we are golden

It was sunny AGAIN today! Third day in a row. It's fantastic - I never want it to go away. But we all know that's not going to happen. So I will embrace the rain when it comes back - which is probably going to be tomorrow now that I jinxed it. I was extra happy that it was sunny today because my Dad arrived and we visited some of my favourite places around Glasgow. Buchanan street (the main shopping area) was packed today with people playing bagpipes, doing football tricks, and playing guitar. It is always a spectacle walking down that street - and even more so today with the sun out. We had dinner at Bar Square located in the very cool Merchant Square. While there we realized how much life has changed from him pushing me around in my stroller with pigtails coming out the top of my head, to me getting us drinks from the bar in Scotland :) Tomorrow we are going to head out to the West End of the city, a place I haven't been to since I first got here, to see the University of Glasgow, Kelvingrove Park, and hopefully make time for afternoon tea. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend as well! xo

edinburgh castle

Carly and I both knew that we wanted to see the castle while we were in Edinburgh. Although we hadn't heard great things about it we felt that it was necessary to see. Plus we both have a weird obsession with castles. It was expensive to get on to the grounds but the view of the city was fabulous, and there was so much to see. We got to see St. Margaret's Chapel, the Scottish National War Museum (due to our extreme hangover and the heat inside the museum we went through it pretty quickly), and Mons Meg. 

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland's oldest castle, towers over the city from its perch high on a wedge of volcanic rock. When entering, you first cross the Esplanade (where the Military Tattoo takes place). You then pass through the gate and up the steep, cobbled ramp for great views over the city and its various attractions. Once we were inside the thick walls of the castle it felt like a whole new world, a complete community - remote, powerful, and cut off from the rest of Edinburgh.

Esplanade

Inside the walls of the castle

The Argyle Battery terrace offers the first chance to catch your breath and enjoy the view north over the city as we made our way to the Castle Rock. No longer firing is the famous cannon at Edinburgh Castle, the monumental Mons Meg. This siege gun was built in the 15th century and was capable of firing a 400-pound cannon ball. The ferocity of its power allowed it to only be used a few times a day because of the enormous heat that the explosive force generated. It remains a popular sight to see in Edinburgh - so obviously I got a picture with it. 

Mons Meg

My other favourite part of the castle was St. Margarets Chapel. It is the oldest structure in the castle, as well as being the simplest and most moving. It's the 12th century chapel dedicated to St. Margaret by her son, King David I. Margaret was the wife of Malcolm III and died here in 1903. The chapel, with its single, whitewashed chamber and tiny arched doorway (that I thought was super funny), survived several attacks of the castle and is still used for occasional weddings. 

St. Margaret's Chapel

Overall the castle is definitely something that you have to see while in Edinburgh. It may have been because we are both overly amused by castles, but Carly and I both enjoyed our time there. If anything, the view of the castle walking up the Royal Mile is magnificent. 

it's not always raincoats and rubber boots

Although it's a rarity it does get sunny here! Today was one of those lovely days where all you could see was blue sky and sun. We took advantage of the nice weather and took off our rain coats, hid our hunters and took a stroll around the city enjoying how the city looks when  the clouds are gone. 

Although it most likely won't stay long it was nice to have the sun around for awhile. Hopefully the weather will be good this weekend. My Dad is coming to Glasgow for a little visit. Not too sure what we are going to get up to yet but it will be lovely. Maybe I can get him to buy me a few pretty items from Topshop...hmm probably not. xo

edinburgh

This past weekend my friend Carly flew allll the way over from Canada to visit me (and her sister..but thats not as important) for her reading week. We had first discussed this idea in the summer when I told her I would be studying in Scotland for the semester. Conveniently her sister goes to school in Edinburgh so it could be a joint visit for her. Although we tossed around the idea of her coming I didn't think that it would necessarily happen. But to my delight she did visit!
She arrived on Friday and made her was to Glasgow for the day/night. While in Glasgow we did a bit of walking around and went to see an x-rated hypnotist at the student union. Carly had never seen a hypnotist before, and I had never seen a show quite like this one. It was definitely something to remember. Due to the fact that she was jet-legged and I was getting sick we didn't venture out far later that night. In the morning we had brunch at All Bar One and enjoyed a delicious and very large meal. We then made our way on to the train (my first Euro train ride) to head back to Edinburgh for the rest of the weekend. 
In Edinburgh we were able to see a ton of stuff in the little time that I was there. After dropping our bags off at her sisters apartment Carly and I decided to climb Arthurs Seat that afternoon. We were very inappropriately dressed to climb a mountain type thing (seeing as we were both wearing black knee high fashion boots) but were determined to make our way to the top anyways. At the top of Arthurs Seat it was a whole different type of weather: aka rain and lots of wind which made it slightly unpleasant. However the view of the city was still insane. The pictures don't do it justice at all - it just looks like we are on some weird hill - so you are just going to have to trust me when I say it was unreal. And so cool. 

Arthurs Seat

At the top!

At the top!

Finally made it

Carly being silly

And me being sillier

We were dead tired after climbing this but decided to stroll around the city for awhile to see some of the sights. It was nice to see the city when the night was rolling around and how all the lights looked against the buildings. After making it home in one piece we got nachos and caesar salad for dinner at a local pub right next to her sisters apartment. We rested our feet for awhile, had some drinks with her sisters friends before heading out to their campus club/bar thing for the night. Thankfully no actual camera followed us to the club but Carly did snap this on her blackberry - it captures the moment the night got strange. 

