I've been to Scotland for my summer holidays, and I have absolutely loved it! It's an amazing country, with breathtaking landscapes, a unique culture and very warm and friendly people. It's a place you must go to at least once in your life... I'll be going back there for sure!
On our roadtrip, we had planned a stop at the most famous loch... Loch Ness. It was beautiful, but from my point of view, not very different from many lakes we had seen on the way, and by far not the most beautiful we had encountered. But is was "special".
Standing at the bank of the lake and gazing into it's waters, I came to think,... how come is it so popular and famous worldwide? For it's "monster" of course. Nessie is one of those super famous creatures that no one has ever seen but everyone knows of, like unicorns and Big Foot. I thought it was brilliant how the story that had been weeved around the lake had turned into legend and had been forever linked with the place itself. Unicorns are not from one specific place, but the "Loch Ness Monster" has the origin in its name... and it's not different as a lake from the rest of lakes (at least from my point of view), but all the stories around it have added a lot of value it, and it has become a must-see stop when you are traveling to the area. I thought it was brilliant, how they differentiate something common and normal and grant it this added value.... through stories and myths.
When you say you've been to Scotland, everyone asks if you saw the Loch Ness Monster. Unfortunately, we didn't see it... although deep in my heart I really wished we would ;) Maybe on our next visit.