it's been a handful of days since i returned from my journey, yet when I awaken each morning, it is from a dream of scotland. like it has somehow embedded itself in my subconscious. having traveled a bit, i understand the wanderlust. the ideal experience we imagine we might capture if only we were to pack up and move. yeah... not so much. i will however state that there is a brutal beauty to the place that connects me. an openness and honesty of character. what little i experienced of the capital city of edinburgh showed me a place that happily existed as is for hundreds of years. the striving i wrote about myself recently was not how i saw edinburgh. actually it was the opposite. brilliant, learned people built a fortress of a city with as much charm and whimsy as a harry potter set. steeped in culture and politics, history and present, fierce wildness was measured by engineered order. overhanging gloom (notice the sky in, oh say... every picture) only added to the grandeur. i found the people kindred. some day i will live in edinburgh. if only for a sojourn, to grow old and curmudgeonly in a place where it is welcome. through the lens of romanticism, it felt an awful lot like home.

situated in scotland's "central belt" edinburgh lies on the firth of forth's southern shore. the city centre is about 2 1/2 miles southwest of the shoreline of leith and 26 miles inland from the east coast of scotland and the north sea at dunbar. while the early burgh grew up near the castle rock, the modern city is often said to be built on namely calton, corstorphine, cariglockhart, braid, blackford, castle rock and arthur's seat, a nice hike that became a steep climb and the last 20 feet in the lashing wind and driving rain just too much for one morning. though only 823 feet high, you could say i landed at the feet of arthur's seat. then i returned down the hill, caught a cab and began my spa day.

as it turned out, my spg rewards account suggested the sheraton grand hotel and spa for my stay. wasn't thinking it was going to be as grand as they claimed. i was wrong. on most accounts. accommodations, club room, view, room service, restaurants, amenities, staff and... the spa, were all quite wonderful. the pictures cannot do justice to the experience. i was planning to hang out for the day with my friend su when she suggested we spend a wee bit of time on the thermal floor. i think everywhere i ever stay for the rest of my life should have a thermal floor. it's supposed to be a quiet space though (sorry hotel guests), su and i debated sex, politics, religion, climate change, raising/not raising kids, growing older, history... we cleared the hammam in no time with our chatty visit. so here were the highlights: hammam - provides a scented steam environment to clear the senses. aroma grotto - steam infused with aromatherapy and herbal extracts to enhance the complexion and hair. rock sauna - a classic sauna that has a purifying effect on the body. bio sauna - combination of heat and humidity infused with an orange essence to create a more gentle experience and enhanced with coloured fibreoptic lights. high up on the rooftop is the stainless steel hydropool, a unique indoor outdoor warm water experience, the hydropool incorporates a variety of body jets providing water at the optimal temperature for the body to rebalance. it was heavenly too.

su and i spend the entire day wandering edinburgh. i came to admire it's rich history and iconic beauty through the eyes of a scot. it is easy to understand why it is the second most popular destination in the uk. as a parting gift, su gave me a copy of james robertson's book "and the land lay still". if you have any love of scotland, i suggest you read it. is it any wonder i awaken each morning from scottish dreams? su and i met at a conference in orlando a few months back when on numerous occasions, i almost tipped her into the water with my daft skills at canoeing. fate could not have given me finer new friend. i cannot express how wonderful this trip became the moment we connected. every moment of the day was incredibly full, and though i am usually home early to bed, i did not want our time to end. after tea at the balmoral hotel, su and her husband simon took me for a ghost tour of the city's ancient vaults (i bailed in 30 seconds) and the kirk yard (which i loved). finding your way through a new city can be disorienting. finding your way with a new friend is a spiritual experience.

last note. my first evening in scotland i was incredibly fortunate to have met a handsome stranger of a most appropriate age. i had forgotten what it was like to experience a first kiss. so i have a sweet, wonderful memory to file with all the rest. memories that live and breathe within me along with this time and this place, new friendships, new ideas and a dream of and for scotland that will stay with me forever.