Taking a road trip through the UK had initially been
my idea, but being as calculated and analytical as Michael was, he wasn't sure it was such a clever one. Neither of us had experience driving on the
left hand side of the road, on the
right hand side of a car, in a foreign country where we didn't know the rules of traffic, but nonetheless, I brushed him off,
ehh... how hard could it be???
Man, did I end up eating my own words later. Driving is suppose to be relaxing... even at times a stress reliever, right? Not here! The roads are super narrow, constantly twisting and turning into an even narrower road. You're concentrating so hard, your eyes feel like they're about to pop out because there's so much to think about and remember - staying on the correct side of the road when turning and shifting (neither of us had driven a stick in ages - I felt like my left wrist was gonna' pop off :). You're completely blinded on your left side because you forget that side of the car even exists since you're concentrating so hard on your right. Even the easiest parking spot is a pain. It's totally disorientating!
Nonetheless, it was a wonderful experience! We drove all the way up to Edinburgh, Scotland (6+ hours away), stopping in beautiful Lake District, England for a few days to enjoy the countryside. The scenery was amazing and some were just like in the movies! Has anyone seen
The Holiday (with Cameron Diaz & Kate Winslet)? It very much reminded me of that. I'm so glad we did it!
Look how narrow the lanes are in this picture above... and these unmarked roads below are still shared with oncoming traffic.
That goat was just chilling there in the middle of the road. He took his dandy time walking off too.
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When we were trying to decide where to go for our road trip, our colleagues kept recommending Lake District, a popular holiday destination located in the northwest region of England, about 4 hours from London. With numerous hiking trails and whimsical towns bordering the different lakes, it's known for having some of the most beautiful scenery in England! So off we drove and stayed near Lake Windermere, England's "longest lake" (not sure how comparatively impressive that is :) but in my opinion, it's lived up to the hype - having the most greenest and purest landscape I've seen in Europe thus far. Obviously, this isn't anything out of the ordinary for an Oregonian, but being away from Portland for so many years, I had a whole new appreciation for the lush scenery and felt a sense of euphoria, making me look forward to moving home even more! Here are some postcard-worthy pics... enjoy!
It rains impulsively there and stops just as quickly. 
Look at these sheep-goats ducking for cover under the trees!
When the rain passes, it's sunny again! Just like that!
Town of Bowness
