Just around the riverbend....

A walk in one direction may lead you to another. 

You never know what is just around the riverbend....

                                                         one step after 

                                                                                  the other 

What will you find? 

You will never know unless you look and see with not just your eyes but with your heart. 

What you find may change your life. 

There is a beautiful world underneath the trash. 

If only we would stop and see it for what it is, lifting our gaze heavenwards. 

"What I love most about rivers is:

You can't step in the same river twice

The water's always changing, always flowing"

What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green

Red roses too

Squirrel!!!! 

opps...

I see them bloom 

For me and you 

I think to myself "what a wonderful world"

*listening to What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong while editing these photos

Travels to the East Coast

The sun was shining, the bus was full and our plans were set for a day trip to the east coast of Scotland. You can imaging a group of international students who were only too eager to explore Scotlands rich history and culture. Our bus journey took us through some of Scotland's scenic routes, fully accompanied by traditional Scottish music and some Gaelic phrases!  

Dundee

Our first stop for the day, where the sea meets the land. Dundee is Scotlands fourth largest city and home to many attractions. With the sun still shining we set out to see the city! 

The Discovery is found in her home port on the River Tay, the longest river in Scotland. The ships is now used as a museum, visitor center and confrence venue, also a main attraction for our visit. 

Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven 

This stop needs few words to describe the scenery, history and beauty found at the seaside castle. 

I spent quite a bit of time standing in awe looking up along the rocky cliffs and out towards the sea, admiring the geology and smelling the salty breeze. 

Aberdeen

The final stop for the day: Granite City, and the oil capitol of Europe. The city was full of life and the exploration began! There was so much to see when taking a stroll along the city streets, peering into the alleys and pubs for those unexpected places the city is most alive. 

The name "Granite City" comes from the use of granite stones in most of the buildings, giving the city a grey look on the best of days. We were fortunate to have a, still, sunny day and we took adventage of the color it brought in the city. 

To wrap up the day we enjoyed a relaxing journey back through the countryside to Glasgow, arriving with a new sense of Scottish adventure.  

Where the Rocks Are

Just a few days in to the study break and a few fellow students and I headed to Loch Lomond for a day of walking the trails and enjoying the fresh air. 

We began on the shore trail that led us around the loch to a few beaches, fields and alongside a hill. A quick stop was necissary for a few of the group to try their hand at skipping stones, all the while I was busy scavanging the beach for whatever caught my eyes. A short ways along and a set of boulders in the loch tempted a few to see how far out they could go, without falling in. 

The landscape was breathtaking, but my eyes didnt move far from the ground, observing the everchanging landscape at its core (a mix of sandstones, conglomerates, and shales). 

We visited an island on the loch, eager to explore the history preserved within. The particular island we visited was home to a farm and church. All that remains now is a few stones in place of where the buildings once lied and the gravestones of the people who once lived on the land. 

A breathtaking view was in store at the highest point of the island before we started back. Take a look around and you immediately see the beautiful nature that is well used by many other visitors. The rolling hills in the distance, hid behind clouds, are a mystery for another day and from the highest point on our walk we could see just how huge the loch is.  

I have been blessed by the friends I have met while studying in Glasgow and I am thankful for the time we are able to share exploring the countryside. This wouldnt be possible without the people who dedicate their lives to maintaining this area for us to use as we wish and providing generous information about the area.