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.

Time.

As I pass the halfway point in this European adventure, I have many mixed feelings. In some ways, I'm just getting acclimated. I've found my favorite streets, and places to eat, and views of the city. I recognize faces on the way to work and I wonder if they recognize me. But there's still much to see and do and adjust to.

At the same time, I yearn for warmth, and American-ness, and familiarity. Maybe that's the sentiment of my stage in life--not ready to grow up, but certainly not willing to turn the clock backwards in time.

Edinburgh isn't a gigantic city-- it's an interesting one. When my family was here last week, we walked in a couple of vintage clothing stores. My brother tried on a top hat and jacket with coat tails. I bought a 'jumper' or sweater from the 80s. The four of them had the chance to experience the rugged, beautiful Highland coast and the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders (to England). My parents sat down at a pub and had a long conversation with a Scottish guy who joined them. I will certainly miss the friendliness of the Scottish people.

Time is such a mystery. Blink of an eye. You turn around and it's gone. Don't let it pass you by. Etc, etc.

I'm learning how to live in the moment. Scotland has taught me how to laugh, whether at work or play, in a pub or in the middle of a stressful, routine day. I may not have made clear how I feel at the moment, but one thing is for sure. I am grateful for today and for the wonderful city of Edinburgh.

Upcoming happenings:

1) Going to a work conference on the West coast of Scotland.  I'll potentially be meeting the Prime Minister! The little seaside village is below--

2) After the conference, I'm visiting the Isle of Skye, known for its beautiful geography and breath-taking views.

3)A couple of wonderful discoveries.

Rekorderlig Cider--Made in Sweden, such a refreshing drink!

Emma Bridgewater's collections of dishware, teapots, etc. All handpainted in the UK.

Retrack.

So I'm back to relive Ireland at its finest. But, really. The truth about Ireland is that it astoundingly beautiful. If anyone is considering ever visiting Europe. Let me recommend the Irish countryside. It is amazing. We took a tour on Saturday and our first stop was the Macoole family farm.

The Macoole farm has been a working cattle farm for over 300 years. As it was calving season, they informed us that a calf would be born after our short hike. Wasn't sure if I completely believed them at this point.

Our hike up the 'bairn' or rocky hill was quite a breathtaking one. Ireland is continually rainy, but we happened to visit on one of the nicest days, or so we were told. The way the sun moved along the hills was quite beautiful.

Our guide, Daragh, was the one of the farmers, who'd spent his life on the Macoole farm. You can see the sea in the background, as well as the limestone hills.

And there it was. I love animals and farms and am fascinated by it all, but it's been a while since I've seen a calf this small. It was all just another day's work for the family who lives there.

This little cottage the family opens for tours and their 'granny' bakes cakes and makes tea and coffee for the group. Most cottages or homes in Ireland look just like this. Quaint, simple, and comfortable.

We passed a herd of cows blocking the road and had to pull over. Yes, that is a female herder in her running tights.

The Moher Cliffs are the number one most visited natural attraction in Ireland, and they're absolutely phenomenal. They only thing I could compare them too would be the rocky shores of Northern California on a grander scale. A must see.

Our last stop for the day was the Dunguaire Castle, one of probably 20 we passed that day. The Irish countryside has remained relatively untouched for the past thousand or so years, and so landmarks such as these still stand out among the landscape. What a nice break from the city, where the castle are consumed by high rises and modern stores.

 

 

 

 

Hope your week is going splendid. I'm enjoying my Friday morning by not working, going for a run, and drinking some green tea. I'll be posting soon.

Lots of love.

Dublin.

Hello again, lovely people.

I have returned from the nation of Ireland in one piece. It was a busy weekend with a little sleep, a lot of sightseeing and a million photos. So many photos were taken that I'll have to break up the posts this week.

Although we stayed in Dublin, we spent the second day traveling the Irish countryside. You'll have to stay tuned for that post, though. Sorry to keep you waiting.

The first day was busy, as we tried to conquer the city of Dublin in 24 hours. Luckily, it was walkable and easy to navigate. Here are a few highlights.

Our first morning in the city!

We took a tour of Trinity College-famous for graduates such as Jonathan Swift and for having the rugby field on which the rules of the game were essentially invented. Our hilarious tour guide, Marcus, was a student.

