i've been back a week now. i've got 15 rolls of film to develop and a few sovenirs to linger over while i mope about the apt remembering how i was standing on top of a heather-laden hillside overlooking loch ness a week ago. it was a fantastic visit, the accomodations were outstanding, with the exception of one night, and everybody i met was friendly and quite accepting of this american visitor in their midst. i'm going to take some time to blog this right and getting it written up properly. the biggest error i made was not using a digital camera, i've always liked film but i think it will prove out to be a mistake. one roll has come back from the pharmacy photo lab and it's not great. it is an odd feeling to be one place so very far away and so very different and then to be no longer there as if it never happened. but having been there finally, after all this time of wanting to visit, is a relief of sorts. the basic things are not all that different from here, with some minor adjustments, one could adapt to live in the UK. a few alarming things, asda/tesco - which are basically upscale walmarts - burger kings, kfc, pizza hut and mcdonald's - i hated seeing those. nothing more jarring then to be wandering the streets of glasgow surrounded by gorgeous old buildings and feeling transported back eras in time to turn a corner and see a pizza hut. i actually felt embarrassed, that's what the u.s. has exported to the uk, garbage fast food retailers. only ran into americans twice and both times they were loud and foolish acting. i'm really glad i went on my own, it allowed me freedom to change my mind for the day's plans as i saw fit and it also forced me to continue to interact with those about me and not hide into chatting with a travel companion and miss the many conversations i got to have with people around me. i miss being there very much.