Spring Break: Days 1 & 2 - Long Walks and Mountain Rocks
Day One – Long Walks and Zombie Movies Saturday, February 16th 2013
It is now 6:30pm and I am back at the hostel. Any doubts I had this morning are gone. I'm glad that I didn't let anxieties ruin my day, or else it wouldn't have been as great as it was.
After my first post, I went to grab brunch. I went to this little juice bar. It was bright inside – all yellow with green, red, and blue chairs. A very cheerful little place that sells breakfast until lunch and serves lunch all day. They specialize in smoothies, juices, and milkshakes. I got me a toasted bagel with ham and cheese and a “Sunshine in a Cup” smoothie. It has peaches, mangoes, and oranges in it. I was expecting it to be orangey-pinkish, or something of the sort, but the immunity booster I got in it must have affected the colour because it was a pukey green kind of colour. It still tasted good; it just looked weird. Haha.
After that I walked around Edinburgh for three hours straight. I sat down maybe twice. This isn't a small city, but the central part isn't so big that I n't cover a lot of ground in that time. I don't think I'll buy a bus pass while I am here, because I was able to walk everywhere easily enough. It was totally tiring though. I thought my home town was hilly. HA! It is nothing like Edinburgh. I swear, each building is on its own individual hill. It was some trek. I took a lot of photos, but I didn't enter any of the buildings. I'm saving that for the next four days I spend here. The awesome thing is that of all the places I want to go to only like three of them charge an admission fee. I can't wait to check out the Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle, the Writers Museum, the national gallery and museum, and so much more! Not having a set schedule makes me happy, because I feel like I have all the time in the world. I can discover everything at my own pace.
I absolutely adore the UK. Going home is going to be hard. Everything is so beautiful (even though all the gross modern buildings are cluttered around the old). What really got me about Edinburgh though is the beautiful rolling hills in the distance, the sun peaking out of clouds over their summits. (There is NO way that my camera could ever do such a sight justice.) Honestly, it may be one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Maybe I'll wake up early one day so that I can watch the sun rise over them. Part of Edinburgh is also along the coast. I could see it from atop Cattill Hill today. If I can get there, I'm positively going to check it out. Beauty.
My movie started at 3:30pm, but I went to the theatre an hour beforehand so that I could sit down. I was majorly tired. (Understandably.) I'm glad I did all of that walking though. I have a good sense of where everything is. I think I could find my way back to the hostel from just about anywhere.
I was the first person to enter into cinema 12 to watch “Warm Bodies.” (Probably because I was so early, haha). I have never, ever been the first person in a theatre before (except that time that Susan and I saw “Snow White and the Huntsman.” I'm not sure that counts though because we were the only two people there. We had the whole room to ourselves. They weren't even going to start the movie, because they didn't know we were in there. Bahaha. Shout out to Susan!) They have VIP seating in UK theatres. This means that basically you pay more to get a leather chair in what they consider to be ideal rows. I got the perfect seat – center of the row, the most center row from top and bottom. And there was SO MUCH LEG ROOM! I couldn't believe it. The previews were interesting. The popcorn was okay. I wasn't sure if I was going to like the movie. I hate this new fascination with zombies and the zombie apocalypse. Hate it. But the movie was supposedly based loosely on “Romeo and Juliet” - which I adore! - and I really liked the concept of love conquering all, so I decided to give it a try.
Here is where I give you permission to judge me. I actually liked the movie. I did. (Don't knock it until you've seen it!) It was this weird blend of comedy, drama (some parts were absolutely depressing), creepiness (though it wasn't overly gross), and sappy romance. Yeah, at times it was vague. Yeah, there were elements that, even if you suspended disbelief, were slightly unbelievable. I enjoyed it though. The acting was good. The play on R+J names was clever (“R” = Romeo; 'Julie' = Juliet; Nora, who wants to be a nurse = Juliet's nurse; Perry = Paris), the balcony scene was cute (even if he was a corpse), their relationship was cute, the music was great, and the ending was satisfying (even if it was corny). The fact that R narrated the movie through his stream of consciousness definitely made it more enjoyable. (Plus, the fact that he is cute didn't hurt either. You may have seen him as Hank McCoy/Beast in 'X-Men: First Class.) It was very well acted – even if the actress playing Julie has the unfortunate luck to resemble a blond Kristen Stewart. I was pleased. Plus, it was a good time out. Who says you can't have fun at the movie theatre by yourself? I'd actually like to do it again. I LOVE movies and acting. It's a great de-stressor.
After the movie, I returned to my hostel, used the Internet, and went to bed. Had a good first night, which pleases me. I wasn't sure if I would like the hostel setting. I like the atmosphere here though. And staying in a dorm with nine other people was actually okay. We have lockers for our stuff, so I think that really helped. This location is also really great, because no matter where I walk to, I can find it again. Although, last night (because there are a lot of pubs in this area) some obnoxious sounds from people outside drifted in the window, but they didn't keep me up. Every room has a theme. My room is Scottish Films. With this theme, each bed has a name. So, since my room is Scottish movies, my bed is called “Highlander.” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091203) That's where the theme ends though. Movie posters would have been kind of cool though. There are a couple of lounges. The 'posh' one has a full-sized piano, a fireplace, paintings, a Victorian sofa and chairs, and some busts. It's very stylish. The other lounge looks like a typical hang-out area, with posters all over the walls and some beaten up old furniture. The largest shower/toilets is for both sexes. However, I did find two toilets just for women and a shower. (See, Mama, knew I'd find one! Haha). I feel safe here, which was the most important thing for me to find in a hostel. Safety and cleanliness come first. Inexpensive rooms was just an added bonus. The staff is also super friendly. They're very helpful. The guy who waited on me last night was also very cute. (I wouldn't mind seeing him again. =P)
Day Two – Perfect Sunday Afternoons: Rolling Hills and Dates with Canadian friends Sunday, February 17th 2013
I slept in today. I needed it. After all that walking yesterday, plus the fact that I was functioning on very little sleep, I think it was for the best. I didn't do anything substantial this morning, just hung out in the lounge.