We took a much needed break from the walking outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral and found an Italian girl who proved to have a pretty good eye for photography. Or at least I think so!

The sunny weather, first of all, was such a blessing all weekend. No rain, no winds, and a few sunny spells made it all the more wonderful. We stopped outside the Dublin Castle for a quick shot.

Upon entering Trinity College, I looked up and saw the clouds moving furiously. Luckily, we were in a "dry spell" all weekend.

Our Australian roommates for the weekend proved to be extremely nice and so we joined them for dinner and drinks. I wimped out on the Guinness, and enjoyed the great conversation and some Irish Cider instead.

 

 

The first person we met in Ireland was our taxi driver. He told us his life story in a 20 minute drive to the city center and I have to say he offered some good advice. The Irish he said never "live to work," but they only "work to live." "The material, well, you can't take to your grave, so Irish live like every day is their last." It was a good reminder to me to enjoy every second, appreciate the here and now, and avoid the burden of routine. Let the wandering continue.

Off and away again.

I'm heading off to Dublin for the weekend. I hope to see Trinity College, have a Guinness, and roam the Irish countryside. I'll make sure to bring some good photos back.

Goodnight and lots of love.

London.

So, as you may know, I was in London over the weekend. We squeezed in more than I thought was physically possible. It was great to be in a big city--the people, the energy, the constant hustle and bustle--I loved every minute of it. It reminded me of another great, big, towering, people-filled mass of people that I love--New York City. I'll share a few highlights.

I was ecstatic to find there was snow on the ground (South Texas native). 

 

 

 

 

Buckingham Palace. Apparently the Queen was in the palace for the weekend, so that means no visitors.

We ate at an Indian restaurant my Aunt recommended. The food was delicious and so authentic.

Westminster Abbey, one of my favorite places in London. So may famous Brits are buried here. Lots and lots of history.

Laughing all the way.

Au bon pain--not Londonish at all, but a big NYC bakery, that makes you want to eat bread all day.

 

 

My face of joy when we snatched a deal for some last minute matinee Jersey Boys tickets. So worth the uncertainty of potentially not getting to see a show.

Jersey Boys!!! Highly recommend it.

Glasgow.

We took a group trip to Glasgow and I must say, my heart still lies in Edinburgh. I know I'm already biased and I probably didn't give it enough of a chance, but I truly, truly love the city of Edinburgh. Anyways, it was good to explore a new city and see the sights, so here are a few highlights.

A medieval cathedral that survived the Protestant Reformation in Scotland, built in the 12th century! So ancient and so inspiring. The stained glass was really beautiful.

The University of Glasgow was built in the 1400s and is amazing. I can't imagine going to school in such an old building. The United States seems like an infant relative to the UK. Scots often remind me that Americans, young or old, always have the energy of a youthful person. They're motivated, driven, and dream big. Scots also tend to see Americans as idealistic and perhaps even a bit naive about the world.

The Economics majors imitating our "father," Adam Smith at his alma mater.

You get a little crazy when its below freezing and raining and your feet are soaked, so you just laugh.

Here are a few other things I've managed to do recently:

1. I've found a few parks to run through. After living in NYC for the summer, I learned how much I appreciate grass, trees, and fresh air. Running is not just a great way to see the city, but to also find those spots that make you feel like you've gone on a quick vacation.

 

2. I tried IRN BRU (pronounced iron bru), a Scottish soda with a very sweet flavor. The soda was banned in the US for containing certain food colorings, but now is adapted and sold by a small importer. The Scottish girls I had dinner with told me Irn Bru was the reason Scots drink less Coke than most European countries.

 

3. I had tea with a lovely lady I've met through the study abroad program and at church. I'd ask her to have tea sometime a few weeks ago and she said, "Dear goodness me, I'd thought you'd never ask dear!" She told me about an upcoming weekend with her husband and some friends in the Borders region, just South of Edinburgh, her daughter's medical studies, and her love of baking. I might be getting some delicious scone recipes soon!

The tea shop we went to probably had 50 teas on the menu, along with lots of cakes, scones, and cupcakes. So delightful!

I hope everyone is doing well wherever this may find you. I will be in London in a couple days, experiencing life in a huge city with bright lights, good food, and lots of people. Take care and lots of love.