So I apologize to my readers, this blog entry has been a long time coming since I went to Scotland on the 28th of October (and its now November -- how did this happen?) But I would just like to take a moment to acknowledge the fact that my lack of updates is a good thing, it means I have been to busy doing amazing things to even stop and write. But since I will be here the next three weekends expect much more regular updates, as I have many things to say lately. But first since I am attempting to write this somewhat chronologically --> Scotland.
Day 1
We left the res hall way, way, to early on Thursday morning (around 6:30am) to take the tube to Kings Cross Station (a giant train station) where we boarded our train to Scotland. Needless to say it takes 5 hours to ride a train to Scotland something someone like me (with no ability to sit still) was not that pleased with. Basically a normal person would have slept but I just didn't really know what to do with those hours (though the last hour or so of the train ride was beautiful).
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| First view of Scotland |
So then we finally arrived in Edinburgh to meet our guide, a short middle-aged man wearing a kilt. He was driving a bright yellow tour bus with the words "Wild & Sexy" on the side and right away I knew this was going to be a strange trip. He provided us with a running commentary of profane jokes and interesting, at times irrelevant information.
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| Our bus |
The first place we stopped was the Warren Memorial (some sort of Braveheart reference but I am to movie deprived to understand). So we hiked up to the top of the hill and it was the beginning of the indescribable beauty I witnessed over the next few days.
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| First view of Warren Memorial | |
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| View from ontop of the memorial |
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| Me on top of the memorial -- after a long climb up the hill |
Then we drove around the Scottish Highlands, quite possibly the most beauitful place on earth, full of roaming hills and waterfalls. I have never seen this sort of natural beauty in real life.
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| The first view of the Highlands |
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| The girls and I in the Highlands |
After an entire day of traveling (and unfortunately carsickness) we stopped in our first hostel, in Fort Williams. Weirdly, we went to a Mexican restaurant that night and it was delicious. Then we went back to our cute little family owned hostel (it was pouring rain all night) and curled up by the fire. It was delightful.
Day 2
Our day began with a train ride on a real steam train, the train that inspired/used in Harry Potter. Unfortunately we didn't set in Hogwarts Express style seats (those were the first class cars). Though I am not a huge Harry Potter fan I did recognize the romance in riding in an old fashioned steam train with a snack car and a beautiful view the whole way. Scotland is the most naturally beautiful place I have experienced in my life. The highlands are huge cliffs and mountains (something those of us in the flat midwest don't see everyday) all covered in trees with perfect fall leaves in all different colors. I never understood people who loved fall before, and now I do.
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| The Steam Train |
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| Jenna and I when the train stopped in the Highlands |
After the train ride we grabbed lunch in this cute seaside town (but it was raining too hard to really explore) and then we got back on our tourbus. We were prepared for a long ride to Loch Ness when two wheels literally feel off our bus and we had to wait on the bus for two hours watching a movie. Then when we finally got a new bus it was too late and rainy to ride a boat on the river so instead we stopped and climbed a hill to the Viaduct from Harry Potter (another thing I didn't really understand) but it was another incredible view.
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| Jenna and Anne frolicking in the mountains (I love this picture so much) |
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| The beautiful view |
Then more bus riding and we went to a new hostel. This one was particularly cute, owned by a sweet Scottish family who cooked us a traditional meal featuring Haggis (which I was unable to eat), a delicious dessert and they then taught us how to Scottish dance (such a fun disaster). Then we got to spend another night sitting in front of a fire.
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| Our Haggis Dinner (eeew -- but I tried it) |
Day 3
The first thing we did that morning before embarking on another long drive was stop at the Loch Ness since hadn't the night before.
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| In front of the loch |
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| Another photo of the loch |
Once again we spent hours on the bus riding through beautiful hills amazed my more views. After the drive we climbed another hill, this time to see real reindeer. They were adorable and we got to feed them. This walk to the reindeer was probably my favorite part, we got to climb over little hills, bridges over rivers and then literally frolic in the mountains with wild animals.
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| Feeding the reindeer |
After lunch and more driving we went to a whiskey factory, I think whiskey is gross but unlike the guiness factory this was a working distillery not a museum so that was interesting to see.
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| Whiskey factory! |
After more amazing scenery and driving we went to Edinburgh which is another great city. Its a larger scenery but manages to have a natural feel. Our hostel was fun since we got to choose our roommates, have a big room and there was conveniently a bar in the basement. Since it was Halloween we all got dressed up in our makeshift costumes, I was a gypsy. Then we went on a ghost tour, which I personally didn't enjoy it was just sort of emotionally manipulative and silly but afterward we went dancing!
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| Make-shift gypsy costume |
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| Going out for Halloween! |
Day 4
On our last day in Scotland we woke up pretty early (thank you European early daylight savings time) and Rachel and I went exploring. We did alot of wandering (our first day in Scotland without rain) and then went to Edinburgh Castle (I love exploring old castles).
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| Photo on the hillside with the Castle and photo of the Castle |
After going to the castle we went to a coffee shop which is famous for being the inspiration, the place were many famous writers (one of them being J.K. Rowling) wrote. i just love a good coffee shop, especially one with amazing chocolate cake.
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| J.K. Rowling Cafe |
After this a few of us went to climb Arthur Seat (a hill with the best view of the city) even though we climbed the wrong track we still got the incredible view and a "photo shoot" ontop of the hill. Then after all of this we got on another five hour train ride and headed home to London! All in all it was an amazing trip. And there are a thousand more photos of facebook so please check them out. Uploading them all to this blog would take forever.
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Me ontop of Arthur's seat, overlooking Edinburgh  |
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