I went on a Highland tour today to the south of Scotland, an area called the Borders.
It was only a few hours, and we had about half as many stops as the first one I went on.
But this was by far, one of my favorite "adventures" so far.
The weather was pretty crappy...cold, rainy, windy, sleet/snow at times, but the sights I saw made up for it.
But I figured out today that I LOVE LOVE LOVE traveling alone.
I can do whatever the heck I want without worrying about stepping on anyone's toes.
And I especially enjoyed a day away from the city, school, flatmates, and everything else about this Scottish life. I NEED my alone time :)
Sometimes I just have to keep pinching myself.
Look around you! You're walking where freakin kings and queens lived out history!
here's a link to my pictures from today:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024030&l=9b137&id=177501993
12.19.2008
12.16.2008
if you can't fight 'em, join 'em
all of my flatmates, including myself, have come down with something this weekend.
a combination of congestion, sneezing, coughing, and just plain crumby-feeling.
so tonight, instead of having pity on ourselves, we made the most of our collective illness.
we shared a jar of vanilla frosting using our fingers as spoons :)
Two of them are leaving to go back to America in only 6 days, and we can't stop talking about how weird it will be on both ends: to go home to a completely different life or to stay in the new one minus the ones that helped form it. To think that we have all come from completely (let me emphasize completely!) different parts of the world, yet all of our lives somehow crossed for just a few short months. And after the term is over, we continue on in our separate ways, probably never to see each other again...as emo as that sounds, it's true :) We may never cross paths again (and some I wouldn't care to!), but for awhile there, we were vital to each other's survival.
I'm not sure why, but this has been fascinating me lately.
a combination of congestion, sneezing, coughing, and just plain crumby-feeling.
so tonight, instead of having pity on ourselves, we made the most of our collective illness.
we shared a jar of vanilla frosting using our fingers as spoons :)
Two of them are leaving to go back to America in only 6 days, and we can't stop talking about how weird it will be on both ends: to go home to a completely different life or to stay in the new one minus the ones that helped form it. To think that we have all come from completely (let me emphasize completely!) different parts of the world, yet all of our lives somehow crossed for just a few short months. And after the term is over, we continue on in our separate ways, probably never to see each other again...as emo as that sounds, it's true :) We may never cross paths again (and some I wouldn't care to!), but for awhile there, we were vital to each other's survival.
I'm not sure why, but this has been fascinating me lately.
12.12.2008
apologies apologies
sorry for the wait.
sometimes I forget people actually read this :)
so what's new...
Dad was just here last weekend and we had SOOOO much fun. I think I wore us both out pretty bad, but it was worth it, right Dad? We went to have lunch at the Edinburgh Castle, then flew to Ireland, drove on the other side of the rode (and the car!), almost blew off the Cliffs of Moher, made some new Irish friends in a pub, had a drink at the infamous Durty Nellies, flew home just in time to climb Arthur's Seat (almost!), then laid low the rest of the weekend just wandering the city eating fish and chips.
you can see pictures here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023797&l=40c8f&id=177501993
Most of my classes end next week, so what am I going to do for the next month, you ask? Well...
Caroline is coming to see me Dec 23-30. No big trips planned, probably just some little day trips around Scotland. Then she overlaps with Taylor who gets into Edinburgh on Dec 29. We'll celebrate New Year's at Edinburgh's Hogmanay, one of the largest New Year's celebrations in the world - literally! Then go to Paris for a few days on Jan 2-5. Then possibly spend a day or so in London before Taylor goes back to the homeland on Jan 8. Then a week of much needed rest before my final guest arrives :) Mom flies into Edinburgh on Jan 15. We'll be taking a short detour over to Sweden for a couple days before flying home together (finally!) on Jan 24.
Wow, I think I'm going to go take a nap. I have a long 6 weeks ahead of me!
views of the Edinburgh Castle around dusk
looking towards the Scott Monument on Princes Street through a canon opening in the Castle wall
Castle walls inside
view of Princes Street, Princes Street Gardens, and the German Market
sometimes I forget people actually read this :)
so what's new...
Dad was just here last weekend and we had SOOOO much fun. I think I wore us both out pretty bad, but it was worth it, right Dad? We went to have lunch at the Edinburgh Castle, then flew to Ireland, drove on the other side of the rode (and the car!), almost blew off the Cliffs of Moher, made some new Irish friends in a pub, had a drink at the infamous Durty Nellies, flew home just in time to climb Arthur's Seat (almost!), then laid low the rest of the weekend just wandering the city eating fish and chips.
you can see pictures here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023797&l=40c8f&id=177501993
Most of my classes end next week, so what am I going to do for the next month, you ask? Well...
Caroline is coming to see me Dec 23-30. No big trips planned, probably just some little day trips around Scotland. Then she overlaps with Taylor who gets into Edinburgh on Dec 29. We'll celebrate New Year's at Edinburgh's Hogmanay, one of the largest New Year's celebrations in the world - literally! Then go to Paris for a few days on Jan 2-5. Then possibly spend a day or so in London before Taylor goes back to the homeland on Jan 8. Then a week of much needed rest before my final guest arrives :) Mom flies into Edinburgh on Jan 15. We'll be taking a short detour over to Sweden for a couple days before flying home together (finally!) on Jan 24.
Wow, I think I'm going to go take a nap. I have a long 6 weeks ahead of me!
views of the Edinburgh Castle around dusk
looking towards the Scott Monument on Princes Street through a canon opening in the Castle wall
Castle walls inside
view of Princes Street, Princes Street Gardens, and the German MarketI forgot I had these pictures from the castle, so I'll try and get some more up on Facebook soon from that afternoon.
12.02.2008
comin to town
very cool sky outside my window. pre-snow.5 Signs The Christmas Season Has Begun In Edinburgh:
1. Vince Guaraldi is playing in ScotMid.
2. The German Market is up and running.
3. Princes Street Gardens has been iced over into a skating rink.
4. Starbucks is using the red cups.
5. It's snowing!
...happy Anna?!
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