Edehbura: Trip to Edinburgh, Scotland!

Yes, the locals pronounce it 'edehbura', nothing like it's actually spelled haha. Turns out, this was one of the best weekends I've had so far and after three weeks of bliss, I've decided I'm not as eager to get back to the US as I thought. It'll be bittersweet.

Anyway, I left my 5 hour class around 3, ran back to my room, grabbed my bag and Kristin and we began our hike to the airport. First, we had to take the tube to King's Cross/St. Pancras where we met Erin. Once here, we had to catch a train to some station, I forgot which one, which took a half hour. Once here, we had to get on a bus to take us to the actual airport. Our flight was only about an hour but we of course had to take every type of transportation possible first. Lutton Airport is not the easiest of London airports to get to. We finally arrived in Scotland around 9pm where Alexa picked us up at the airport. We then hoped on yet another bus for a 30 minute journey into Edinburgh! Once there, we made our way to Chelsey's dorm to meet up with Chelsey, Natasha and Rachel and grab dinner. We went to their campus bar, which was adorable and had some food and drinks followed by drinks at another bar. It was a short night, but it was perfect.

The next day, we were supposed to go on a hike up "Arthur's Seat", a mountain outside of Chelsey's building BUT, it has snowed! So instead, we just walked around and did some sightseeing on foot, ordered a pizza for dinner and prepared for our pub crawl. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect because I still had yet to do one but it was a blast. All of the pubs in Scotland are so cute! I think we went to four, maybe five pubs before 1am when they all close. Natasha, Chelsey and I then went back to Chelsey's room and passed out. But not before grabbing some cheese 'chips!'

Sunday morning was a little rough, but it was a beautiful day! We went to a bagel place, Elephant & Bagels (every morning by the way) that was delicious. It was nice to have a bagel and cream cheese and normal coffee finally! We then were supposed to go on a ghost tour. We were all kind of creeped out but really excited and paid £7 to do it! Accept, when we went upstairs into the first room of the vault, I panicked and ran out! Haha. I don't do ghost stuff and I guess I didn't realize just how much I don't do it. Freaked out, I ran to Starbucks and waited for the girls to finish. Looking back, I wish I had asked for my money back! About a half hour later, the girls came back and said it would have been okay up until the last room. Apparently it was beyond terrifying, so knowing me, it's a good thing I didn't do it. We then walked down the street to watch a street performer who was very entertaining but left when he started yelling at some kids for being disrespectful—we were just glad they weren't American. We then set off in search of authentic rugby shirts and of course, all made a purchase. Mine is black and purple stripped AND was on sale of course.

We then had to head back because Natasha and Rachel were leaving that night because they had stuff to do for Monday while Erin, Kristin and I stayed an extra night. After we dropped Natasha and Rachel at the bus station, we went to Tesco's to get stuff to make dinner and of course, three bottles of wine. On our way back to Chelsey's room—by the way, you walk everywhere in Scotland, there is no subway or tube or anything, just buses but you just walk everywhere—Kristin and I managed to drop all three wine bottles on separate occasions, pretty funny especially because one of the times was in front of a church as people were leaving and they were like oh no! Save the wine! Haha. Luckily, all three bottles stayed in tact! After dinner, we just sat around and played card games, chatted and looked up youtube videos. A nice relaxing night that made us all feel really old.

Monday morning, our last day, it was pouring out. It was going to be our last attempt at that hike but was an obvious fail. Exhausted from the weekend, we just went back to Chelsey's room after breakfast to snuggle and watch the Parent Trap together! Around 2:30, we decided to make moves and head to the bus station to do our long journey back to London. I really didn't want to leave. Probably because I really have missed Lex and Chels. It was so good to see them and Scotland is much more my pace. Had I known, I definitely would have studied there. Oh well, I'm appreciating London more. Finally arriving around 9pm, I was going to make a quick dinner and go to bed. Well, that backfired and I ended up going out for Messy Monday. I'm glad I did though because I did have fun. I ended up going to bed around 2am so I probably would have stayed awake until then whether I went out or not. However, around 3am our fire alarm did go off 3 times! AH!

