First - the car. I was very nearly begging, crying and begging some more for an automatic transmission rental. We need to have transportation to do our job here and it takes a few weeks to be in the position to buy a car. I figured if I have to remember to drive on the left AND maneuver through roundabouts, the last thing either of us needed was for me to also be shifting with my left hand as well. As it turns out, automatics are much less plentiful than manuals and they must be requested well in advance. As it also turns out, driving a manual is like riding a bicycle - you never really forget how, it just takes a few wobbly (or jerky) spins around the block for it all to come back to you. So, we are driving a little Hyundai something or other and it's fine. You might think a large vehicle would be comforting in the sense of having more metal between you and all those oncoming lorries and such, but I'd rather have more space between us. So, small it is.
Second - driving out of the city. Perth is not a huge city but still a city. On the straight bits, it's pretty easy for this American to drive. After all, there are other cars to follow. They drive on the left, they stop in the right spots for the red lights, they stay left after they turn, they somehow know when the streets turn into one way streets even without all those arrows everywhere you see in the US. Oh but those roundabouts. They make total sense and even the markings are very clear but I find them only slightly less than terrifying. That's because the markings are just before you enter the roundabout. The puny one lane roundabouts we have at home are easy peasy - you just pull in and pull out where you want. But THESE roundabouts have three different options (although I'm sure there are even bigger ones out there - waiting to eat us up!): left arrow in left lane for first exit, straight arrow for second exit, right arrow for (NO! Don't turn right - go straight into the roundabout, then... wait for it -) the third exit. If you totally know where you are headed, piece of cake. If you are not exactly sure about this intersection, if you need to look at a street sign or something - forget about it! You have to go into these things with great conviction that you know where you want to go! Oh my.
Next - the country roads. For three days, I have gripped the wheel and have seen nothing of Scotland beyond the confines of the muddy/rocky/narrow edge and the oncoming cars close enough to reach out and touch. My husband has cheered me on, told me where to go (don't you go there), suggested with much earnestness, that I move away a bit from the edge (there are no shoulders) and tried to remain calm. Of course all the roads in Scotland aren't that dramatic - the motorways (freeways) are somewhat comparable to what we are used to, but man - a whole lot of the roads are that dramatic and more so. Never have I been so deliriously happy to get behind a bus or a piece of large farm equipment as I have been on a Scottish country lane: oops, have to go slow, what a shame.
Because I have not had the inclination to pull out of traffic to take a photo of any of these roads (are you kidding me?!), I googled "Photos of Scotland roads." That was a mistake. About every 6th photo is of a horrific road accident (hyperventilating here). OK...getting past those, I still couldn't find the exact type of road we have been driving to reach our Comrie house or the stone cottage our "boss" for this year lives in. Try it - google Scotland Roads and be amazed. And take it from me: our year ahead will find us navigating wee narrow, winding, scary, breathtakingly beautiful roads that I hope to be able to lift up my eyes and enjoy before we leave in 359 days.
OK, here's one that's similar to our roads (well, except for the snow):
Leaning on God.
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