Hidden Treasures in Scotland
Feeling like an outsider, again!
The original plan was to fly from London to Lion, France to visit a friend and family. This idea was compromised and I flew to Glasgow, Scotland instead. It was a tough flight, having in mind a war was only just starting a few thousand miles away — you could nearly see it from the plane! Ignoring this and the fact that my suitcase got involve on a war of its own, being left cracked open on one of the sides, the introduction to Scotland went fairly smoothly.
This trip was a rollercoaster of emotions — from feeling safe and at home, to feeling like a total outsider and misunderstood. Glasgow is a city for the youth, with new buildings, friendly people and international streets. I was welcomed with open arms at a family home by two gorgeous ladies from the Motherland who had moved here from Germany before the pandemic. Later that week, I finally reunited with a university friend and ex-roommate. We hadn’t seen each other for over 5 years! It was an emotional reunion, fulfilled with memories, laughter and a wish to reunite our group of friends back again. Glasgow also awarded me with some new friends, something I thought to be hard to achieve while on the road! But I was wrong, it’s actually easier as there are always fresh stories to share and people to listen to them.
I travelled to Edinburgh by train after a few weeks in Glasgow. The journey was beautiful and I’m glad I didn’t take the bus instead! One thing I learned is that people in Scotland like to talk to strangers, not just to help a lost soul and provide directions, but also to talk about random or in-depth topics. Long story short, while on the train, I had a long conversation with a stranger about controversial topics in today’s world and we didn’t even ask for each other’s name! This is not a luxury you get in England, especially in London (where people stare at their feet on the streets)! This was the first warning that I was in a new territory.
Upon arrival in Edinburgh, the first impression was that this city had stopped in time. It was beautiful! It reminded me of the Medieval Summer Festivals 🐾 across Portugal, Spain & France villages, where they recreate Medieval events, have Medieval markets and food, which are the most entertaining Hidden Treasures of these countries. Edinburgh thrives in its own little bubble of time, where a new modern spiral building emerges in the landscape of granite walls and rocky roads.
I was advised by numerous people in Glasgow that people in Edinburgh don’t particularly love their own city, not in a way that they take pride of it, at least. I was also warned that Edinburgh was grayer than the British stereotype of “gray and cloudy countries”. I was also warned there was not much to see, enjoy and explore. Yet, I chose to call this city Home for 3 weeks long! I was warned and did not listen. It’s now the end of this journey and I can confirm: I should have stayed longer in Glasgow or maybe have spent a week in Inverness instead. Edinburgh was tiny, yet it was good to explore the Eastern side of the country. The city is also known for its festivals, which exist all year around, but attract more tourism, youth and liveliness during the Summer. Visiting during the low season may have influenced this review considerably, however. Furthermore, this was the second place (after Dublin) I did not feel particularly welcomed. I sensed that the British pride was much stronger here, I was often seen as a student (no perks or discounts applied, however), and the notion of remote work was misunderstood.
Scotland is by no means the best destination for Digital Nomads or long travels. It’s good for its people, tourists, families and students — no doubt! I’d rate Scotland 5/10 for Solo Digital Nomads, but 6/10 to Glasgow alone. Security and travel flexibility are the strengths here, but the cost of living, remote work accessibility and public transport reliability are not the greatest.
In any case, I’d love to offer you a Hidden Treasures Guide of Glasgow and another Hidden Treasures Guide of Edinburgh. Within, you’ll find reviews to some of the best places not to miss, along with a Google Map for each city, which you can follow, save and use for your own travels!
PS: Watch out for the A Girl Gone Nomad’s Hidden Treasures symbol 🐾 throughout my blog posts for some gems found on the road!
“Your true traveller finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty-his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure” — Aldous Huxley
About me: My name is Vanessa, I’m a Female Solo Digital Nomad, working in the Music Industry and traveling the world hunting hidden gems🐾 for you to get inspired and follow these treasure maps! You can read a bit more about how this journey started and how I handed over the keys to my apartment and unlocked the world!
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