Scotland
Scotland is a treasure trove of history. Considering that it is surrounding by the North Sea, the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean, it is not that hard to surmise that Scotland has had a lot of interaction with seafaring nations from across the globe. Today a part of the United Kingdom – which is often held to be synonymous with England – it is at the same time delicately walking the balance of preserving its own history, customs, and Scottish culture.

The history of Scotland dates back to the about 11,000 years ago and has been as turbulent as it has been grand. Its medieval history is marred by battles, betrayal, and the Picts, while Scottish castles reverberated with a hunger for power over England, the fights of Scottish clans for dominion over the highlands, and the ever changing map of Scotland which was added to and deleted from, depending on which group was victorious.

Today Scotland is continuing to work hard to preserve the integrity of the country and its people by proudly flying the Scottish flag, naming their children with proper Scottish names retaining the knowledge of classical Scottish music that has many of the haunting melodies that make Irish folksongs so popular today, and also by guarding their time honored Scottish recipes which date back to the medieval times in many cases. As a matter of fact, another way of holding on to the old times is the fact that in Scotland there are two official languages next to English: Scots and Gaelic. It is not at all unlikely that you will visit your friends to spend a Christmas in Scotland only to realize that you may not understand any of their friends.

This should not deter you from visiting Scotland; map out the trip, learn about the Scottish kilts and tartans, admire the cross of Saint Andrews on the Scotland flag, and take the time to find out why the flower of Scotland is the thistle, while the Flower of Scotland is actually considered to be the national anthem. If at all possible, learn a bit about the history of Scotland before leaving home and you will be rewarded with an understanding of this amazing locale that you would not otherwise hope to garner. Try to spend as much in Scotland as possible, and do not give in to the idea of traversing the island to take in England and Ireland all at the same time. Instead, do yourself a favor and devote an entire vacation to this amazing country – you will be glad you did!