It’s a crisp November morning in old Haarlem, a town just outside Amsterdam, complete with windmills, canals, and all the Dutch charm you can imagine.

Bicycles zip past in orderly chaos over the cobblestones. A booming gong of bells comes from the towering church in the center of town, the market square. The stalls crowd the square for it’s market day and the treats abound. Start by grabbing a coffee and a Stroop Waffle.

You have already booked your tickets in advance to visit the ten Boom house, so you’ll plan your day around your tour time.

Chocolate in hand, stroll around the corner to Greyfriar’s Kirkyard (churchyard) and walk among the headstones for a bit. This church opened its doors on Christmas Day, 1620, which is about one month after the Mayflower landed with 100 pilgrims in the New World. Stepping around a graveyard is a humbling experience, all at once pulling us into the past and nudging us toward our own future. Make your way, slowly, to the back section, and you can find a burial spot that no one else, unless they are also on this mini-retreat, will be visiting — that of Jane Borthwick. She is the beautiful, anonymous young woman who translated Be Still My Soul, making it available to her Scottish homeland in 1855. (Jane was mentioned above in the song section.)

As you look, you will hear people around you murmuring “Harry Potter” and here’s why. This churchyard is said to be a place where J.K. Rowling picked up a few of her character names like Tom Riddle and McGonagall. While not a confirmed fact, tour guides have certainly made the most of the opportunity. You will see the groups gathered near the back wrought iron fence, just behind Jane’s grave. There looms the towering stone school, George Heriot’s, supposedly the place Rowling’s children attended, and the inspiration for Hogwarts. She did, in fact, work on the original manuscript in a nearby cafe, now a pilgrimage site all its own.

Let’s head now a bit north toward the National Galleries. It’s about a 20 minute walk, with lots to take in along the way so take your time. You will not regret purchasing a wide Scottish Tartan wrap scarf, available everywhere you turn, so that you might display it over your sofa at home during the Christmas season. If you happen to see a charity shop or church rummage sale, make sure to grab an old book or relic that has seen years of Scottish life.

As you walk, imagine all who walked these same streets before you. Or ran, as in the case of the aforementioned Eric Liddell. In the 1920s, he could be seen racing city buses from the sidewalk as he attended Edinburgh University. Another year, you might have brushed arms with Edinburgh natives like Alexander Graham Bell, Robert Lewis Stevenson, or hymn-writer Elizabeth Cephlane. Artists like James Guthrie, mentioned above, would have passed by too, perhaps carrying his art kit and a sketchbook.

Speaking of which, if you’re so inclined, rest on a bench for a moment and sketch part of a scene in front of you. Quick, messy lines will do. You’ll look back later and be glad you did.

The National Galleries of Scotland will be the perfect place to step in from the cold and enjoy a little art. You will find it very nicely laid out, intuitively directing you toward paintings that feel, and are, Scottish. Admission is free, so you will be at liberty to stay as long or short as suits you.

An advertising banner near the front might feature an enlarged image of The Hind’s Daughter by Sir James Guthrie, which will do its job of drawing you in. Its the style of art that feels sure of itself, and might make you think — I’d like to paint like that. The original is just up ahead.

Progress through the gallery halls. If you see a painting that really draws you in, pause and read more about the artist. Or jot down the artist's name to read more about later so you don’t have to be on your phone. Knowing the story of the art makes it so much more enjoyable.

Once you begin to feel like you’ve seen enough art for the day, make your way toward the exit. Museums are best departed on a high note rather than in exhaustion. But wait — don’t leave without stopping in the gift-shop! Grab a postcard of the art piece that was your favorite. You will love using this as a bookmark back home, or framing it for your wall as a memory of this illuminating visit.

Time to head back out. There’s Franco Manca sourdough pizza nearby if needed. Enjoy the day, rambling around town, feeling blessed by the beauty. If you’re able to squeeze in time for a meal at the Sheep Heid Inn (14th Century!) followed by a hike over Arthur’s Seat (or vice versa), you won’t be sorry, unless it’s cold and raining. And even then, you won’t be too sorry.

If you have traceable Scottish ancestry, you will love incorporating a bit of that into your day. It’s remarkable to imagine walking the same roads as those who you came from, the lives that led to yours. And consider jotting down a few notes from your day, journal entries that the generations after you might enjoy.

And if there is, by chance, a candlelight concert scheduled for the evening at the famous St. Giles Cathedral (the church of John Knox, who is buried in the parking lot), make absolutely sure you go.