just a wee road trip

This week we roadtripped to Scotland! We spent hours and hours on the coach. Luckily we all like love the coach for some reason and it felt like no time at all. Actually some of my favorite memories from our trip were on the coach, like our dance party on the way home from Chinatown one night. Anyway, even though these were a few of the coldest days of my life, I definitely fell in love with Scotland. I may have even fallen in love with a man in a kilt.

Before you look through these pictures.. yes, I am wearing the same jacket/boots/scarf in every picture. I promise I really do wear different clothes underneath, most of the time, but trust me you would layer up as much as you could too. It's freakin cold.

 

Wednesday we stopped at Fountains Abby on our way to Scotland. It was one of my favorite things we've seen so far--seriously, so pretty. 

 This is Alan and Janet Christenson, our program directors. They are two of the most incredible people I have ever met and I love them both a lot. I could dedicate a whole post to all of Dr. C's accomplishments but I'll sum it up by saying our group is convinced he is one of the three Nephites.

 We're really good at awkward pictures.

 Our first morning in Scotland was spent at Edinburgh Castle. It was misty and foggy outside-- perfect castle weather.

 We spent the rest of the day wandering Edinburgh. I'm pretty sure Erin and I went in every souvenir shop in town--twice. Every shop had cashmere/wool scarves, blankets, and kilts without fail. Oh and bagpipe music was also a given. I loved it and loved the Scottish people--especially the old man who told me I was slow to part with my money but a fast runner (I have no idea either) and taught me how the Scots say money.

 No, that is not the man in the kilt that stole my heart. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of him.

 I definitely went to the cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the graveyard where she got her characters' names. For never having read the books, I am becoming quite the Harry Potter super fan.

 Thursday night we had dinner in the famous Frankenstein bar and restaurant before we went on a ghost tour. Edinburgh is known for being haunted and the tour was actually pretty freaky. I would be worried if I wasn't freaked out being locked in a graveyard or an underground cell where hundreds of people had died, though. We stayed in our first hostel in Scotland and were all pretty apprehensive. Aside from being hit on by drunk guys in the lounge it wasn't too sketchy though and we all survived!

 My favorite thing we did in Scotland, hands down, was our hike Friday morning. It was beautiful. We hiked to Arthur's Seat and it was the windiest place I have ever been but it was definitely worth it. Looking out over Scotland was one of those moments that put things into perspective and reminded me how lucky I am.

 This is Hadrien's Wall. It is really incredibly old. We're talking 10th century. I'm pretty sure it was one of the coldest things I've ever experienced but it was still cool to see.

The last night of our trip we spent in a hotel in Newcastle. It was the first night we got to choose our own roommates! Erin and I obviously roomed together and were pretty excited. After eating way too much at a buffet in Chinatown we spent the night watching the Big Bang Theory, making videos, jumping on our beds, and laughing so hard we couldn't breathe.
3 cheers for road trips!