The UK: Takin' the Piss with Scots and Brits

Edinburgh: Visiting an Acquaintance, Forming a Friendship    

   

The Castle 

I landed in Edinburgh, a beautiful student town that my best friend Caitlin told me I would adore. I only had one night and most of the following day there so I wanted to make the most of it. I was staying with a friend who I had met 6 years prior in Cadiz, Spain where I was taking a Spanish program for high school. Although we were in the same friends group there, she was only around for one week, and we didn't spend that much time together. But when I was in Europe we got in contact on Facebook and I jumped at the opportunity to visit her. Staying with locals is way better than staying in hostels. 
    

It was very easy to begin the friendship again. I love how with some people you can ease swiftly into relationships and deep meaningful conversation. After I dropped my bags at her place we walked to the old man's pub where she works to drink a pint. We then made our way to Arthur's Seat, a lookout point. The ground was a wee wet so I almost ate shit multiple times, but phew we finally made it to the hilltop. Twilight conversation while gazing at the stars. Then as the cold began to seep in we made our way back to her flat. A great warm sleep and the next morning I made my way into the city center. 

The Vintage Shop

       I had found a nice vegetarian lunch spot recommended on a blog, but along the way I got tempted by a massage shop. My mind was a bit uneasy with the thought of only a week or so of my euro trip left. So I splurged to clear my mind and indulged in much needed relaxation. Afterwards, I made it to the vegan cafe where I had haggis and soup. Very yummy and filling. Onward to check out the beautiful city, passing pretty cobblestone streets. I took a walk through Princes Park, snapped some shots of the castle on the hilltop, and then ventured to a Internet cafe to print my bus pass to Glasgow. 

Fried Mars Bars 

    My friend Lisa then met me to walk around some more. She showed me some quirky shops including this vintage place where I wish I had been before Halloween. Such classic items and pretty affordable. Again, wishing I had the money and room in my bag to fulfill the retail gap I've had. Before heading back to her place to grab my bags for the bus we stopped in and bought a deep fried Mars bar. This was something she said she had never tried but was a very Scottish thing. Although the few bites I had were delicious, I could feel a heart attack coming along. Hugs and thank yous and off to Glasgow.

Glasgow: A Quick New Zealand Reunion

      

Cave Campout Rave, Long Beach, New Zealand

Guy Fawkes 2010

The bus ride was fast and soon enough by nighttime I was at my friend Niamh's place. As I was riding in, fireworks were going off everywhere. No, not to my arrival, it was Guy Fawkes Day. 

Still beautiful, and I still felt special. (I love naturally, un-planned, coming into places on Holidays. . . there just by fate) And the last time I had celebrated Guy Fawkes Day was in New Zealand. This was fitting, as I was reuniting with a former Scarfie (student of Otago University) I studied with 2 years ago in New Zealand. It was such a crazy adventure altogether, memories and events are so fresh in my mind that I felt like I just left the Kiwis, but so much has happened in between now and then at the same time. Time, a concept I am trying to understand. Off to do some pub hopping and fill up on cider before we went to bed.

Fall Colors of Glasgow University 

One of the Rooms (Not my Picture)

  The next day I explored the Glasgow campus-beautiful. But it made me miss being a student, I'm a dork and I kinda crave the classroom again. (But I don't want my next step to be grad school). I go to all things free. Glasgow University holds a museum and The Macintosh House, a famous architects house, which included a free tour. I didn't know anything about the architect before I started the tour, I was just told that it was a "must-do". Well, turned out a very awkward experience. I was the only one on the tour, so I got a private viewing, with a shy man accompanied by a security woman. He would introduce me to the room, speak for a minute (sometimes less), and then be silent as I walked around. I asked questions about the patterns, but the rooms were so simple. . .there really wasn't anything more to ask about. And he wouldn't show me to a new room, he just stared blank, so I just started showing myself out. It was pretty hilarious. In one room, I asked a question with a one word response, and the security woman just laughed at the awkward silence after. 
       
A long walk in the park, a much needed cider break, and then dinner with Niamh at a burger joint. We went to this cool church turned into a multiple story bar/club.
       
      The following morning I said my goodbye to Niamh and headed to the city center before my bus departure to London. I watched crazy street performers, took shelter in a bookstore while it rained, and then went to a cool ethnic tea shop before I left.

