TONIGHT ONLY - SCOTLAND VS US

After inhabiting this beauteous country for a month, it is time to delineate the pros and cons of moving to a foreign country. There are certain things that I actually miss about the United States, which is perhaps a good thing since I will have to live there next year, but there are so many wonderful things to enjoy here. In a way, knowing what each offers individually gives me something to cherish and something to look forward to. Although, there are certain items which I am struggling without.

What I Love in Scotland:
1. Pickled Spread: it sounds gross, it looks kind of gross...but it is sooo good with cheese and bread
2. Lemonade: as in a sparkling soda that has lemon flavoring, great mixer
3. Bagpipes and Kilts: the obvious choice but they are icons for a reason...and they're hot
4. University of Edinburgh Main Library: In high school I boasted with pride in achieving my personal goal of not checking out a book from the library for 3 years, but the EU Main Library has so many sexy volumes that I can't stay away. My average is around five books a week and, being the dirty thing that it is, it always leaves me wanting more.
5. Cafes! Yeah, so Europe totally has our asses kicked in this respect. I love that every street is pretty much guaranteed to have a cafe or two on it. I used to have dreams where I had an IV of caffeine dripping straight into my veins and now moving to Edinburgh made that dream a reality. I really couldn't be happier.
6. Cadbury: It comes in every shape, size and flavor you could ever want and it's everywhere! And we only get it once a year in the states! The Easter Bunny is such a mac ... and Santa has some explaining to do.
7. Cinemas: I kid you not, there are four cinema within five blocks of me. ::drool:: Two of them are art houses and the other two are blockbuster, perfect combination. AND the prices are still cheaper than in the US even with the exchange rate. We are such suckers.
8. Student Discounts: Everywhere you go students can usually expect a discount of 10% (except for the bastards at Edinburgh Castle...10.20 pounds for entry ::cough cough rip off cough cough::)
9. UK coverage of US news: Never have I actually consciously stayed tuned to the news, except as it related to the break-up of Brad and Jen (aka "the first sign of the apocalypse"... that high of viewership can't be bought). But since coming to the UK I have actually been interested in US politics and I have been incredibly surprised at the amount of coverage it gets. It's actually really enlightening, to truly know how much we are watched internationally. Just this evening I watched a 30 minute program on the elections and they were in the headlines for every broadcast today. The atmosphere on the talkshow was so much less hostile and caddy than I have ever seen before. The politicians actually discussed the topics, instead of propagating. I recommend checking it out online.
10. The Pace: It wasn't something that I noticed right away, in fact I had come expecting to feel a wave of calm and didn't see any difference. People seemed to walk about the same speed, cars still drove a little above the speed limit, business people in suits still run from meeting to meeting but once I began to live the life for a few weeks I noticed that it wasn't a physical difference but an attitude difference. There isn't the same hurried, frantic, obsessive strain in the air, people expect the same quality but take the human element into account. Here it seems that there is a more general acceptance of friends, relaxation, and partying as valid elements of a well-rounded life. Maybe it's just me, I am still an outsider, but I don't want to go back to the frenzy...I like this pace, it's holistic.
11. Transportation: I can walk to every possible thing I could need in five minutes and anywhere in the city in 30. Besides that, there are buses running across the city constantly and throughout the region for only a pound. Trains are amazing! Although they can be expensive they are now my favorite form of long distance travel. (Driving is still my favorite transportation activity, but it's not about getting from one place to another...it's the feeling of it.) Plus, their buses have two decks! It's so pimp.
12. Diet Soda: I can't explain it, but it really is just better here.

What I Miss about the US:
1. Family and Friends: Not to be cliche or sappy, but you really can't replace the people. While I love Scotland, home will always be where the people I love are.
2. Fresh Produce: What I wouldn't do for a ripe nectarine! They do have apples and bananas in good supply here, but beyond that fruit and veggies are a bit of a rarity.
3. Vanilla Yogurt: Every time I go to the market I find myself staring blankly at the ten thousand types of yogurt and wonder how it is that simple vanilla does not appear.
4. exorbitant amounts of American treats: If vanilla yogurt wasn't enough - After trying to find the ingredients for a few holiday recipes, I ranted for days about the godless fiends who couldn't supply __ to the world! (fill in the blank with: candy corn, pumpkin puree, butterscotch chips, caramel chews, chocolate chips in large bags, rootbeer, cream soda, hot apple cider, marshmallow cream)
5. Exchange rate: It kills me...1.89 dollars to the pound! Then you have to add on the transaction fees. The bastards are taking all my money!! -- okay, my parent's money!!

