Scotland

A few weeks ago, I went on a spontaneous and sort of accidental trip to Scotland. The following may or may not have contributed:

1. all my friends were out of town or severely busy with multiple term papers.

2. i have wanted to go to Scotland pretty much my whole life. 

3. it's literally just a few hours by train.

4. the IRS gave me a generous refund this year. merci (beaucoup). 

5. i started looking into said trip at around 2am.

Taking all that into consideration, I decided there was absolutely no reason why I shouldn't go on a trip. As I was perusing travel sites, as you do, I booked a hotel, but accidentally booked it for the very next day (or the same day, really)! Since it was already 3AM, I couldn't call or change my reservation, and they had already charged my credit card. The only thing left to do was buy a train ticket and carpe diem. 

I was on a train a few hours later. I really enjoyed my little break away from London. All this talk of dissertations and essays and exams and general dissatisfaction with our program was driving me insane and so I chose to ignore it for three days. It was very much needed, and I loved my trip. 

Below are a few shots... Not having Rach with me really sucked in terms of not having the most super fun travel friend with me, but also because I am lacking in good photos. She is seriously great at documenting adventures. These are a bit out of order, but here you go:

I signed up for a one day tour of Loch Ness, Glen Coe and the Highlands. Here, we're on a boat tour along the shores of Loch Ness. I LOVED Loch Ness. It was gorgeous. If I ever go back to Scotland, I'd love to rent a house there and just be there for a couple of weeks. It was lovely!

The highlands were everything I imagined. So beautiful!

A little dark, but I'm right on the shore of Loch Ness right next to Urquhart Castle.

This was on the train on the way to Edinburgh. Most of the trip affords gorgeous views such as this.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival headquarters! Why was I not there in August???

Adam Smith

One of many installations across Edinburgh inspired by Shakespeare's works

I think she was called Honey. She is kind of a big deal on the tour. She and her mom (Haymish) hang out on the grassy lands and come greet tourists who get to feed them fruit.

I found this really comical. I also applaud whoever did this. This statue was not small. Even just the base was taller than I am. I'd like to know how this was done.

Loved.

St. Giles' Cathedral

More of the Highlands. 

The foundation of Urquhart Castle, which is now in ruins. 

What's left of the Castle walls. Loch Ness.

More Loch Ness. Loch Ness monster sightings? Zero. Boo. 

The view of Urquhart Castle from the boat. As you can see, it no longer looks like a castle, but its history dates back to the 13th Century. It was once one of Scotland's strongest medieval strongholds and saw many struggles between Jacobite and Williamite forces. 

More Loch Ness. I couldn't get enough of it. 

A more clear view of what's left.

A sneaky photo inside Rosslyn Chapel. Photos were not allowed inside, but I highly recommend this as a stop for all who visit Edinburgh. It was just a short bus ride away! The Chapel is really old and has been through a lot of history including, most recently, a very inaccurate account in The Da Vinci Code. There is so much symbology and architecture to admire in such a tiny building. I LOVED it! 

Outside of Rosslyn Chapel. Clearly, much of the exterior has been damaged by the elements. Rosslyn Chapel is currently undergoing the largest restoration to date. If one good thing came out from The Da Vinci Code's connection to it, is that people are now flocking by the thousands to it. Admission sales as well as private donations have made it possible for the preservation project to happen.

LOVE. A view from the outside. I can't remember exactly, but I believe a few of the original stained glass windows remain. I don't think this is one of them, but I thought that it was interesting that a few survived... especially as Rosslyn Chapel was once left to ruin for a period of about 100 years. 

It wasn't until Queen Victoria came across it and declared that it should be preserved that people started taking care of it. 

Rosslyn Chapel with the restoration scaffolding. 

A view from the yard. 

Rosslyn Chapel Cementery... It may have an official name that is different from that, but as I was on my way out, I didn't have time to stop and find out. 

You'll thank me later

Do yourselves a favor and mosey on over to the Humans of New York website. Click here.

This guy manages to capture everything I love about the city and its people in his blog.

It's beautiful, really. People are freakin' fantastic.

Looking through it makes me so excited to be moving back there in August.

It truly is the greatest city in the world.

