sunny days.

The sun has returned to Edinburgh for the last few days and we've had a joyful reunion. It has hovered under 70F and I'm not taking a moment for granted. I have forgotten what bare legs, squinting, sunburns, and sweating feel like.

I've spent the last three afternoons until dusk with friends in parks across the city. And its been magnificent to go jacket-less, scarf-less, and boot-less. Here's to spring!

I'm pretty behind on keeping you up-to-date so here are a few highlights:

Saw David Cameron speaking last weekend at the party conference on the West Coast of Scotland. We stayed in a beachside resort area.

2) Went to some local horse races in the Borders (to England). I saw lots of tweed and gambling and shouting. Definitely a first!

 3) Had a great antipasto dinner in a friend's flat. You just can't go wrong with cheese, salami, and wine.

4) Our group took a trip to the Highlands of Scotland last weekend. Isn't the scenery amazing. This is at the peak of a hike that took 3 or 4 hours. The views are some of the best I've ever experienced.

  
We made many bus stops along the way to take photos. The Highlands are surprisingly rural and ancient. The lochs (or lakes) that you pass go on for miles and miles and the geography is unlike any other.

Another first--we climbed a 'fairy glen.' Our bus driver was extremely Scottish, proud of his roots, and very eclectic. You can say we saw a fair bit of the country in a couple of days. The weather was wonderful though and I would one day, if not this semester, love to revisit the Highlands for a backpacking excursion. 

I hope where ever you are, you're enjoying spring-- the rainy days along with the sunshine.