Last Weekend in Scotland!

Hello Everyone!!

I hope that Thanksgiving was a fantastic celebration for all of you! I went to the pub for dinner because if you buy a full price drink, you get one meal for free (out of three choices). How could you not be thankful for that?! I also had a lovely time on skype with all of those who were able to make it to the Carey household for the holidays! Just as crazy as always and Lisa is determined to visit so congrats on the fantastic impression =] There better be a buckeye bar for me...

Friday morning, I headed out to Glasgow with Elsa. We arrived nice and early in the morning and some things weren't even open yet! Our first stop was the oldest church in Glasgow - St. Mungo's Cathedral. The church was beautiful and quite large! The first floor was the chapel and then you could go down to the basement/lower levels and it was just a smaller version of everything above with crypts, other areas of worship and artifacts displayed from around the church. We also visited the necropolis that lies behind the cathedral and got some really nice early morning views of the city.

Our next stop was the Provand's Lordship which is across from the church and officially the oldest house in Glasgow. The information said that no one knows that the original function of the house was but now it acts as a 'rare example of 15th century Scottish domestic architecture'.

Following the old house, we went back across the street to the St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Architecture. This focused on religions from all over the world as well as an exhibit that involved people being interviewed regarding questions of religion to show how greatly everything is interpreted.

We decided to talk a walk through Glasgow and head to Glasgow Green. The park was much larger than I thought and it had the most amazing playground!! Inside the green is the People's Palace and the Winter Gardens. The People's Palace was constructed to give people a history of Glasgow starting from the 18th century. There is a very beautiful fountain outside of the palace made of terracotta and is one of the largest (?) of it's kind in the world.

After some lunch, we went through the Christmas market in Glasgow (which wasn't nearly as nice as Paris) and then headed towards the other side of town to check out the Burrell Collection. This is a large building filled with historical artifacts and fine art that started out as the private collection of a man named William Burrell when he was only a teenager. He donated the collection to be displayed in Glasgow after his death. It is quite an impressive collection!

Elsa headed home and I headed to Edinburgh to meet Melanie and Lisa. We dropped our stuff off at the hostel (which was right in the center of Edinburgh on the 4th floor!) and went to check out the Edinburgh Christmas market - much better than Glasgow and just about as awesome as Paris! The streets of Edinburgh were all lit up with Christmas lights and it actually started snowing!! We went out to a restaurant that gives out good student deals then spent the night checking out a few other local pubs.

This weekend was St. Andrews weekend meaning that all of the historical sights in Scotland are free. Saturday morning, we headed out to go see Edinburgh Castle. It was just a larger version of Stirling castle but had a bit more historical information displayed with the exhibits. The views from the castle were pretty awesome! You could see the city, the water and the mountains and everything was covered in snow! We spent the rest of the day walking to a section where they have a bunch of second hand shops and explored down there. It was freezing so we decided to head home early. This ended up being a nightmare because when it snowed the night before, it messed up how all of the trains worked so we waited about 2 hours to get home since almost all of the trains were canceled. Train stations are not warm...

Melanie, Lisa and I spent quite a bit of time this morning watching an epic snowball fight from the window of our kitchen! There are about 20 people running around the green making snow forts and throwing snowballs at people with their windows open - some already had coolers full of snowballs and have been throwing back. It makes me miss home! It snowed a bit on Wednesday and then again Thursday and Friday and hasn't stopped snowing since last night! It's awesome! The weather reports are saying that last night was the coldest November night documented in the UK and that it will keep snowing through the week. Let's just hope that this doesn't change plane, train or airplane times because I need to get to the airport Thursday!!

Sorry there aren't too many pictures up this port - I have quite a bit to do before I take off and I just did this on my study break!!

I will be posting my travel plans online soon so stay tuned!



Inside the cathedral

The Necropolis

Sign in the People's Palace

Fountain outside the People's Palace

Building in downtown Glasgow

Christmas Market

Melanie, myself and Lisa

Edinburgh Castle

Inside the walls

Bag piper on the street corner

PARIS!

Hey Everyone!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!! Gobble Gobble! <--- (that's for you mom!)

As you know, Jessica and I spent the past weekend in Paris! We left at 4:50 am Friday morning and arrived back in Stirling at 1:30 pm on Sunday! What a weekend we had!

The plane ride to Paris went just fine. We had to take a bus from the small airport into Paris (about 1 hour) and then we began walking. The first stop for us was the Arc de Triomphe. It was magnificent! The detail carved into the stone was amazing and the size of the Arc is incredible! There are some pictures of Jessica next to it and she looks like an ant!

Next, we went down some side streets and found a cafe/restaurant to eat some lunch and a cheeseburger and a coke cost me 19 euros - awesome! We spent some more time walking through the streets where there was a huge Christmas fair/market and continued to a park that was right next to the Louvre. We never made it inside the Louvre because the hours of operation never seemed to fit our schedule. It took us 2.5 hours to find our hotel Friday night and thanks to a man on the street who we refer to as our angel, we were able to get there. We went back to the Christmas market and stopped at several different booths to get some dinner - mostly dessert!

