Well, heh heh, it would seem that about a month has passed since I've adventured around the British Isles for spring break. Time really does get away. I'll bet by now you all think that I've made the whole thing up! Not the case at all. If you're still interested, please have a look at what I got up to over spring break. I'm excited to share!
Part 1--Snow, Spring, and Scottish Dreams
Oh Scotland!
This country was, hands down, my favorite part of break. Maybe it was the scenery that reminded me of home, maybe it was the music that I felt in my bones, maybe it was the haggis; whatever it was, Scotland resonated with me (it was probably the haggis, now that I'm thinking about it).
This country was, hands down, my favorite part of break. Maybe it was the scenery that reminded me of home, maybe it was the music that I felt in my bones, maybe it was the haggis; whatever it was, Scotland resonated with me (it was probably the haggis, now that I'm thinking about it).
The adventure started right away, from nearly missing our train to spending four hours quasi-sleeping in the Gatwick airport, we were making memories all over the place. And then fellow classmate Tabitha and I were off to start our tri-city Scottish trip of Aberdeen, Inverness, and Glasgow. I had no idea what to expect from any of the cities, and looking back, I realize how we saw a different side of Scotland in each of them.
Aberdeen was our first stop. Oh man, I still remember the air as we got off the plane: so clean and cold--just the way I like it! We took a bus to our hostel and got to see a bit of the Scottish countryside. The sunlight was that cold, bluish quality that makes you feel like you're on top of the world. It was about the freshest start you could imagine!
Since our hostel ended up being a bit out of the city centre, we spent most of our time in Aberdeen walking from point to point. But what a great way to see the city!
You can tell we were really excited to be there because we took a picture of a stump our first day out. An impressively large stump. But still.
Since our hostel ended up being a bit out of the city centre, we spent most of our time in Aberdeen walking from point to point. But what a great way to see the city!
You can tell we were really excited to be there because we took a picture of a stump our first day out. An impressively large stump. But still.
We didn't have any main things to do in Aberdeen, so we just let our feet
take us wherever. Honestly, things started to blur together after awhile.
They don't call Aberdeen the "Granite City" for nothing. There's, ahm...a lot of granite. Gets a bit aesthetically stale after awhile. But something that
was fun to look at was the Maritime Museum! We learned about the
importance of the sea to the identity and development of Aberdeen. I even learned a little somethin' somethin' about oil rigs! Big, scary metal beasts in the middle of the ocean. Props to all the workers who live on those (especially when Iron Man has his final showdown there). It's quite an intimidating position. And, from looking at the detailed diorama/educational chandelier of the museum lobby, I remembered that as big as we build things, nature is bigger. Which may not be an
incredible revelation, but it's good to remember that we're small.
take us wherever. Honestly, things started to blur together after awhile.
They don't call Aberdeen the "Granite City" for nothing. There's, ahm...a lot of granite. Gets a bit aesthetically stale after awhile. But something that
was fun to look at was the Maritime Museum! We learned about the
importance of the sea to the identity and development of Aberdeen. I even learned a little somethin' somethin' about oil rigs! Big, scary metal beasts in the middle of the ocean. Props to all the workers who live on those (especially when Iron Man has his final showdown there). It's quite an intimidating position. And, from looking at the detailed diorama/educational chandelier of the museum lobby, I remembered that as big as we build things, nature is bigger. Which may not be an
incredible revelation, but it's good to remember that we're small.
One sunrise later we
were off to Inverness, but I don't want to talk about that just yet. Fast-forward a bit and we'll find ourselves in Scotland's largest city--Glasgow!
We also spent only a short time here, and most of it was void of daylight. But it was still good to experience. We walked down the main shopping quarter, saw some sweet street art, and almost went to a comedy show. But all of this is besides the point because in Glasgow, we had HAGGIS! Woo! The wild side! It was pretty good. I could never quite reconcile with the texture, but on the whole, it was more than palatable. That also may have had something to do with the fact that it was served with mashed potatoes and smothered in whisky sauce, but that is neither here nor there.
It was a chill time in Glasgow. And one brief day
after our arrival, we were on a plane to Belfast, Northern Ireland.
And although I was excited to finally make it to the Emerald Isles,
there was one Scottish place still resonating in my heart: Inverness.
after our arrival, we were on a plane to Belfast, Northern Ireland.
And although I was excited to finally make it to the Emerald Isles,
there was one Scottish place still resonating in my heart: Inverness.
Ah, Inverness. I'm probably going to move there. It was the second of our three stops, and just like a sandwich, the middle was the best part! I can truly say that my heart is left in the Highlands (insert mental picture of me standing on a cliff, hair blowing in the wind and wistful flute music coming from nowhere. Did you picture it? Good.).
