Story from TrailblazingSightseer59007

I began my gap semester in Europe, in Scotland, a place that quickly etched itself into my heart. We set out to hike the West Highland Way, a journey that ended up being one of the hardest things I have ever done. Only after a few brutal days did I realize my hiking boots, which had served me fine on trips in Canada, were actually a whole size and a half too small. Every step felt like my bones were shattering, and the pain was made worse by the fifty plus pounds I carried on my back. As if that was not enough, halfway through the trail an elderly man in the highland farms told us, “This is the rainiest year in the last century.” He was not wrong. The sky seemed determined to test us.Yet despite the discomfort, the exhaustion, and the soaked gear, that stretch of Scotland remains my favourite part of all my travels in Europe. I found a strange joy in the struggle, in the simplicity of living only from what was on my back. Each step was entirely my own as the landscape unfolded around me, changing slowly with every passing kilometre. Mountains softened into moors, forests opened into misty valleys, and I felt deeply connected to the land beneath my feet.More than anything, the journey brought me closer to my three friends who hiked beside me. By the end, they felt less like friends and more like sisters. We laughed until our sides hurt and cried when the weight of it all became too much. Scotland itself felt alive with history and culture, present in every ancient stone and sweeping view. The beauty of the land left me speechless, and the kindness of the people I met along the way made the experience even more unforgettable. That trip was truly the most rewarding thing I have ever done, and I will cherish every memory of it. Thank you, Scotland, until we meet again.