe somewhere with a view, which is extremely easy to find.

Coming to Scotland you must have an appreciation for art. All national galleries are free, so you can spend all day browsing the multitude of museums throughout the city. Visiting Edinburgh Castle is not free. In fact, it costs 16 Pounds, which is more than I have ever payed to see a castle. However, it is by far the largest I have seen, containing several war museums within its' walls. The history of the castle dates back to over 3000 years and has only recently stopped being used for military purposes, though not necessarily as a defensive structure. I would give the castle a 100% recommendation regardless of the outrageous price, because most other things in the city are free. 

Edinburgh is well worth a visit, especially if you want to feel like you are in the Middle Ages, with the exception of the constant bagpipes you hear throughout the city. That was not a joke either. You can travel between Edinburgh and Glasgow for only 1 Pound, and I highly recommend both cities when you come to the UK. 

Warnings to the Americans...

 

 I thought it would be worth it to write a little bit about the impression the international community has left on me regarding the overall stereotypes about Americans. Note, I am generalizing which I know is not very fair. Just want my American friends to have a slight understanding as to what they should expect.

1. Guns

I have been asked about guns on several occasions. Before travelling, I had no clue that most people of the world are not allowed to own a gun. However, to assume that every American owns a gun is absurd. Here is a dialogue that I have experienced more than once.

Random Person: "Hi, where are you from?"
Me: "America!"
Random Person: "Oh really? Do you own a gun?!"
Me: "Uh... no." What kind of question is that?

That is not even an exaggeration.

2. Portion Size

It is no secret to the international community that portion sizes in America are well beyond that which a normal human can consume, except for us. I must say, I often find myself a bit hungry after a full meal in many places. In addition to that, apparently the only "American food" known to exist is the hamburger. True story.

3. Bad English

English speakers all over the world always claim that they cannot understand American English. To be fair, we do not pronounce words as clearly as other members of the English speaking community. Think of how we pronounce "ninety" or "quarter." Say it out loud. Do you hear a "t" sound? Neither do I. Non-native English speakers don't do too well with this.

4. Passports

It happens to be a fact that most Americans do not have a passport. Those of you who do not will not be able to find out that the world is well aware of this problem. Americans do not travel, it's not a part of our culture. Which is why many of my relatives are baffled by my decision to travel the globe. To many people, this makes Americans uneducated and ignorant about everything beyond the borders of the USA I urge you to prove them wrong. Get a passport and see the world!

Sahara Desert Voyage, Morocco

      Morocco is so rich in culture and natural beauty. One of its many jewels is the Sahara Desert. The desert lies in the deep south of Morocco, through the High Atlas Mountains. The voyage to the desert is long, but beautiful. Since the Sahara is so big, there are several options as to where you can do your desert trek. The two most popular would be Zagora and Merzouga. We went to Merzouga due to the fact that these are the highest sand dunes in Morocco. Getting there is easy. Tour buses leave Marrakesh every  morning, without fail. From Marrakesh you will undoubtedly stop at the incredible Ait Benhaddou, an old Berber town with an immaculate Kasbah, or Moroccan castle. Many movies and television shows were filmed at this location form the studio in Ouarzazate.

Ait Benhaddou

     Most desert trips are very similar You start your journey form the city of your choice, Merzouga or Zagora, departing by camel. These animals are not comfortable at all. They hurt your rump and they are fond of crop-dusting since they are tied to each other. You get to experience a sunset like no other in the dunes of the Sahara. After an extremely painful hour, you arrive at a campsite where you are treated to a nice tagine and some Berber Whiskey(tea). The desert is absolutely freezing at night so the locals light a fire and treat you to some Berber tunes. The experience is amazing and well worth it, disregarding the camels, which are the only possible way across the dunes besides a jeep, but where is the fun in that?