Luckily, I didn't have class until 2pm today because I got to sleep in nice and late although the weather the was beautiful of course. The worst is when you sleep in late on a nice day and then have to spend the rest of the sunlight in class. So after class, Paige, Alicia and I decided to head to this grocery store that has American food, like Mac n Cheese and stuff. It was amazing, they really had a lot of good stuff but it was WAY over priced. We didn't need it that much, but it was nice to see. I did however, purchase pickles! Like real pickles. Not this sweet, bread and butter crap, that's all they seem to have here. So not sure how long the jar will last but I'm psyched. I also stocked up on Mac n Cheese and tortilla chips! Haha, it's the little things. Now I'm just procrastinating because I have about a months worth of laundry to do and I just can't be bothered! The only thing that's making me feel motivated is my St. Patty's shirt is dirty. Haha.

So from here on out, it's really going to fly by. Of course, being who I am, I'm now sad. I don't really want to leave just yet. I have been so busy lately and will continue to be busy until I leave. Friday is my 21st birthday (HOLY S@%$) and next weekend we go to Paris. Then we have a week and Spring break starts. Like I said, bittersweet.

Barcelona and a Surprise Visit

AH this week has been hectic and amazing! No idea where I left off in blogging because last week feels like a blur. I was so excited to meet Mom is Barcelona that nothing else actually mattered or registered in my mind. All I know is, I went to the SU bar Monday night for the first time in a while and had a really good time. Tuesday, my class was cancelled so I just waited to go to bed in anticipation of my flight. Wednesday morning finally rolled around and I was up before my alarm. The plan was, go to lecture in the city from 9 to 10 and then head to Gatwick airport. Well out of excitement and nervousness, I skipped class because I didn't want anything to go wrong and arrived really early at the airport. I was on the tube ready to go to class and everything and just decided not to get off at Oxford Circus but to keep going to Victoria Station. The Gatwick express to the airport was really quick and easy. So all in all I should have gone to class because I just sat in the airport for about two hours waiting in anticipation, eventually leading to anxiety and necessary popping of the pills. Oh well. The flight wasn't so bad, my first time flying alone. I slept for some of it and read for a little while (I had a paper due Monday.)

Landing was amazing however, because 1) I was finally on land and 2) I could finally see my mama! When I saw her, I got so excited that I lost my blackberry wanna be piece of crap phone and I didn't even care. When we arrived at our hotel, it was somewhat late but the weather was nice. We went to a yummy place for dinner and then just walked around the heart of Barcelona. The next day wasn't so nice. It rained from morning to night and it was freezing! And of course it was sunny in London. Go figure! So mom and I decided to do a bus tour of Barcelona only getting out at a museum and to see the Familia Sagrada, a beautiful cathedral that is STILL being built decades later. That night, we had paella for dinner and I actually really enjoyed it (fish-free though.)

The next morning, we were off to London and of course, the weather was BEAUTIFUL! So it sucked that we were leaving but what made it 10 times worse was the fact that we missed out flight! We were about a half hour early too but last minute they switched gates. But since they don't announce it, we were supposed to be "checking the board every 15 minutes"...apparently that's how it works in Barcelona. Well it wasn't so bad except that we wasted a beautiful day away in an airport and little did I know, there was a surprise waiting for me in Harrow. Luckily, a man named Daniel essentially saved us and helped us get back to London on Friday night. We cut it pretty close but we made it.

Once in London, it was time to catch a cab. Mom had something up her sleeve and was trying to be tricky. She ended up having to tell me but she said she had gotten us a hotel for the weekend. I was super psyched of course, prolonging my sad return to my single and uncomfortable bed. Then once we got closer to Harrow, my mom called the hotel and said tell room 165 we're here. My initial thought was oh my god, Dad's here because he has supposedly taken a business trip to Chicago. But Mom covered well and said Erin and Natasha are there waiting for you. So I then began to freak out because I thought they'd been waiting there all day wasting away their Friday night. About and hour and a half later (because it was impossible to find the hotel, we arrived, both a little stressed.) When I walked into the lounge, who was sitting there, my daddy! It was a great surprise, they definitely got me, I cried because I had finally settled with the idea that I wouldn't see him until May.

So the rest of their time here was great. Not only were we not staying in my room BUT I got to be with my family! Best birthday present ever! So since we got back so unexpectedly late, Mom and I were starving so we went to a little Mediterranean place in Harrow that was pretty good, went back to the hotel and happily drifted off to sleep. OH and got to watch TV!!