One last point: It is my belief that a Mars bar and Milkyway are exactly the same...I should know, back to back comparisons. My conclusion, Jedi mind tricks. It's a good thing we all know that Snickers is the clear Supreme Head of the chocolate covered nuget candy bars. (oo0, controversy)

Stirling - AKA Pretty Pretty Castle

Basically, I forgot to write this post at all when I went and now it's been too long to really want to rehash all the details. And also, my camera was broken at that time...so no pics from me, but thanks to Google you can get an idea. I remember having a really nice day and that the castle was exceptionally well kept. All in all, good times.

The Haunted City

Yah!! I have finally made it to Edinburgh!! (Okay, so it's been a month, yesterday...but at least I am updating, right?)

Instead of describing the ins and outs of everything I have done in my new home town, I thought I would just give you a brief overview.

Katie and I arrived in Edinburgh on September 9, to our great relief. Although we both loved the sights, the constant traveling was a bit taxing. Now, my flat was our homebase. Our first impression of Scotland was quite stereotypical. Right as we got off the train and stepped out onto the platform, we spotted a group of Scotsmen in full regalia; kilt, stockings with poofy fuzz balls, black loafers, frilled dress shirt, and plaid cap tipped just-so. Then we walked out of Waverly Station to the sound of bag pipes from a street performer on Princes Street. I love this country. Every single tourist shop blares bag pipe music and pushes "Authentic Highland Wool"...believe me, I have gone in to every tchotchke store in the city.

I met my new flatmates one by one. They are all terribly nice and very studious. Although they are all Freshers, they take their studies pretty seriously but do know how to relax and enjoy the scenery. We even had a roomie dinner, which Sophie and I cooked. We made pizza (btw, don't come here expecting to be able to buy pizza dough...learned that the hard way), courgettes with feta, garlic bread, and we all contributed to desert (Lottie's grandma's apple strudel, Sophie and I's honey ice cream, and the two Kirstens' supplied cake and drinks). It was like having a family dinner. We sat around for hours chatting and laughing. It's good times. My flatmates are great. They are my constant movie buddies; it is a blessing to have people that will just take my advice on a movie! No bickering for hours, just say a movie time and off we go :)

Whoa...talk about a sidetrack. Back to Katie and I. Well, Katie was quite a blessing. She helped me get settled in and even bought me my first tea mugs! The trade off was that we had to hike a few miles so that we could go skipping down the aisles of Waitrose (a UK market she and I had become very attached to). We even fit in some sightseeing before she left me forever. (After a few short days here Katie left me to go back to the states, so since then I have been flying solo.)

<-- Katie passed-out: Courtesy of moi. Hehe...permanent marker. My homage to Garden State (see forehead).

Edinburgh Castle: This was the capital city's royal residence for a few hundred years. Now, it's a military base. It has the most spectacular views in the city and it is visible from just about anywhere in the city. As my Aunt Diane said, "Everyone has a view of that frickin' castle!"

Palace of Hollyrood House: This is Edinburgh's current royal residence just down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle and right across from the new Scottish Parliament. It is a sight to be seen. The most spectacular and haunting aspect of the whole palace, though, is the ruins of the abbey. It is absolutely gorgeous. Something about it really grabbed me.

The Elephant Cafe: On a university sponsored cafe crawl, Katie and I had a cup of joe in the same place where Harry Potter was written!! Oh yeah, we are that cool. It has a pretty good mocha, too. JK Rowling picked a good spot, I dig it.

The Pub Down the Street from Me: (that's not it's real name) It was the first place we ate when we came to Edinburgh and it was good. They have veggie burgers for 2 pounds and a student discount.

