My Blog

(pics in albums 23-26)

Every man dies. Not every man really lives.

 -William Wallace

Thurs:

4:45 am- hit snooze on alarm, can't even conceive of leaving warm bed

4:50 am- hit snooze yet again, am about to throw across room

4: 55 am- alarm finally anhilated

5:00 am- rushing out of bed, am now late

5:30  am- in car with Susan and prof Tolstoy and dog-Mabel.  Mabel doesn't like early mornings either, curls up in lap and we both fall asleep again

7:05 am- finally on train from Peterborough to Edinburgh...more sleep

11:30 am- finally awake and eatingbreakfasts. Durham Cathedral, Northumberland villages, and New Castle are all beautiful sites, how much would a village cottage cost I wonder?

12:30- arrive in Edinburgh.  City is completely different than expected, feels more like continental Europe than cold, rainy, sad northern country as many English had led me to believe.  Hike the Royal Mile which feels more like hiking the royal 10 miles and finally reach hostel next to castle that overlooks the city- spectacular views!

5:30-  spent afternoon in museums and wandering around downtown, had tea in national art gallery with scottish men in quilts.  Stay in warm and await the Christmas lighting ceremony that takes place in Princes St. gardens. 

6 pm- luck out on front row seats to see show, scottish men in quilts from tea turn out to be "Red Hot Chili Pipers" band who open the festivities for Edinburugh...lots of ice skating on the garden lake and fireworks show.

AMAZING!

8pm- Norweigan Christmas Concert with Ambassadors from Norway and Lord Provost of Edinburgh in St. Giles Cathedral....am realizing now that Edinburgh not only knows how to kick of the Holiday season well, but that the entire city can somehow manage to fit itself into the one church.... have never seen so many people attend a carol service in my life!

Fri

6 am- am hating early mornings!

7am- leave for Highlands

8am to 10 pm-enter the Highlands of Scotland and spend entire day exploring some of the most incredible terrain I have ever seen! Took boat ride on Loch Ness, said hello to "Nessie", and explored castle.

Sat.

8am- finally a decent wake up hour

8:15 am- waking up later means waiting in line for showers in hostel, at least there's still hot water.

9am- discover amazing cafe with breakfast fit for hungry american

10am- here I come Edinburgh castle! Sunshine all  morning and the day before is spoiling me.

2pm- RAIN

2:10 pm- PUB ...rain is excellent excuse to have lovely pub lunch and try some local specialities. 

3-8pm- explore new parts of city, very posh and beautifully laid out.  Afternoon tea in Jenners revives the spirits and Christmas village offers opportunity to see European hand-made crafts and meet their artists.

8pm- Haunted tour of Scotland...got to see underground vaults below the castle...and...saw John Knox's burial spot (parking spot 23). Nice Colorado gentleman and Aussie banker make humorous companions on tour as none of us can understand the guide's strong Scottish accent.

Sun-

7am: hot showers and first in line! sweet!

9pm: Old St. Pauls Church- Amazing set up of Anglican church.  Head pastor is grad from Westcott and prof of liturgy at Edinb. Univ.  Most amazing liturgy celebration I have ever seen, including public procession, 4 deacons celebrating with the pastor and unbelievable diversity in congregation.  Invitation to parish lunch not only proves to be filling but offered opportunity to meet Asian Christianity prof from Edin.U who works closely with YDS.  Am now considering what Phd in EU could look like. 

5pm- train ride back to Cambridge, have to have group of rowdy and violent drunkards arrested...turns out they are in army.  Train conductor is very swift in eradicating awful situation.

11:30pm - finally back home.  door is jammed

12 am- finally in room...

Mon-

7am- here we go again....:)