Saturday, we waited in line forever to get up to the top of the Eiffel Tower but we did it! While we were waiting, I witnessed a couple getting engaged! Woot! The view from the top of the tower was pretty amazing - you don't realize how tall it is until you get to the top. We had a lovely cloudless day and you could see the entire city. After the tower, we headed down to the park next to it and took some more pictures before we walked through some smaller neighborhoods. We went to a bakery with the most delicious food and then walked through a flea market before we got on the metro and went to visit Notre Dame.

Notre Dame was impressive. Jess walked me there while I was forced to look at my feet and she stood me right in front of the door and told me to look up. All the little figures crafted into the stone was mind boggling. It really is a beautiful building. The beaut on the outside is equally reflected inside the cathedral. The ceilings are amazing and each of the little side room type things had it's own unique look or had some form of carving, statue or painting in it. We were half way through the church when mass started so we were able to see and hear all of the songs and prayer. I was also able to light a candle for Brenna, one of the girls I babysat this summer who has leukemia.

After Notre Dame, we walked around some more side streets and eventually found a restaurant. I had pizza with Parma ham - a smoked ham that looks and kind of tastes like it was never actually cooked. And here is a shocker for those of you who know me - I tried salmon. Yup, you heard right! Jessica somehow inspired me to try it. And I will say this - it didn't go disastrously! She said it wasn't good salmon so I guess that means there is even more hope for me! haha

On the way home we went to go visit Moulin Rouge and the small neighborhood around it. We also stopped at the Christmas fair again and watched the Rock n' Roll tree cutting show - the guy had music blasting and revved the chain saws to the beat and even included his own dance moves. He has a big ego - even started giving a speech after... We mastered the metro system and made it to the bus transport with time to spare! At the airport in France for the trip home, I got in the wrong line first then had to go back and have them check my visa since I am not a member of the EU. Jess and I both managed to set of the metal detector. The man asked if I spoke French and I said no. He then asked if I spoke English and I responded "Sí". He was pretty confused and so was Jess...It was really confusing! I was practicing my Spanish for my exam Tuesday and trying to learn French and that wasn't the first time I had done that... After the lady wanded me and made sure I wasn't smuggling anything, I was able to watch another woman unpack my entire bag only to find nothing. She was not very pleased and either was I. She stinks at re-packing bags by the way.

Once in Stirling, Jess and I ran to the cinema with time to spare! Of course we went to see Harry Potter and we didn't feel like making another trip back into town. I had a lovely postcard from my parents waiting for me and lots of homework!

This week, I had a Spanish language exam which went fair enough. I also had my Spanish culture exam which also went pretty well. Spanish is officially over for the semester and I will spend my time focusing on History and Linguistics. Tomorrow, I will be spending the day in Glasgow with Elsa and meeting up with one of Steph Brink's friends who has some inside knowledge of the city! From there, I am heading into Edinburgh to meet Lisa and Melanie to enjoy St. Andrew's weekend (all of the historical sites are free!) We will be staying in a hostel and heading back Saturday night.

I also got a haircut - Jess has always cut her own hair and as a spontaneous decision, I told her to cut mine. It looks amazing and people keep saying it looks professional! Woot! I was her first customer =]

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would like to say that I am an incredibly lucky girl to have the most amazing parents in the world who inspire me and believe in me no matter what. They continually encourage me to see the world and expand my horizons and I wouldn't be here without them. My little brother is pretty fantastic too =] I am currently wishing that I could have magically arrived home to spend the Thanksgiving break with my family and friends. I never miss family holidays and it is breaking my heart that I can't be there. Here's hoping that you are all playing some football, making some horrible music videos, failing at karaoke, and eating loads of food for me! (Save me one of Aunt Lynn's buckeye bars mommy!!!)

That's all I have for now! Apologies for taking so long to post again - it's been crazy and Paris was incredibly exhausting! Oh yeah - we got a wee bit of snow last night and I think the forecast says more is coming! And the sun sets at 3:50 today - the sun was only out for 7:57 hours =/

Love you all and Happy Thanksgiving!


Arc de Triomphe

The Louvre

The Louvre

The Louvre

The Louvre

NUTELLA at the street fair =]

Part of the Christmas street market

Eiffel Tower!

Looking down from the very top!

Arc de Triomphe and all the roads that lead to it

Jess and I atop the Eiffel!

Casting its shadow over the city

Inside the Notre Dame

Full view of the front of Notre Dame

Moulin Rouge


**There are tons more pictures on my facebook page so go check them out =]

Another Week in Lovely Scotland =]

Hello Everyone!

