A visit from an old friend and a trip to the Scottish Borders

Well, as can be assumed - i havent become that much of a slacker over here - i finished my 3 essays last week and proceeded to enjoy some much needed downtime! Though not too much... had to start on the 4th and last for Irish lit. But writing now from retrospect I am happy to say that is now out of the way as well and i am officially done with all essays for this semester! YAY

But let's backtrack, cause this last week has been pretty amazing:

Officially bought plane tickets, i'm off to Italy next Monday! I wanted to go somewhere during exam period since i only have one exam this semester (2 english courses don't sit exams till end of the year... yikes) and it's on the last day possible, dec 15th. SO, that leaves me lots of time, and who wants to be studying for one test when they could be traveling?! Plus, I have yet to make it out of Scotland - not regretting that at all, have seen so much of BEAUTIFUL Scotland - but I do want to take advantage of my location and all... So my friend Julie (friend from NU who just happens to be studying here this semester as well) and I were talking and she's never been to Italy, so we compromised on a trip starting in Milan, traveling down the upper west coast seaside villages, and then making our way into tuscany to hit up florence and the countryside. I'm so excited! I can't believe i'm leaving in a week! Definitely the most spur of the moment trip i've ever planned, our goal is to be relaxed and generally play things by ear - no strict schedule, just exploring and having fun, goin with the flow! I'm pumped, can't wait to tell you all how it goes = )

The week flew by, a bit of a blur when i think back on it - lot's of trying to fit in researching the essay and never really getting much done... and before i knew it it was Friday! And for those of you who didn't know, which is probably just about everyone since it was a very last minute thing, one of my BEST friends from childhood - when we lived in Bismarck, ND - Genevieve Cashman came to visit! She's studying in Granada, Spain, this semester and her boyfriend Mark is actually studying in Leicester, England. So she came up to visit him and then the two of them took the train up to Edinburgh for the weekend! I hadn't seen Genny in years, but we pretty much have one of those friendships where we can go all that time and then get together and it's like no time has passed - we just have so many fun memories from when i lived in ND and when i went back to visit (which was a lot), we had a blast talking about old times, it was awesome!! We took them out to tea and then i walked them around Edinburgh for a bit, saw the castle, found mark a kilt at a vintage store, showed them my classy student flat... Then later we went out to dinner and one of my favorite pubs, doctor's. It was a great night, but unfortunately in the morning i had to leave them to go on a trip i had signed up for at the beginning of the semester through Arcadia. It all turned out great though, cause mark wanted to see st andrews (golf fan) so they spent the day there while i headed to the Borders with the American gang.

Scottish Borders
1st Stop - Dryburgh Abbey:
The burial place of Sir Walter Scott (AND Earl Haig, whom i felt deeply sorry for since Scott obviously takes all the limelight - it's like "Earl Haig who? Where's Sir Walter Scott?" poor guy) Anywho, pretty awesome old abbey, now in ruins after batterment during the reformation - but still beatiful and super cool seeing the tomb of Sir Walter Scott. My friend Mary and I enjoyed being dorky english majors together and taking pictures by it...
After the Abbey we were fed tea and scones at the local hotel, i swear i am on scone overload... but wait, there is no such thing as scone overload, just hideously clogged arteries. But really, pints and scones, scotland really does the body good ; )

2nd Stop - Scott's View:
This was more of a small pitstop (aka pulling over on the side of the road) than actual site, just an amazing lookout over the countryside that is called "Scott's View" because scott lived near here and this countryside inspired much of his writing. the three hills in the background are said to cover king arthur's company buried underneath (btw, on a nerdy note, it is definitely awesome seeing all the influences of the legends of the past that are still prevalent in scottish culture while im learning about the actual origins in my celtic lit class!)

