new girl from King William

[sandy74]

Hello everyone! I have been looking at this site for a while and finally decided to join. My name is Sandy Stokes and I live in King William, Virginia. I have a slight obsession with Scotland. We have beautiful places in America but Scotland is one of those places that is truly breathtaking. Of course I have never been there but would love to be able to visit there although I think that I might need a couple of weeks (or months, years...) to explore. I wonder if people living in Scotland get used to the beauty of it as to not even notice it??? I also am very interested in the differences in our cultures and love to hear other peoples experiences.

[Alan B]

Hi Sandy, I live in Edinburgh, capital city of Scotland and I have always been aware of Scotlands amazing scenery as when I was wee my family went on motoring trips around the Highlands in the early 1970's, in my teens I got to visit my, now divorced, Dad when he lived on the Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides in the 1980's, then the Isle of Skye became a firm favourite YouTube - 1. Where Eagles Fly - Isle of Skye, Scotland. . I visited this place many times while visiting a friend who worked for the John Muir Trust, at Kilmarie near the coastal village of Elgol by the shores of Loch Scavaig with its stunning views of the Cuillin mountains.

Then in recent years I got a job that involves driving all over the Highlands and Islands visiting Radio masts and some of the sights I've seen, I have filmed and photographed. I don't think young people today have had the same upbringing as I had and don't appreciate the Beauty that this country has, mind you the weather and midgies probably don't help!

[ScotSites]

Hi Sandy, first of all welcome to the forum! As you say, you would really need a while to explore Scotland. I'm sure alan will agree that even after years of travel there's still loads to see... and the dreaded midge does put a lot off doing that. Then again, as you say yourself, there are people here who don't even notice it, but that's their loss! Hopefully you'll get a chance to come over and experience it for real some day!

[apict]

Welcome, Sandy. I too, live in Virginia (Charlottesville).
I gotta say that there are PLENTY of breathtaking places in the states. I could go on and on...
For me, the attraction to Scotland (particularly the highlands/islands) goes beyond the visual impact of her vistas (though that impact can be considerable). At the risk of sounding corny, I am moved by a... spiritual connection (or something).

[sandy74]

Thanks for posting your replies and making me feel welcome to the website. I wanted to respond to everyone individually but still feeling my way around the site and trying to figure stuff out. I also think that the time difference is a little difficult. When I get on in the evenings I think it may be really late in Scotland. If what I googled today is correct then Scotland is five hours ahead of Virginia so most may be asleep in the evenings (unless you are a night owl) when I get on but I look forward to talking to everybody.

[kathyv]

Hi there Sandy! Welcome!

Is King William named after the same William as Fort William?

[sandy74]

Hi Kathy, I am not sure about Fort William in Scotland. For some reason I am thinking that I read somewhere that Fort William was named for William Wallace but not sure. But, King William County in Virginia was named for William III who was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from April of 1689 to March of 1702 supposedly. Of course the Indians were in this County before the English. I enjoy native american history as well and think that Indians got a very raw deal. The Mattaponi and Pamunkey tribes were residing in the County. We still have two Indian reservations here that are active and we have an annual Pow Wow every year. There is a lot of history here. I am only about 45 minutes from Jamestown and Williamsburg and home to the College of William and Mary (named after the King and his wife).