Our time in Inverness was just full of unexpected happiness. We arrived and found out that our hostel was 1. In the middle of nowhere and 2. Kiiiiind of sketch. So we wandered and (hysterically) laughed our way back towards the city centre and ended up finding THE BEST hostel in existence. It was disconcerting during that first bit, not knowing where we were going to sleep that night, but it all turned out. We got to walk around for nearly an hour in the Scottish rain, and see trees and brooks and smell wet Scottish dirt. It's what I didn't even know I wanted. And then we got to the homiest hostel I've ever been in, run by a kind Canadian man in a forest green sweater. I don't think I can describe the place Bazpacker
hostel made in my heart. But at first I was a little skeptical. I mean,
"Bazpacker"? This was apparently established by the same people who bring us Cheez Whiz. But it was wonderful. More than just a place to sleep, the hostel was a place that we could settle into, be refreshed in. We shared our space with Frenchmen, we drank of free tea by the wood stove, we learned how to make rice!
Our time in Inverness was just full of unexpected happiness. We arrived and found out that our hostel was 1. In the middle of nowhere and 2. Kiiiiind of sketch. So we wandered and (hysterically) laughed our way back towards the city centre and ended up finding THE BEST hostel in existence. It was disconcerting during that first bit, not knowing where we were going to sleep that night, but it all turned out. We got to walk around for nearly an hour in the Scottish rain, and see trees and brooks and smell wet Scottish dirt. It's what I didn't even know I wanted. And then we got to the homiest hostel I've ever been in, run by a kind Canadian man in a forest green sweater. I don't think I can describe the place Bazpacker
hostel made in my heart. But at first I was a little skeptical. I mean,
"Bazpacker"? This was apparently established by the same people who bring us Cheez Whiz. But it was wonderful. More than just a place to sleep, the hostel was a place that we could settle into, be refreshed in. We shared our space with Frenchmen, we drank of free tea by the wood stove, we learned how to make rice!
A reason I loved Inverness so much was because the weather was spastic, just like Washington! We took a walk before we left for Loch Ness, and
I'm pretty sure that we experienced all four of the Scottish seasons within those 45 minutes. Rain, sun, snow, hail...we got it all. And it was wonderful. But at least I know that Scotland is beautiful no matter what's falling out of the stratosphere. Funnily enough, the weather cleared up for the afternoon as we headed out to Loch Ness. That was quite the experience. Tabitha and I kind of giggled when the bus pulled up to the Loch, though. I mean, it was certainly beautiful...but it kind of resembled Washington an awful lot. We flew halfway across the world to end up in Washington with an accent. Ahaha.
I'm pretty sure that we experienced all four of the Scottish seasons within those 45 minutes. Rain, sun, snow, hail...we got it all. And it was wonderful. But at least I know that Scotland is beautiful no matter what's falling out of the stratosphere. Funnily enough, the weather cleared up for the afternoon as we headed out to Loch Ness. That was quite the experience. Tabitha and I kind of giggled when the bus pulled up to the Loch, though. I mean, it was certainly beautiful...but it kind of resembled Washington an awful lot. We flew halfway across the world to end up in Washington with an accent. Ahaha.
That Pacific Northwest...I just can't quit it. I was thankful to see echoes of home from across the world. After we were dropped off at the Loch, we took a boat ride across it and then walked around the ruins of Urqhart Castle. That was cool, to step into history, and imagine all the kilts that had walked there before me. Good day.
We spent the rest of our time in Inverness walking around the streets, finding music at night and thrift stores and food co-ops by day. I don't know how, but Inverness seemed large and small at the same time, like you were familiar with the area but that there was always another corner to turn. Two days later, as we waved goodbye to Ian the Quiet Canadian and fast-walked to the train station, it was with a heavy heart. I loved about Inverness. I loved how almost everything was closed and quiet on Sundays, I loved how earnest the musicians were as they shared their music, I loved how I could always feel the life of the river coursing through the city even when I couldn't see it. I loved speaking bad French and learning how to make rice and playing guitar to Scottish rooftops at Bazpackers! As the train moved further away from Inverness and closer to Glasgow, Tabitha and I shared a knowing look and a wonderfully sad smile. Inverness was so much more than expected, so much better than we knew to expect. We found a very special place. And there was so much to still look forward to, even if it was tempting to keep looking back to Inverness. Just a month later, details of Aberdeen and Glasgow and Inverness are starting to fade. But however long it lives on, what a beautiful experience. What a beautiful Scottish Dream.