<--Me at Early Hour: after Katie dragged me out of bed so we could go to the market before her taxi arrived. She is evil.

Edinburgh is a majestic city. It may not have as many landmarks as London or Paris, but it is full of history and a lively atmosphere. Apparently, it also has a deadly atmosphere (oh, that was smooth..no?); it known as "The Haunted City" and "The City of the Dead" because it has a reputation for ghost sightings. I personally have yet to see any apparitions, but I look forward to being introduced. Of course Halloween is all the rage here, which is quite exciting for me. All the stores have their displays out and the city is gearing towards fright fests and costume extravaganzas!! I love it here.

After Katie left, my Aunt Diana and Uncle George stopped by and I hooked up with them for a few outings. Diana and I went to the National Galleries where she completely spoiled me with admission to the Ron Mueck exhibition, lunch, and tea. The Scottish National Gallery has a pretty forbidable collection which kind of took me by suprise. It will definitely be worth a second visit.

The Many Glories of Bath

Ah, Bath...my sweet little city tucked away in the western hills of England. I was excited to go to Bath, but nothing can really live up to its splendor. There aren't any huge cathedrals, no historic battle grounds, and not even a double decker...but man is it a great place. Katie and I both agreed that it quickly ascended to number one favorite spot on our list. It had everything we could ever want; namely, great food, relatively cheap prices, and a gorgeous location.

I was skeptical, at first, of the hostel we had booked but once we arrived I knew we made the right choice. Right off the main square, the little bar/hostel was everything we needed. It had clean rooms, free breakfast, and a really nice bar. The hostel even had a "chill-out room" on the illusive top floor where we met some firefighters from NorCal, of all places. It was great! After a week and a half of going non-stop, we had a relaxed place to rest and we even stole some time away to see a movie. (Sleepers...so incredibly traumatizing...all I have to say is Kevin Bacon as a child molester ::shiver::)

We spent our days just roaming about freely, walking every square inch we could. We got up early to see the Roman Baths, then trekked over to the Bath Costume Museum, and then, we entered into Heaven...the Tea Room at the Jane Austen Centre. What a blissful experience.

Taking our time to enjoy the walls cluttered with Austen imagery, we ascended the steep steps up to the top floor of the little building at the corner of King and Gay. The Tea House was made up of two cozy rooms on the second story of the Jane Austen Center. Two large windows in the main dining area looked out onto a small cobblestone street alongside a charming lush park. The day was beautiful and blue, so when given our choice of tables we sat where the view was the best. The hostess was a jolly, sweet-tempered young woman and when we took our places said to me, laughing a little, "So, you got the best seat in the house. Well, you'll be dining with Mr. Darcy today." She pointed across from me to the mantel of the fireplace tucked up against the wall behind Katie. A large portrait of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy was staring pleasantly in my direction. "Oh, yes! We will indeed," I said, smiling at Katie who was mopping up a slight bit of drool that crept out of her loose jaw.

After perusing the menu we decided on the "Tea with Mr. Darcy" as it was suiting for the occasion. This included two cakes of our choosing, one cucumber sandwich, one Brie sandwich, a pot of "Jane Austen Blend Tea," and two plain scones. It was a veritable feast of sweet and carby goodness. I still was not sure what cake I wanted exactly, it was between the brownie (of course) and the tiramisu but the hostess’s description of the brownie as "soft", "melty", and "quite chocolaty" sold me on the spot. The tea was brought forth and we were soon served all our goodies. It was as if angels descended from above and sprinkled little bits of Heaven onto our taste buds. In other words, it was damn good. So, Katie and I spent the afternoon chatting over tea and soaking up the sun. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

During our visit in Bath we saw the Bath Abbey, the Bath Costume Museum, the Roman Baths, a little art gallery converted from a small chapel set in a picturesque cemetery, we walked along the canal and gardens, and ate at a 600 year old restaurant that served "Sally Lund's Buns" and still, my favorite part was the Jane Austen Tea Room. It all was amazing. Bath was calm, fun, and highly recommended.