The sun was shining, and it was warmer out than it has been for the past week a half. I wasn't about to let that opportunity pass me by. So, when 12:30pm hit, I just had to get outside. I couldn't resist those hills. I re-checked this week's forecast, and today had the best outlook. I was going to hike those hills, and it was going to have to be today. I didn't take anything with me but my camera (which was a wise decision in retrospect), and I headed out. I took a road that I haven't yet. I'm glad I did. You'll never know what you'll find. Usually, when I exploring, I like to head toward whatever seems interesting. That's why I think it is important not to have a set schedule. If I had one, then I would always be rushing from here to there. More or less, it doesn't matter to me. I don't need to see everything. Chances are, I don't want to see half of the tourist attractions that exist anyways.
I did, however, find what could possibly have been the coolest (for myself, anyways) museum ever. I was walking by when I noticed it, nestled in among other buildings. Plus, the admission was free, so I had to check it out. It was the Museum of Childhood. Yeah, that's right. It was a small museum full of toys. Some of them even went back to the Victorian era. It was one of the awesomest things I have ever seen. I'm glad that I decided to go in today. It made my inner child happy.
After the museum, I made my way to the hills. In the afternoon sun, they looked amazing. It took me about three hours to trek over them – up and down and around. Even though my asthmatic lungs were heaving and my legs were aching, it was more than worth it. The view was amazing.
It was one of those moments I live for. I felt infinite. I felt alive. I felt like I could do anything. There was joy, beauty, peace, hope in that moment. Anything was possible. The world was beautiful. My soul was free. I took a lot, a lot, of photos, but they will never do that sight justice. I'd rather see green rolling hills, miracles of God's creation, than cold hard steel and glass any day. Give me the living, breathing earth over the mechanical monster. That moment was perfect. I want it again.
Dear future husband, If you really want to prove that you love me, bring me to the hills of Scotland, maybe to one of those little duck-filled ponds, set out a blanket and let's have a picnic under the blue sky and sunshine. Propose there, and I won't say no. It would be the most romantic and beautiful thing anyone could ever do for me. Look, see, I've even given you a hint.
Seriously, I'll need to get back to Scotland before the end of my life. I want to see the countryside. I want to lose myself in its beauty. And not just in this country. I want to explore nature all over the world.
I ended my hike by visiting one pond, the ruins of an old church, and then another pond. It stole my heart. I was envious of all the couples who stood outside of the decrepit chapel, overlooking the pond, holding each other. I hoped they understood the depth of the beauty of that moment. I hope she felt amazing in that moment, with the sun and his arms warm on her skin. I hope she felt invincible. I hope she felt like a princess. I hope he appreciated her in that moment. I hope he really saw her. I hope the sun framed her like an angel. I hope they comprehended the beauty before them. I hope it made them fall more in love. I hope it made them think of God.
I'm such a Romantic. Haha. Forget T.S. Eliot, maybe I should be hanging out with Keats.
I had a very late lunch/early supper (since I hadn't eaten yet) at a cafe. It was called the Deacon's House. It was inside of the old workshop of the guildmaster of the craftsman. He was a notorious guy, who used to make copies of the keys of his clients, break into their houses whenever he desired and steal from them. His father had been really respectable, but this guy (William) completely ruined that. He was hanged for his crimes, on gallows that he had designed. Apparently Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a book about him. It was kind of a gross story. I don't see why you'd want it to be what your restaurant is named after.
The food was good though. I had a big ol' glass of milk, a honey roast ham sandwich, and a piece of carrot cake. I sat at the one table that a kilt-looking table cloth. Haha. There was a single red rose in a vase. It made me happy.
As I write this, I am hanging out in the 'posh' lounge. I have just finished Skyping one of my best friends, Becca. Seeing her face made my heart glad. I can't express how great it was to see/hear her laugh. I didn't realize how much it meant to me. Goodness, I miss that beautiful girl. I miss my Canadian friends and my family. Sometimes I miss Canadian landscape. I miss all our trees. I wouldn't trade this opportunity for anything though. I just really wish they could be here with me. I wish I could share these moments with them. I wish they could see and feel this beauty too. Sometimes, being with another person, makes those moments that much more special.
God, I sound like a modernist writer. Maybe that's what I am.
I am glad that I decided to come to Scotland, even if all the others went other places. I'm glad I didn't settle for a place I didn't really want to visit. Sometimes you don't know the strength of what you are made of until you are experiencing things for yourself. Sometimes you don't know how amazing life is until you're stuck in the middle of it.
I'm finding out a lot about myself – things I never would have thought existed in me. I'm realizing a lot about life and what I want out of it. I'm thinking a lot about love and even more about God.
I'm growing; I can feel it. I want to be better than I was when I left Canada. I want to remember that every single breath, every minute of everyday, is beautiful. No matter what is going on.
Maybe I'm over using that word - “beautiful.” I don't think so. It applies to everything I'm saying. Only it fits. I'm applying it to the things that really matter, and only those things.
Life. Love. Laughter. The world. Myself. God. All those things are beautiful.
May every day be better than the last. This is the beginning of the rest of my life. I can feel it.
Cheers, Meg