"Carly and bunny"

Tonight is international night so we are currently getting ready to head out for the night. We are going to Missoula Bar tonight and most likely heading over to Common for the rest of the evening. xo

loch katrine

Although these aren't the best pictures I still thought I would share the last leg of the tour Amy and I went on. If anything they are an excellent display of the lovely rainy weather we experienced that day...and well pretty much everyday over here. Despite the rain the loch was still beautiful. We were hoping to get to go on the boats seen in the photographs but because of the cold and rain we decided against it. 

Loch Katrine

Overall the day was amazing. Amy and I had so much laughing at pretty much everything, getting to see two unreal castles and spending the day outside of Glasgow. It was my first trip getting to see other parts of Scotland and it lived up to everything I thought it would be life. I can't wait to see other parts of the country. I have a few places lined up that I want to visit, and am looking into planning a few more day trips to places that are close by.

words

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

stirling castle

The trip Amy and I took a couple weekends ago continued with seeing Stirling Castle located  8 miles from the town of Doune where we had lunch. I had read a lot about this castle before heading out on the trip and was so excited to finally see it. The castle's strategic position, perched high and proud on its towering cliffs, commanding the narrow waist of land between the Forth estuary and the marshlands of the west, has given it a prominent role in Scottish history. 

Stirling Castle

The castle once served as a royal palace and has been remodelled many times. Mary, Queen of Scots, spent her childhood here and was crowned in the Chapel Royal in 1543. The current castle dates mainly from the 16th century (although parts of it date to the 11th century) and is dominated by the Great Hall. Once used as a royal court, with fine Renaissance work, the castle was sadly misused after Scotland's James VI deserted it to become King of England.

Although the castle itself was fantastic its main feature is the spectacular view from the esplanade, which extends to the Campsie Fells in the west and the start of the Highlands to the north. We walked around the back of the castle to enjoy a full panorama of the surrounding countryside. This was definitely my favourite part while being in Stirling. 

Highlights from Stirling Castle included a crazy tour guide that we ended up hiding from, a  recreation of the basement kitchen with modelled people that terrified Amy, the panoramic views of the countryside, and seeing the castle perched up in the cliff when passing by.

Amy and I

One final post on the last sight of our tour coming up soon. We are all heading out to celebrate a friends 22nd birthday tonight. I am looking forward to delicious food and a night out with all of the lovelies. xo

international night

Every Wednesday the international society plans for all of the international kids to meet up at a new bar. It provides us with a chance to see different establishments around the city and to have an informal way of meeting new people. After the first bar everyone heads out to a club for the rest of the night. Here at Flat 2D we live for Wednesday nights. They provide us with entertainment to last until when the next Wednesday rolls around. Plus we have met so many new people this way. 

Headed to Maggie May's

Common

O'Neils

Maggie May's

Tiki Bar

O Couture

Stopped at a hotel for a drink on the way to Common

this is your life, do what you love

The past few days have involved more sightseeing around Glasgow. I went with two of my flatmates back to the Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis because I love them that much. It was a beautiful day so we walked around most of the Necropolis taking in the views of Glasgow. We also made our way down to Glasgow Green and enjoyed a stroll along part of the River Clyde. 

Monuments at Necropolis

Royal Infirmary in the distance

Kayla and Claire

Necropolis

Graves

Glasgow Green

Where public executions took place

Currently I am looking forward to my friend Carly visiting tomorrow! She is flying over to Scotland for part of her reading week and is coming to Glasgow for tomorrow night. We are then going to make our way to Edinburgh for the weekend where her sister goes to school. While there we are hoping to see another one of our friends from work, Brian who is also going to be in Edinburgh for the weekend. It should be a great weekend! xo

doune castle

After visiting Loch Lomond we made an unplanned stop at Doune Castle. It would be easy to drive through the town of Doune and miss the castle. Located at the bottom of a narrow road, this grey ruin is hidden in the trees on a curve of the River Teith. Built in the late 14th century, it is fairly simple in construction, with a main block of buildings set with a courtyard and contained by a great curtain wall. This castle was a cool example of medieval concerns for security with gates to secure almost everything, and separate stairs to the lord's hall.

Doune Castle

Loving it

This was the first castle I visited while in Scotland - actually maybe the first castle I have been in ever... definitely the first one I really explored. While walking through the castle I was able to listen to an audio recording about what the rooms throughout the castle were used for. Starting in the courtyard and making my way around the castle I became more fascinated with the structure and size of rooms. I tried to imagine people actually living their life in the castle but due to the dark and somewhat creepy nature of the stone rooms it was difficult. 

Kitchen

My favourite part was making my way to the top of the castle and looking out to the surrounding area. In order to get up there I spent about 10 minutes being terrified climbing what can only be described as a vey unsafe set of stairs. They were small, and wet, and spiralled, and I definitely did not enjoy the walk up (or the attempt to get back down which took even longer). Although the process to get there was painful the view and the feeling I got when I reached the top was worth it. It literally took my breath away - I think I may have even said "oh my gosh" out loud. 

View from top

Castles have officially become my favourite thing. After this I couldn't wait to see the other castle we were planned to see on the tour. We had lunch in the town of Doune at a cute little place called Buttercup cafe. 

Doune Castle

Town of Doune

Fun fact: Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed at Doune Castle. The other castles that were meant to be in the movie withdrew at the last minute so different parts of Doune Castle were used to depict the various fictional castles in the movie. Although this fun fact was not interesting to me at all the other people on the tour seemed to be super excited about it so I though I should share. 

Stay tuned to learn about the last leg of our day trip! xo