3rd Stop - Melrose Abbey:
2nd Abbey of the day, a bit more intact than Dryburgh, but still just ruins. Amazingly beautiful though, and the view from the top of the roof was gorgeous! Also exciting, it is said to be the location of Robert the Bruce's heart, which was supposed to be taken to the Holy Sepulchre after his death, but the knights transporting it were killed on the way by the Moors. According to legend, the Moors were so impressed by the Scottish knights' bravery that they let the survivers take the heart back to Scotland - and Melrose Abbey was were it found its final resting place.

4th Stop - Rosslyn Chapel:
Walking up to the chapel one is rather unimpressed, due to the fact that it is covered in huge scaffolding supporting a roof to cover the chapel (part of a massive restoration project attempting to dry out the crumbling sandstone which has absorbed too much moisture over the centuries). BUT, once within, your jaw drops in complete awe of the ornate beauty inside the chapel. Its architectural structuring is incredibly impressive in itself, not to mention the staggering amount of detailed carvings that cover every inch. It is impossible to comprehend the overpowering effort that must have been put into the creation of this chapel, and my pictures in no way capture the feeling of seeing it with your own eyes in whole. Definitely a sight worth seeing. So much meaning and depth hidden within these walls its staggering. They say the treasure of the knights templar lays underneath... (and just a note, no matter how much you hate DaVinci code, it was good for the chapel's funds for restoration and research - 30,000 people visited last year alone) -- ok so i took a lot of pics of all the details, see my webshots if you're interested, i couldn't choose which to put up amongst them...

That was the last stop, it was dark by the time we left the chapel, and let me tell you - though it was an incredible sight - i was happy to leave in the end cause the place was FREEZING and on that note, it's definitely gotten quite a bit colder in Edinburgh... it starts...

We got back to Edinburgh just in time, Gen and Mark were just gettin back from St. Andrews, and it was almost time for dinner! We went to this Italian place on the Royal Mile which i've always wanted to go to but havent gotten the chance, so, opportunity! Mary came with and we had the most delicious meal, topped off with the famous Godfather desert - some sort of heavenly combination of ice cream, brownies, toffee, chocolate bits, and whipped cream... wow need i say more? oh and we couldn't resist getting a little tiramisu too - i mean we did have 4 people sharing... haha Needless to say, we were so stuffed after (and it had been a 3 hr meal), that we ended up just goin back to my flat and having wine and chatting in the comfy quite of my common area. Then Gen and I couldn't resist a traditional viewing of the movie Labrynth (those of you who know me well know my obsession with David Bowie as the spandex pants wearing goblin king...well how do you think i first discovered this wonder? yes, the amazing Genny Cashman showed me the light) I think we were a bit obnoxious with our quoting and singing along, but Mark is a good boyfriend and put up with us - as he had been the whole weekend, what a patient guy - i definitely gave my stamp of approval haha. But though the power of David Bowie was strong, we were all exhausted so we had to call it a night half way through. Said an all to quickly arriving goodbye - they left Sunday morn to get on a bus and spend the day in Liverpool. It's still a bit surreal for me that i got to see Gen, leave it to us to finally reunite in Europe! It was so great to see her though, what a great weekend!

Oh and Sunday... well i'm sure you can guess what Sunday consisted of... frantic essay writing. Mary and I had a study party at starbucks - she is also a great procrastinator like myself. But you all don't want to hear about that boring rubbish, it is finished and done and turned in. And now i am enjoying my last week of class! This week is gonna fly by, what with thanksgiving and all! We're planning a big feast with our whole flat and other friends have been invited - hopefully we'll have enough food/space! They're also having the big Christmas lighting ceremony in Princes Street Gardens on Thursday - it is the official start of the Christmas season in Edinburgh! They set up a huge ferris wheel by the Scott memorial and make a big ice rink in the gardens! I can't wait to check those out and see all the lights aroudn the city! I think we might go the ceremony and then have dinner after. Should be good times = ) I'll be sure to take lots of pics, like always...

~R

countdown to home for xmas: 28 days!