Ready … Steady...
Before we can go we have to do a little legwork... but just a little
The 2017-2018 school year was bad. I'm talking cheesecake for dinner kind of bad. The one carrot that got me though was our big summer trip: a grand cruise to Alaska. I was so desperate for a distraction I planned and re-planned every minute I possibly could. Then, when I was done planning, I'd plan some more until my face was ready to melt off like the Nazi in Raiders of the Lost Ark. We had a nice trip but I had spent so much time planning I was a little Alaska-ed out before we even got there. As we began to wrap our heads around our Scotland adventure, I knew I could not do that again.
Now, that's not to say I didn't prepare for the tour. I just took a different approach. Instead of booking up every minute and choosing every restaurant for every free meal, I got in the spirit by listening to traditional Scottish music and reading Robert Burns poems. I fell absolutely in love with Jim Malcolm's version of "Rantin' Rovin' Robin" blasting it frequently in the car, much to Matt's chagrin. I perused Rick's recommended book list and sampled Outlander, 44 Scotland Street and Queen's Own Fool. I even bought the children's book The Story of Scotland. I downloaded Rick's Audio Europe app and listened to every piece on Scotland available. When the guidebook arrived, I devoured it and when I needed a smile I would reread the itinerary and dream of a far-away pub filled with music and laughter. Each of these steps helped me start to fall in love with Scotland before we even arrived. Piece by piece, this trip became more than just a bucket list check for me (see right). The freedom to prepare in this unconventional way is one of the true joys of opting for a Rick Steves' tour. You get see the quote-unquote highlights with the group but have free time to explore on your own with the expertise of the guide and the book to steer you in the right direction. You don't need to plan out every minute because you are traveling with someone who is an expert on that part of the world and can guide you in the direction of your personal tastes and interests. I am so glad I didn't let myself go into planning overdrive because I made so many more discoveries this way, experiencing Scotland in situ and allowing space for spur of the moment discoveries … with one glaring exception. The Fringe. When it came to the Fringe, I did my homework. I scrolled through pages of acts, even looking up some artists on YouTube, trying to find the perfect combination of shows to see in the limited amount of time we had. We purchased tickets to six Fringe shows and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo - a celebration of military bands from around the world performing on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle - in advance and I am so thankful we did. We had an amazing Fringe experience and I owe it in part to proper prior planning. |
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