"The Lowlands... As opposed to the Highlands. The Lowlands. Cause they're not high..." (Oh, and #56: Observe Highland Cattle)

The Isle of Skye.

We took a 5:50 (a.m.) train from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, to arrive at Edinburgh at 8:30. The four of us walked onto the tour bus. We were followed by a father and daughter from Finland (the daughter was living in Edinburgh though); an Indian/Pakistani couple; and Indian family of a father, two sons, and one of the son's wife; and a couple (not seeming like a romantic couple) from Germany. Germany was the only pair we couldn't figure out. Though we tried.

Our tour guide was Liam.. (say it in your head in a nice, thick scottish accent).

Liam was a great tour guide. But Liam, for some reason, felt the need to say everything three times. I don't know if it was the language barrier, or if he was taught to give tours this way, but most comments went something like this:
   "Here on your left is Loch lochy.  That to the left is good ole Loch Lochy. That's what they call it- Loch Lochy."  (I don't exaggerate).
    One of the best facts was, "We're now in the lowlands, but we're getting ready to enter the highlands. The scottish highlands. Named such because of their rolling hills and mountains. The high lands. But now we're in the lowlands. They're named the lowlands because they're not high, like the high land. So here we go, into the highlands. Out of the lowlands." (Repeat in thick scottish accent if you did not read so the first time.) It proved a long trip at points, but it was also nice cause you knew you didn't miss too much if you tuned in and out.

So, hearing everything three times, we finally got to The Isle of Skye. We listened to a song titled, "Over the Sea to Skye" as we drove across the bridge. It was all quite magical.

We stayed at the Bayfield Backpackers' Hostel in a town called Portree.. (Portree..Portree..).
The first night, after returning from dinner, we ran into a group of about eight older men. They were from Kirkintilloch, outside Glasgow. One of the men made each of us attempt to say kirkintilloch and he corrected each of us on our "och" as we went down.

On saturday, we went around Skye, seeing landscape and a castle. It was all quite beautiful. We learned that the main clans that fought for control of the islands-- and for the title "lord of the Isles"-- were the clans McDuff and McDonald. We saw highland cattle (who held up our bus) and we got to chase sheep! (Successful day).

The night after our long saturday tour, we went out to a pub. We met a man (who had had a few drinks) and his name was Dougie (pronounced, "doogie"). He proudly told us he was of the clan McDonald. He then went around and asked each of us our names. He then tried to link our surnames to scottish people he knew. It was a bit like being in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," with the father saying, "Give me a word, any word, and I will tell you how that word, is Greek."

   This man went around finding six degrees of separation between each of our names and strong scottish roots. Mariah he particularly liked. He would stare at her and then say, "You're Scottish, I can see it in your eyes." He would then continue, "What's your last name."
   Mariah responded, "Kasshun..." (rhyming with Sassoon, for any wondering).
   He would look at her in bewilderment. He would attempt to say it. She would say she believed it was a German name. He would then say, "You're Scottish, I can see it."
   This went on quite a few times. He was also convinced that my father lived in town. "Mason," he would say. "Mason, I know a Mason. You're father lives right outside of town?" I tried denying this the first few times, but just began to go with it.
   "Oh, yep. My long lost father. I'll have to meet him."

   On the bus, we were the epitome of tourists. We were those people you're completely embarressed for if you're a local anywhere. We stopped every twenty minutes to take pictures-- with whisky, with lakes, with mountains, with monuments, anything that would stay still long enough, really.

But the pictures and the sights were absolutely amazing, so I could definitely bear the shame.