 On my way out of the shop it started pissing outside again so I sprinted in to a hotel, sat in a chair and began reading. I looked up and two officers were in front of me. I immediately apologized saying that I wasn't staying in the hotel and I'd get up and leave. Instead, they asked my name and insisted I stop with my American accent. I was confused. They told me there was a missing girl and I matched the description exactly. I handed over all my identification to explain to them I really was American and that I definitely wasn't lost. They escorted me to the nearest police station, told me I was safe and that I needed to start telling the truth. It was a very confusing situation. At first I didn't want to go off with them, but I also didn't want to create a commotion, they kindly showed me their badges as confirmation and I obliged. After an hour of security checks, I had a handful of management and officers apologizing for the mixup. Yes, it was completely stressful, and yes it is weird I have a look-a-like, I didn't even get her name;But if I had been kidnapped, I would want an intense investigation, and that much makes it all worth it. Plus, all these crazy situations continue to help me develop how to act and communicate. 
  A long bus to London, made more entertaining with some scotch...when in Scotland, right? 

London: My Love, Like a Cinema, I Could Watch You Forever

I landed at my friends place early in the morning and took a nap until 1030. Cori is one of my lacrosse girls from college, and we are a pretty great duo. After taking me to some markets and her favorite shops she decided to skip out on class, and we did some bar hopping. That night we went to a spot in between a bar and club, good music and it used to be a horse stable, so cool venue. I think the stables cost a few hundred pounds a night, but we got away with hanging in them gratis. Then the rest of the night was the dance floor. A funny bus ride back helping deal with one of her mates. Once back at her flat we realized her iPhone, along with 2 of her friends was stolen. Such shit luck. Mine had been glued to my hand all night as I had been a paparazzi, so no picket pocketing on me. 

Tower of London

   The following morning we did more searching for her phone and then got a Facebook message from her mom "call me". Turns out the cops had called her grandad and had her iPhone. The thief had gotten arrested that night, and had a pocket full of cell phones. We went to the station to provide a statement and learned 8 cellphones get stolen a night at this place. Looks like I won't be going back to Proud, although it was fun. While Cori was piecing together the night to the detective I leaned back a bit to stretch. Out of no where an alarm sounded. The detective pressed a bunch of keys and left the room. Turns out I leaned back on this red stripe that alarms the whole station and sends a message to every officer in London. Oopsies. Good thing the detective could laugh. 


       We explored some more of the city. The bridge, the Tower of London, and then some grub. More pregaming with her college buddies, oh how I wish I was still in school. Then off to check out the night scene. One of Cori's friend and I snuck off to share a small bottle-wow are drink prices expensive in London. Well, actually everything is expensive in London. The pound is crazy, basically double it to see what the price would be in dollars. Lots of dancing, lots of fun.
    The following day we did a bit of too much sleeping in. Then we met one of my friends at the Camden markets which was such a cool experience. Reuniting with my best friend's cousin, catching up while walking around the different international street food, different stalls of accessories...so much shopping. BUT so little money.. I had checked my bank account that morning and learned I was in the negative. Well, I thought I would come back to America with a few hundred...I guess, broke it is. 

That night we went to a Benny Benassi concert with a great pre and post lineup-Zedd, Dirtyphonics, Gemini. 10PM to 6AM, I'd never been to such a long show. But the beats were insane, and the crowd was awesome. It was an awesome experience, great vibes, happy people, and the love of music. About 3,000 were at the start of the concert and only 20 of us made it until the last drop. I was pretty proud. Getting back to the flat at 7AM I packed up my stuff and left to make my bus ride at 8AM. 

   As I went to board the bus to Paris, I was asked where my check in was. What check in? I'd taken megabus a handful of times and had never heard of such a thing. Well, turns out I didn't read the fine fine print, and my passport caused issues again. I watched as my bus departed. Fuck, shit, bollocks. Waiting in line to see if there was another bus. I was stressed. No buses until tomorrow night said the clerk. I had a plane to the US, and I would be getting there without enough time to make it. 
    I hate crying. But after 30 minutes pleading with the desk clerk and him telling me "it was just too bad", that I'd have to reschedule my flight...the tears rolled down. I was already borrowing, this would just mean more debt. As I was wiping away my last tear and taking a deep breath, thinking how my brother would get my emotions under control, I repeated his words in my head "just stop". When I opened my eyes a friendly smile had a handkerchief for me. The Brit had overheard my debate with the clerk, and he insisted I take his ticket for the next bus and that he would postpone his trip. Random acts of kindness, the generosity of strangers, I couldn't help but leap at him and give him a gigantic hug. Within the next hour I was off to Paris for my last two nights in Europe. 
  Sometimes I forget how fortunate I am. I have to always remember that no situation is never the end of the world. Goodbye London, it's been real, an epic city that I will have to return to. For sure.