By Bon8
I LOVE PERTH! There’s a good chance a load of you have never been there so you’ll have to take my word for it, but it just could be the best city in Oz and I’m a Mexican! Actually, I missed it so much I decided to go to Perth last weekend. Me and the missus did a road trip. Three days.
However this time it was a different Perth. We all know a three day road trip in the UK can be three frustrating days driving around the M25 like that poor old fella did last year but we planned a better one. We flew into Aberdeen (Scotland) Friday morning, had the first night in Inverness, second night in Perth, then back to Aberdeen. Flew back to T5 (Heathrow) on Sunday arvo. 350 miles, 1 tank of fuel, whiskey and a map. It was an awesome trip. And I highly recommend it. However, do not use sat nav! Getting lost is the best part of road trips.
As I said, Scotland was wicked! OK it’s beautiful, dramatic and soaked in tradition, so that’s a given. But it’s the people that make it so special. We were treated like royalty. Everywhere! First class food, beers and company. And we had the place to ourselves. At Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness the dude told us that the busiest day last year they pushed 4000 people through. We had the place to ourselves! It was cool but not cold and the mountains where iced with snow. The Lochs were thawing and the stars where out. Magical.
Beware of the Scottish drivers though. The locals do not respect the white line so those windy roads can be a bit hair-raising when there’s a car coming towards you on your side. Just keep alert.
We eventually got to the real Perth. I don’t really know if it was what I expected but that’s not what it’s all about. It’s a bit like tracing your family tree. If you haven’t done that while you’re here then get on it! Standing in Perth gives you an insight into what those dudes were thinking when they named our Perth.
OK the Western Australian version may have changed a bit in the last 200 years but look into the distance at the hills. That’s what they were thinking when they named it. Every time they said it, wrote it, thought it, this little piece of Scotland was in their mind.
You can find places all over the UK like this. Places they were thinking about when they set up shop back home. Most probably, they never set foot back here either. So when you get to one of these special spots, just take a moment to look around and put yourself in those very old shoes. It’s such a nice feeling and a little bit mind blowing (heck, even a good reason for a Sunday sesh). Be careful though, you might get a tear in your eye…
Scotland was mysterious and romantic; in your face while always gently persuading you to get over the next hill and see more. Those wide open expanses of nothing remind me of what it’s like back home when you’re stood in the middle of nowhere and the silence is deafening. So if you get the chance, Scotland is must. It’s full of Scots and they can’t wait to meet you! Beam me up, Scotty.
Which places in the UK remind you of locations back home? Tell us below:
[ Source: Australian Times ]