Stonehenge and Bath

A few weeks ago, I received a random email on my KCL account advertising a student-organized trip to Stonehenge and Bath for £19. I had been to Stonehenge previously with Michael, Sophie and Claire, but on that instance, we missed the opportunity to go in and could only admire it from the side of the road. I also had never been to Bath but had heard great things. Michelle decided to come along and we set off for a long day trip to both destinations. 

Thank goodness Michelle is a fantastic photographer. All of these are hers. In fact, she would have my cite her work using the Harvard referencing system, but I simply can't be bothered. She captured the day perfectly. Here are some of my favorite shots of the day:

The fabulous Michelle

It's nice to have one of these without a fence obstructing the view. See this.

I don't even know.

M's artsy side shines through.

We have to jump. Everywhere.

M joins in the jumping fun.

We decided against going in and coming back another time when we have more time to see and appreciate them. We did see this much though. Thrilling.

We found a delicious fudge store. They also sold this.

One of Bath's most famous views. The Pulteney Bridge.

Another shot of Pulteney Bridge

Inside Bath Abbey

Statue of the resurrected Christ at Bath Abbey

The only known portrait of Jane Austen as displayed at the Jane Austin Centre. Jane Austin and her family were residents of Bath for a few years. I don't think this is the original. I actually believe the original (painted by Jane's sister) is housed at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Check out my creeper status.

Apparently, fans helped you communicate during the Austin era. This says "I wish to be acquainted."

"You have changed."

I'm not entirely sure what this says. 

birthday!

This birthday came around in a sort of bittersweet way. I didn't have any family with me this year, which is a change from the past 3 years. I also really wanted to get out of London and get to a beach, but for some reason, I felt like I should hold off on that trip. Instead, I gathered a very VIP group of my London people and planned a fun evening. 

The birthday started at 12AM exactly. I stayed up just so I could be excused in FINALLY opening the presents my mom and sister had so thoughtfully shipped over. The bag of gifts literally sat in my room for over a week, and I did not open it until the clock hit midnight. It was good to get cards and cute gifts that they thought about/made. 

I woke up the next morning bright and early and made my way to Central London to wait for day seats for Singin' in the Rain. After that, I met Dev, Michelle and Jeremy for breakfast and then I headed off for my interview with the London International Festival of Theatre. My interview went really well and I actually had an offer for their marketing internship by 3PM.

At 5PM, I met Dev, Jeremy, Michelle and Michael at Wahaca in Covent Garden for a delicious birthday dinner, and then we headed off to see the show. I absolutely loved Singin' in the Rain!

Overall, it was a good birthday, and I was glad to have my friends celebrate with me. I still haven't blown out any birthday candles, but at least I did get a fun birthday song from Michael and Alex.

Photographic evidence. Midnight indeed. 

Mom kept saying I couldn't open them for another 5 hours (EST) because 

I wasn't born in this time zone. I didn't listen.

Mom made this with some of the glass beads I bought her in Prague! 

I love this one! I spent soooo long digging through bead bins to find the cutest beads, 

and she combined them all into one bracelet.

Earrings also courtesy of mom.

My new Betsey Johnson courtesy of my sister.

GOTTA DANCE! Not only was it a perfect day, the sun was out in London!

KCL friends Devin and Jeremy.

Devin, Jeremy and Michelle! (we were missing our 4th, Brand). 

They were really sweet and not only agreed to come to the show (which was a bit pricey),

 but they also got me an adorable Oliver Bonas charm bracelet.

With Jeremy

With Michael

Excited to sit in the splash zone! It literally rains on stage, 

and if you sit in the first 3 rows, you WILL get wet. 

Our feet on the stage. We were in row 1. We got COMPLETELY soaked. FUN!

I loved seeing such an iconic show on my birthday. I had been looking forward to it for quite some time and was not disappointed. Adam Cooper, who plays Don, is stellar. I could literally watch him dance all day. Scarlett Strallen (who I had previously seen as Mary Poppins) did a fantastic job as Kathy Sheldon. The book is a little weak, but the choreography and lighting make it a pretty magical thing to see. 

Here is a clip from the Royal Variety show. Adam sounds a bit breathy at the end, but wouldn't you be too if you had just danced like that for 5 minutes?