Haggis and Loads of buildings older than my country

 Well 10 days in and I think I could stay here for my entire trip. Although the rest of Europe is calling my name, I am really enjoying Scotland. The history around me is overwhelming and the landscape is breathtaking. Even just driving into town I feel like I am in the Rockies compared to the view I get on 95. Before I start on all of my destinations thus far I have a few important points to make.

#1- The Gentlemans. They have been my hosts thus far in Scotland and have made my time here so enjoyable. Having a warm shower, food to eat and tea 6 times a day makes any part of being away from home easy. Their mum has treated me as her own and as usual the company of Emma and Phil is great. Their home is lovely and it has been nice to have a base that feels like home, in Scotland at least.

-The Gentleman Siblings in Edinburg

#2- Scotland seems to be more green than America. Not just in the vast amounts of farm fields you can’t avoid but the way they look at the environment. Most houses have compost bins sitting near their sink and recycle bins are everywhere. Their drying machines can sense when the wash is dry and shuts off automatically and many toilets have a #1 and #2 choice so that you use less water. We might have some of these in the states but I have been noticing it much more here.

#3- Accents. Some people have been asking me if I understand what is going on over here and the answer is yes, mostly. You can drive about an hour and people sound different wherever you go, so it all depends. Lucky for me I can understand my friends and they are doing a great job of translating the people who I can only get one or two words out of their sentences.

#4- The packing problem I had before I left for my trip involved a backpack or a suitcase. Although I have not done much travelling with my bag so far, it was great to have it on my back and have my hands free. It gives me time to fumble through my purse to figure out how many pounds I have to pay for my coffee. Problem was solved.

#3- The food blog. It is happening. I am still learning to use my new camera so the pictures are not so quality at the moment, but it will give you a good idea. Here is the link, eat it up and drool: http://truelifeimafoodie.blogspot.com/

So here is what I have been getting into so far in the greatest, smallest country in the world.

Last Saturday Emma and I met up with a friend of hers, Stacy, who just had a little baby girl called Eden. We met them for coffee but it was really just an excuse to play with the baby. She was well behaved, adorable and lovable all at the same time. Then we were off to St. Andrews in Fife, a college town named after Saint Andrew the Apostle. The town is the “Home of Golf” and was the capitol of Scotland for a short period of time. After walking around in the idyllic Scottish coastal town we walked to the St. Andrews Cathedral, well the remains of it, said to date back to 1120 but completed in 1200. The War of the Rough Wooing caused the most damage to the Cathedral even after some renovations. The remains are beautiful right on the water and are surrounded my people buried before my country was discovered. We walked through the St. Andrew’s Campus, took pictures on the Golf Course for my dad then drove home.

-St. Andrew's Cathedral and me.

On Sunday Emma had to work so I laid low and finished the 3^rd and final Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Books ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! I wish there were more, so epic. I also wish I was half as bad ass as Salander).  Emma got home and we took a nice long walk right outside of her house along The River Tay. The river is 188 km (117 miles) long and is the 7^th longest in the UK. Not exactly swimming weather but it gave a beautiful backdrop for the sunset. We talked behind her house a bit through a quarry and came home to the lovely smell of Haggis. Read the food blog for more details but we said a Robert Burns poem and enjoyed the meal.

Monday was calm with a walk through Broughty Ferry, a fishing town on the edge of Dundee. We saw the Broughty Ferry Castle which used to be used to watch for the Vikings and walked on the beach a wee bit. We went to a baby party with Emma’s friend Stacy and her sister Samantha, took a walk through Baxter Park and played with the babies on the swings. (I am not sure if this is a phase or not, but I can’t get enough of playing with babies and hanging out with dogs at the moment). We met Samantha later at the Dundee Center for the Arts which is a beautiful building with a cafe/bar in the basement. We enjoyed some wine and laughed alot before heading home.

Emma had to work a bit so I took a day in Dundee to explore and get some work done for my job this summer at BBPC. When she got out we went home, made dinner, and played Bananagrams with some beers on the side.

Thursday morning Emma cooked breakfast and we got out by eleven to go to Sterling to meet our friend from camp Andrew, who goes to University there. We picked him up from class and went right to see the William Wallace Monument. If you don’t know who he is, either watch Braveheart or google him. He basically fought for Scotland’s freedom from the English and in the long run helped them win it. It was super windy but the view of Sterling was beautiful at the top. The monument is about 100 years old , with 242 steps to the top and inside is Wallace’s famous sword, which I might add is as tall as my 5’3 and some change self. We went for lunch after at a coffee shop and some good laughs about the summer and made plans for the weekend. We walked to the Sterling castle which had another beautiful view of the city and the college campus.
 
-The view of Sterling from the monument 

Over the weekend we woke up early and drove the hour or so into Edinburg. We met up with our friend Greg for had a half pint and some coffee. After, we got a cab into town to our hotel which was located in the Grassmarket. Dropped off our stuff and got walking! The city it almost exactly as I pictured it but so much more. The cobble stone roads, Scotland flags, Whiskey shops  and churches lining the streets. We walked along the royal mile, went into some shops,  noshed on some fudge and ended at the Edinburgh castle. We could not go inside the castle, but that will be for another trip. The view, as expected was the best view in Edinburgh. I can see why the people of the past build these castles where they did, they have a premium view. It blows my mind a wee bit how these buildings were built by hand so long ago and are still standing today. Also to feel the history as you read about it and stare upwards about 80 feet in the air at the top almost brings an eerie feeling.

-Edinburgh Castle

Andrew met us after class and we all got ready for a proper night out in the city. We started at cocktail bar just off the Royal Mile called Bar Kohl , then met our friend James near our hotel for a G&T then off to dance at a place called Shanghai on George Street. The night was a success and I was even a bit sore from dancing the next morning along with my first hangover in while. The banter was wonderful all weekend and I am lucky to have such great tour guides and good friends to be with.

Yesterday Samantha, Emma, their friend Rothney and I went on an adventure. We started in Perth (sounds like someone with a lisp saying Paris) and drove to Loch Earn which in the summer is a lake people go for vacation but is a perfect spot to put up a fire and make s’mores. Unfortunately the fire was a fail but the mountains were vast and there were horses and sheep to keep us entertained. We had lunch in Crief, a very small town at a proper British pub. Then we returned to Perth just in time for the sunset and climbed Kinnoul Hill to see it. There is a castle that top that was built by a Scotsman to look like the castles in Germany. Again there was great company, beautiful views and a day spent just going wherever the day took us.


 -Lock Earn

This entry seems a bit long. I am sure as we are travelling more we won’t be able to keep them at this length, but I hope it is an easy ready anyways. I am also not writing down everything by hand so this blog is also a way for me to keep note of it all.

A brief Scottish Dictionary Lesson

Wee-A small amount

Banter-Conversation, chat, jokes and all in between

Pound-Their money currency

Quid-Their slang term for  money, as Americans say bucks

Sloshed/Steaming- Drinking too much

Neeps and tattie- Parsnips and Potatoes

Brae- Small Hill

Chips-French Fries

Crisps-Chips

Loch- Lake

To close out I want to share how exceptionally happy I am here. I was having some anxiety leading up to the trip and not really sure where to direct it or where it was coming from. The moment I got on the plane it disappeared. I seem to be smiling more and laughing harder here than I have in a while. Maybe it is the good company, the beautiful scenery and everything in between. Either way I am just happy.  So much of the world I have not seen yet and this little taste is already having me itch for more.

Thank you all for the continual support and love you are sending my way!

Jacklyn

COUNTDOWN:
Emily : 10 days