Hello from far, far away from the weirdness downstairs! It's 'Merica night, which I didn't really know about until tonight, when I was informed that there was a wild and crazy party down in the Bistro. Someone was drunk...okay, a lot of people were drunk...but only one of them broke a light. Yikes. Meanwhile, I was having a great time in the library working on an extra credit group project for environmental science and listening to British boy band music. Heck yes.
But that was tonight. I guess I should rewind. It's Scotland time! I left last Friday with J. Morgan and we took a train (my first train!) to Edinburgh. We managed to navigate all of our train changes, then arrived at our hostel right across the street from the rail station. The hostel, appropriately named The Hostel, was nice and clean. We had a co-ed room with a bunch of bunk beds, and the first night we made friends with two English girls around our age who were in Edinburgh to get certified to teach Zumba. That first day, J. Morgan and I started right off on our adventures by touring Edinburgh Castle, which was WAAAY up on a big hill. We could see the whole city from there, and we got to watch the sunset there that evening. Later that night, we met up with some friends and had dinner at Maggie Dickson's Pub, which was cheap and DELICIOUS! I had lasagna for 5 pounds. Oh, and we went on a ghost tour of the catacombs. I actually got kinda freaked out and waited outside for part of it, not gonna lie. I'm such a weenie sometimes. I was really disgusted with myself, but at least I got to see the underground catacombs. There was only like one room I missed. Don't judge. The guide was just really good at psyching people out, and then my friends that went said it wasn't scary once you get in there. But it's supposed to be like, the scariest thing ever. Whatever, after that we went to a gift shop in a graveyard, so there. It was called The Wee Creepy Shop.
And I saw Greyfriars Bobby's statue. Bobby was a dog who stayed at his master's grave after his master died, the ultimate loyalty. And then I passed by the Elephant House, the cafe where J.K. Rowling started writing the Harry Potter series.
The next day, we had the best adventure: climbing Arthur's Seat, the 822-foot hill that's practically a mountain. It was so epic. I felt like Bear Grylls. AMAZING!
That day we also went to the Museum of Edinburgh, the Museum of Childhood, and a ton of shops. We ate at the World's End Pub, a very highly recommended establishment. I had smoked salmon with lemon and strawberries, which would have been good if I had realized it would be cold salmon. Sadly I did not realize this and the shock of it all just made it rather disgusting.
By the way, nothing is open in Edinburgh after 7 except for drinking establishments and one fantabulous bookstore, where I got Catching Fire and Mockingjay (with the cool British covers) 2 for 3 pounds...which is $5 and something. SUCH A BARGAIN! I was super excited. And then we were walking down the street and I saw a guy that looked like the actor who plays Watson on the BBC show Sherlock, but it obviously wasn't really him. Still, J. Morgan and I had a moment where we turned to each other and frantically whispered, "That guy looks like John!"
Speaking of which, I've basically spent the week since getting back from Scotland going to class and watching Sherlock with my friends Nathan and Ellyn. We're obsessed, but alas there are only 3 episodes that we have on DVD and we finished them tonight. Oh well, there's always Doctor Who.
And speaking of the BBC, a guy from the BBC visited one of the classes today to give a guest lecture and I got to sit in on it and it was cool. Cause the BBC is cool. The End. Boom.
Oh yeah, and I went to Lincoln yesterday...which was cold. But the cathedral was beautiful and the chocolate shop had awesome chocolate bananas!
But that was tonight. I guess I should rewind. It's Scotland time! I left last Friday with J. Morgan and we took a train (my first train!) to Edinburgh. We managed to navigate all of our train changes, then arrived at our hostel right across the street from the rail station. The hostel, appropriately named The Hostel, was nice and clean. We had a co-ed room with a bunch of bunk beds, and the first night we made friends with two English girls around our age who were in Edinburgh to get certified to teach Zumba. That first day, J. Morgan and I started right off on our adventures by touring Edinburgh Castle, which was WAAAY up on a big hill. We could see the whole city from there, and we got to watch the sunset there that evening. Later that night, we met up with some friends and had dinner at Maggie Dickson's Pub, which was cheap and DELICIOUS! I had lasagna for 5 pounds. Oh, and we went on a ghost tour of the catacombs. I actually got kinda freaked out and waited outside for part of it, not gonna lie. I'm such a weenie sometimes. I was really disgusted with myself, but at least I got to see the underground catacombs. There was only like one room I missed. Don't judge. The guide was just really good at psyching people out, and then my friends that went said it wasn't scary once you get in there. But it's supposed to be like, the scariest thing ever. Whatever, after that we went to a gift shop in a graveyard, so there. It was called The Wee Creepy Shop.
And I saw Greyfriars Bobby's statue. Bobby was a dog who stayed at his master's grave after his master died, the ultimate loyalty. And then I passed by the Elephant House, the cafe where J.K. Rowling started writing the Harry Potter series.
The next day, we had the best adventure: climbing Arthur's Seat, the 822-foot hill that's practically a mountain. It was so epic. I felt like Bear Grylls. AMAZING!
That day we also went to the Museum of Edinburgh, the Museum of Childhood, and a ton of shops. We ate at the World's End Pub, a very highly recommended establishment. I had smoked salmon with lemon and strawberries, which would have been good if I had realized it would be cold salmon. Sadly I did not realize this and the shock of it all just made it rather disgusting.
By the way, nothing is open in Edinburgh after 7 except for drinking establishments and one fantabulous bookstore, where I got Catching Fire and Mockingjay (with the cool British covers) 2 for 3 pounds...which is $5 and something. SUCH A BARGAIN! I was super excited. And then we were walking down the street and I saw a guy that looked like the actor who plays Watson on the BBC show Sherlock, but it obviously wasn't really him. Still, J. Morgan and I had a moment where we turned to each other and frantically whispered, "That guy looks like John!"
Speaking of which, I've basically spent the week since getting back from Scotland going to class and watching Sherlock with my friends Nathan and Ellyn. We're obsessed, but alas there are only 3 episodes that we have on DVD and we finished them tonight. Oh well, there's always Doctor Who.
And speaking of the BBC, a guy from the BBC visited one of the classes today to give a guest lecture and I got to sit in on it and it was cool. Cause the BBC is cool. The End. Boom.
Oh yeah, and I went to Lincoln yesterday...which was cold. But the cathedral was beautiful and the chocolate shop had awesome chocolate bananas!
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