My time studying abroad in Scotland is rapidly coming to an end, and personally it has gone by way too fast. I still have about a month left before it is time to return to the U.S., however it is going to go by incredibly quickly with everything there is to do.
Finals are approaching. I have to find time to say goodbye to some friends who, come January will be thousands of miles away. And then I have my last trip to Europe to finish off the year.
Before it is time to leave, I would like to share some photos that made my study abroad experience great!
This sunset was seen from the Glasgow Necropolis, which is a cemetery on a hill where I was able to take a break from school and relax. In Scotland going to cemeteries is normal and this is a popular location for students to visit.
Dunnottar Castle. This castle is settled on land that sticks out into the sea with cliffs almost all the way around. This is where the Scottish Crown Jewels were defended from the English.
This is from a video projection that was displayed on a stream of water shooting up. They put on light displays in the forest — called the Enchanted Forest — all around this lake.
Three Sister in Glencoe. Glencoe is one of the most famous valleys in Scotland, known for a massacre of a clan back in the 1600’s and more recently for the filming of movies such as Harry Potter and Skyfall.
Highland Coo (cow). I’m not sure why I’d never heard of them before, but they are amazing creatures that will forever remind me of Scotland.
Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye. This landmark is featured in many movies including Transformers, Prometheus and Snow White and the Huntsman, along with a few music videos such as Sign of the Times by Harry Styles.
Glenshiel (Glen means valley so it’s the valley of Shiel). The Highlands offer beautiful scenery; I hope to return someday.
A beautiful stained glass window from a chapel in Linlithgow.
Doune Castle — aka Winterfell in Game of Thrones! You should watch it if you haven’t already.
And now a few from my travels outside Scotland!
Rooftop view from the Astronomical Clock tower in Prague, Czech Republic. Some friends and I ate at the rooftop restaurant across the way, so if you go to Prague I recommend eating there.
At one of the pubs in Prague, we were able to try our hands at pouring our own glass of beer!
On my weekend trip to London, I had to see Buckingham Palace.
I’m a big fan of Sherlock Holmes, so I had to visit 221b Baker Street and see his flat for myself.
The Tower of London was amazing — I even saw the Crown Jewels!
London is full of museums and I didn’t have enough time to see all of them — or everything inside the ones I did visit because there is so much. However I did take some time to see the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum.
My visit to the British Museum as also was my first time seeing actual samurai armor! I’ve always been intrigued with feudal Japan.
Emiliano Estrada is an economics major. He is studying at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom during fall semester.
The global experience, as told by SDSU students 
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