Yet another week has gone by which leaves me with mixed emotions. I want to go back home to see everyone and to be able to communicate with everyone easier but at the same time, I don't want to leave Europe until I can see it all (which we all know isn't possible in the time I set aside for travel ha). So I already know that getting on the plane December 20th will be both happy and sad but for now, I continue to live it up Scotland style (which is surprisingly hard to keep up with!)

Some good news - I found some girls who are taking the first leg of the trip home with me so we will all rent a van together to take us to the airport when it's time to head home (which saves me money and gets one thing checked off of my pre-departure list!)

It's been getting dark just after 4pm everyday when the sun sets and my flat mates told me I should look forward to it getting dark closer to 3pm. Yay.

I won't be able to go on any more hikes for the rest of the semester. I will be in Paris this weekend and the following weekend, I will be staying in Edinburgh with Lisa and Melanie to sight see and experience the city. It is St. Andrews weekend and all of the historical sites are free!

I just booked another ticket - I will be in Germany for the last 3ish days here so I just booked my flight back to Stirling which will leave my PLENTY of time to pack everything up and hopefully weigh my luggage in the laundry room!! (Mom - if the laundry room is open, I will even do all of it before I come home!!)

I had another Spanish assignment this week - an online test that I only had 1 hour to complete but I think it went well!

Lots to do before I go but I will update after Paris!

The Cobbler and More!

Hello Everyone!!!

It's been fun since the last time I posted!

Tuesday we had a group dinner night and the four of us made enchiladas! Yum! And it was a cheap meal =]

Wednesday involved a trip to the brewery in Bridge of Allan (the small town next to Stirling). I went with some of my friends from Skye and we followed it up with a mountaineering club dinner and a movie.

Thursday involved some urban dance and during our lesson we learned some basic and intermediate break dancing moves! My arms were ridiculously sore the next day! There was a birthday party for some of my friends and I had a chance to skype with my lovely parents again =]

Friday was a pretty awesome day! I picked up two of the four papers that I turned in before mid semester break and I stayed within the grade range that I wanted so I was really thrilled! My history professor sat me down and talked me through the good and the bad of my paper so I know what to do for the next one! On Friday night, there was a bonfire and a fireworks show for Guy Fawkes day. The bonfire had an effigy of Fawkes and he burned with the fire. After they lit him up, the fireworks began. The event came with live music from some local band as well as some guy from X-Factor and the little food trucks they have at fairs.

The Fireworks!

Jessica, myself and Melanie with the bonfire!


Jessica and I went out to see the movie Due Date Saturday night which was pretty funny! The cinema here is cool - some of the most awesome seats ever with little trays between the seats for your food! Saturday was also American food night in the flat so I made the girls bacon cheeseburgers (with American bacon, not the Scottish kind) and root beer floats. It was nice to have a taste of home! Next week is German week!

Sunday was another hike with the mountaineering club! We set out to hike the Cobbler! At 9:30am when we stepped out of the cars, it was freezing but thankfully the sun decided to pop out from behind the clouds and keep us warm until we got to the steep incline. This hike involved a lot of water and waterfall-ish streams going down the mountain and a whole lot of ice and snow! When we made it to the first flat part, we decided to go up to the top of one of the smaller mountains and were able to catch a glimpse of the view before the fog rolled in. After some lunch, we set out for the actual summit called the Iron Needle. This particular section required you to crawl through a small gap in the rocks (just like the eye of a needle) and step out onto a ledge that was maybe 3 feet wide. You had to glue yourself to the rock and shimmy along the side. After hoisting yourself up on the footholds (which was a huge reach because it was as high as my leg), you were staring at a death defying view over the mountains looking at a straight drop down on all four sides. And you are still not at the top... After you get up past the footholds, you need to shimmy yourself on your stomach over the icy little ledge that was probably 1-1.5 feet wide and then you were able to crawl to the large part of the rock and if brave enough, stand up. Needless to say the three people on the rock watching me go back down had a great time because my short little legs needed guidance from the person below since they were too short to reach a foothold on my own... Aye! We took a different route down the mountain that was much easier since there was no need to go on the steep, water and ice covered portion again. We stopped at a chippie (what most people call a fish and chips place) and I was home in time for dinner!

That little teeny, tiny rock that is the second 'peak' in from the left is where the summit of the mountain is!


All the snow around us!

The Iron Needle close up which is like a death trap...


I signed up for my final four courses at Clark University with success so I am all set to go back to school in January!

And the best news of all - Jessica and I will be going to Paris!!!!!!!! We will be leaving from Edinburgh airport at 8:30 am Friday morning and coming back at 12ish in the afternoon on Sunday. We booked through Ryanair because it is the cheapest one to fly through Europe. Jess can speak the language so it will be easy to get around. We will be staying at the Hotel Studios Phenicio Porte de Versailles! The hostels were actually more expensive so we have a lovely hotel room for two nights! I am so excited!!

I think those are all of the updates for now! Oh - Since the US finally observed daylight savings, I am back to being 5 hours apart from most of you! And a fun fact; the sun set at 4:18pm today. Yay.

Love you all!!