Things that Jumped Out at Us

One of travelling's greatest benefits is how it opens our senses and sensibilities to new ideas and different ways of achieving desired outcomes.

Here's our list of things that accomplished that for us.

MOST places do not have salt or butter on the table.

Children snack on, of all things, apples.  Junk food is difficult to find.

Cars in Europe used to be small and now they are larger.  Cars in the US used to be large and now they are smaller.

The Edinburgh economy is very strong.  Many, many upscale cars are evident and all cars seem to be in excellent condition.  No ‘junkers’ were seen.  Anywhere.

Too much of our stuff is cheap crap from China (and elsewhere) because we want low prices.  Things over here seem to have value.  ex.  Silverware is heavy.  Toilet paper has substance to it. (tmi?)

Things are simple, effective and make sense.

Signage, rules, are at a minimum.  Wherever possible, roadway instructions are printed on the (ahem) roadway.

There are only very few cash registers.  Most attendants carry hand held card readers that can print out receipts (when requested) and/or slips of paper to sign (when required).

Wi-Fi is everywhere.  I am on the airplane as I type this.

Most buildings, while centuries old, have been adapted to today’s world.

Scotland has gone ‘all in’ on sustainable energy--solar and particularly, hydroelectric power.  Even the cabs advertise zero carbon footprint.

Remarkably well-informed and reasoned responses for why one voted for or against the recent referendum on whether or not to break from the U.K.

The Right to Roam is central to Scotland’s values.  The land owners expect their property to be respected and in return the participants expect access.

Scottish Terriers?  None to be seen.

Not very many ‘No’ signs.

Scots were animated and engaging speakers who used hands for emphasis.  Americans sound flat and disengaged by comparison.

The Scottish history is bloody and painful.

Waiters never interrupted a conversation.  Note this when dining at American restaurants.

Motown was the music at breakfast no matter the country.  Gave a peppy start to the day.

Iceland is austere and a young people’s country--lots of outdoor activities and clubs.

In some ways Iceland seems very open to most everything.  In preserving their language they are very strict, establishing a committee to decide upon new words as well as prohibiting unapproved names to children.

The language is COMPLETELY undecipherable, but everyone goes back and forth between English very easily.

Spent 24 hours in Iceland and still couldn’t quite figure out the light switches.

Music is very important in Iceland.

Iceland is (well) worth a return visit.

Our inner Björk remains.

Additional images may be seen here and here.