The next day, Mom had to finish her paper, so Dad and I spent the day in the city. Unfortunately, like regular weekend protocol, the metropolitan line was closed, so we had to walk a good half hour to get to Kenten station. It then took us forever to get to the city. I took him to the London so he could determine whether or not it was too high to ride. We then shot over to see the Millennium Bridge and I showed him the Ai Wei Wei sunflower seed exhibit. It was getting to be about dinner time so we headed back to the hotel to have dinner which was shockingly delicious. It was so amazing we ended up having dinner there again Tuesday night! I mean top of the line fillet mignon! After a few drinks and a birthday shot of tequila, we headed to bed. Or at least they did and I had to write a paper.

The next fews days, we did tons of site seeing and it all went so quick that it was kind of a blur. Our first day, we went to lunch at Make Mine by Regent Campus. I then took mom an dad to Greenwich Market. Mom loved it, Dad tolerated it. But they got me an amazing birthday present, a fork bracelet but there is a great story behind this particular one. It may sound weird but it's beautiful. We then headed back to Picadilly Circus to do the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum which was really cool! We ended with a mirror maze, which was a head trip, but pretty funny. Exhausted and hungry, we headed to Trafalgar Square to eat at the Texas place where I went with Kristin and Lindsey, and I was right, they loved it. I then dragged mom and dad back onto the tube and back to the hotel and finished my paper at 2am. Go me.

The next day I turned in my paper and our plan was to start at the "London Bridge", turns out it's the Tower Bridge. So we took a ride down to the Angel tube station and ate Yo! Sushi. Dad was a good sport even though he doesn't like that kind of food, and I tried Sushi AGAIN but still can't get over the seaweed. On our way to the Tower Bridge, we found the London Dungeon, so we popped inside. Well, this was a bad idea because it was actually terrifying! My and I were not cool with all of the creepy stuff popping out in our faces, I may have been a bit profane but in all fairness, what do you expect when you sneak up on me? We then proceeded to the Tower of London, but it was closed, so we went to the Gourmet Burger Kitchen for dinner.

Tuesday, we had the best weather. It was so beautiful out and a perfect day to do the London Eye. We had lunch at Pizza Express and proceeded into the city and started at Westminster Abbey. It was pretty amazing but I have a hard time with huge buildings like that, especially if they are all cathedrals. Maybe because I don't have any strong connection to religious feelings but it's kind of like a 'you've seen em once, you've seen em all' kinda thing, but it was still really cool to see. Plus, we went to the 'college garden' behind the Abbey and sat there for about an hour soaking up the sun and people watching. We then slowly moved to the London Eye. It really wasn't so bad height-wise and the view really was beautiful. It felt like you could see for miles and took about a half hour to go around once. It's actually pretty cool because you can't tell that you're really moving until you focus on the ground. By the time we were done, we were so exhausted from the past few days that we just decided to go back to the hotel and rest for a little while before having yet another dinner in the hotel restaurant. I then headed back to campus to spend the night because I couldn't skip my Wednesday morning class.

So after class on Wednesday, I met mom and dad in front of the Tower of London for a little tour since it was closed when we tried to go the first time. It was pretty cool but not as exciting as I thought. Plus, it was all outdoors and I was cold. Being that it was so big, we only went through half of the Tower but made sure to hit up the crown jewels, the bloody and the tower of torture, which were all pretty cool. And of course, we got a picture with a beefeater (haha). We then met for an early dinner, late lunch with Erin, Natasha and Kristin in the city at Garfunkles. We had ANOTHER birthday celebration for me (too much attention) and my parents had gotten my a beautiful Tiffany's necklace, a heart key that I've been wanting for a while, it's so pretty! We then proceeded to Ben's cookies, again! I then said bye to my parents temporarily and went to see We Will Rock You with the girls—part of our social program. IT WAS AMAZING. I absolutely loved it and found it hysterical. Though it helped that I actually like Queen and got a lot of their musical references and jokes. Good stuff, I am really glad we went. Unfortunately though, it was my parents last night, so as soon as the play was over, I rushed back to Harrow, grabbed some clothes and spent the night at the hotel. Mom left around 5am and dad left around 8am. I slept for a little while longer, showered and went to class, ending with a lovely Thursday night.

Luckily, Friday morning, I had my 5 hour class followed by my flight to Scotland! So once my parents left, I really had no time to be sad because pretty much up until now, I've been extremely busy. Which is for the best because everyone I spoke to said it REALLY sucks when your parents leave after a visit, even the people that aren't homesick. But everything worked out for the best and I had the best time in Scotland...