Before setting off on my round-the-world trip, I said one last farewell to Edinburgh castle.

...and enjoyed a bottle of champagne with friends Michael, Mairead, Norman, Chaoquan, and James (behind camera).

The next morning, I was up early and got a lift to the airport with my friend Michael. I was all excited and ready to go, but after a long wait at the gate, I slowly nodded off to sleep and awoke to hear my name for a final call for boarding. Yikes! Almost off to a really bad start.

(Coming soon: some chapters on my trips made while living in Scotland)