My Darling Wayfarer...

Hey there, wayfarers! This post started as an excuse to show off some of my favorite photos of the Scottish Highlands. I like things to be useful as well as beautiful, however, so I figured this was a fantastic opportunity to share my experience with renting a car in Scotland. Let me tell you, I am so glad that I went through the trouble to do that. Renting a car can present some unique difficulties, but in the case of last summer's Europe trip, it revolutionized our week in Scotland! [If you are only here for the photographs, I have no ill feelings if you skip the article and just scroll through for what you came for. I hope you enjoy them!] However, if you are searching the internet for enlightenment on the subject of foreign car rental procedures, let me tell you: GETTING A RENTAL CAR WHEN YOU ARE UNDER 25 (or even under 23) YEARS OF AGE IS HARD. OH MY GOODNESS. I'm not sure how many hours I spent scouring the web for reviews, insurance laws, and suggestio...

My darling wayfarers, In the last post, I wrote about some of my techniques for planning a successful trip with friends. This time, I'm going to give you some key tips for actually  traveling  with those friends... in such a way that everyone will still like everyone else when the adventure is over. Because, let's face it... that doesn't always happen. And when it does, it's rarely effortless. Anyway, not to brag, but my last trip with these fantastic ladies (shown above in Oslo, Norway) was splendid.... so read on to discover our amazing secrets! ;) For the record, all my tips are basically going to boil down to two things: 1.) Be a good friend. 2.) Communicate clearly and often. None of this is magic, obviously. I'm sure you've heard that advice before. However, as this is a "How-To" piece, I'm going to dive into the nitty gritty so you will have a clear picture of what this really looks like-- the techniques you can implement ...

My darling wayfarers, I have one thing to tell you that you may already know, and several things to tell you that you might not. First thing: there is something extra wonderful about traveling with a companion. The camaraderie is amazing. You have a built-in buddy to laugh with, to appreciate new experiences with-- new sights, sounds, smells, both good and bad. When your trip is over, you will be able to look them in the eyes and say, "Remember that time when..." They will grin knowingly and nod, and that's all you need to know that they understand  -- when so many others around you don't. No one else will be able to share that sweet flood of nostalgia except someone who was with you.  Plus, you'll have a shoulder to drool sleep on during long flights. Not to mention loyal eyes to watch your luggage while you pee. It’s a beautiful thing. ;) I have done all of my traveling with friends: some of it was terrible, and some of it was utt...