So we headed up Arthur's seat, or so we thought. After climbing a few hills in the Cairngorms I knew how long of a trek it could be so felt the need to get this one out of the way, and followed someone up what I thought was just a more direct route up Arthur's seat. Not so much. As I crested the hill I looked up and there was Arthur's seat, but rising up about 500m down the path from us, shoot.
The girls weren't to happy, but we made it up eventually and saw some great views of Edinburgh from the top. From there we explored the Royal Mile, had a snack in the Elephant House, where J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series! I kept my eye open for other writers looking like they would make it big someday.
From there we checked into our hostel, went out for dinner at a place just below Edinburgh Castle, met some Australians and had quite the night experiencing Edinburgh's night life.
The next day we woke up to check out, but none of us were quite ready to start exploring. So we drank our fare share of water and had a full Scottish breakfast including black pudding! Which for those who haven't heard, is basically blood pudding, and is delicious and nutritious! After that, we walked up to Edinburgh Castle, which is perched high above most of the city on bluffs in the center of town. The entry price was 14 quid, which we decided was a little much for a morning inside a castle. Instead, we took some pictures at the gates, pretended we went in, and continued on our tour of Edinburgh! Next we headed to the National Museum. When I was younger, travelling to Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian, and London's Natural History Museum, I loved checking out the exhibits.10 years later, nothing has changed. I felt as though I could wander forever looking and learning about natural history and other interesting displays.
Eventually we were on sensory overload so we split up, the girls went to the grass market, and Tucker and I checked out Greyfriars Kirkyard, a grave yard famous for Greyfriars Bobby, a dog who continued to visit his deceased master's grave everyday for 14 years after his death. The grave's were very much different from those in St.Peter's in Salzburg, and were decorated with skulls and ominous figures rather than gold fixings.
The trip ended with some smoothies and a picnic in new town and then it was back to Aberdeen!
This weekend, it was off to London for the Head of the River Regatta. It was a bit of a last minute scramble but it worked out as the novice crew needed a sub and I could get a lift down! HoRR is very historical head race, held on the River Thames! We left at 6am Friday morning and began the long drive down to London. I woke up to some very questionable things, and it was good fun driving down with the guys from AUBC. We arrived, and I was lucky enough to be welcomed by one of the crew's family for the weekend. We discussed race plan, although not extensively, and headed for an early night.
The next morning it was off to the University of London boathouse to rig and get on the water. Rowing in Britain is a bit of a different story then in Canada. The density of clubs on the Thames is mind boggling. It seems like every second building is a boat house. We got on the water after a bit of a scramble and the race began...but only about an hour of getting up the side of the Thames with 420 other crews around, insane. I also had drunk a significant amount of water before getting onto the river and was regretting whole heartedly. Luckily someone had an empty water bottle.
We finally started the race, finished the race, rowed back upstream for what seemed like ages, and got back to Alex's to shower, watch a bit of rugby then head out with the crew for post race and St. Patrick's day celebrations. The Thames Boat Club has a bar upstairs and I don't think I have ever seen that many rowers in one place at one time.
Sunday morning the team left and I headed to Winchester to visit Julian, Sandy and the boys. I was happy for a little time to read on the train and finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and would definitely recommend it if you have not already read it. The rest of the day we spent biking, having a delicious dinner as always, and watching the Three Musketeers.
On Monday, I headed to London after saying goodbye and arrived at Waterloo station on the south side of the Thames. I didn't know quite where I was so tried to head for a tourist info building by St. Paul's Cathedral, but wasn't exactly sure of my directions on the way. Eventually I got there, planned a route to hit the highlights, and set on my way. Down the Millenium bridge I strode, with the impressive Tate Modern infront, and St. Pauls at my back. I turned down the river, past Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and toward the Tower Bridge. I paused for lunch beside the city council building, taking in an impressive vista with the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London on the opposite bank. Crossing the bridge I began to feel quite ill, as if someone had stomped on my internal organ. It was not a pleasant feeling being ill travelling alone and having the trip back to the airport looming.
Painfully, I made my way back to the airport, found a table close to my gate and put my head down like I was back in highschool math class. Feeling a little better, I caught my plane back to Aberdeen, took a taxi home, and was welcomed with some Belgian cuisine from Quinton, for which I was extremely grateful.
Another trip done, and another one coming up, 25 days exploring Barcelona, Madrid and the Andalusia, Morocco, the Atlas mountains and the Sahara. At times all this travel feels a little overwhelming, but I know this summer I will look back on my travels fondely and have some great stories to tell for the rest of my life.
Sayonara!
George
We finally started the race, finished the race, rowed back upstream for what seemed like ages, and got back to Alex's to shower, watch a bit of rugby then head out with the crew for post race and St. Patrick's day celebrations. The Thames Boat Club has a bar upstairs and I don't think I have ever seen that many rowers in one place at one time.
Sunday morning the team left and I headed to Winchester to visit Julian, Sandy and the boys. I was happy for a little time to read on the train and finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and would definitely recommend it if you have not already read it. The rest of the day we spent biking, having a delicious dinner as always, and watching the Three Musketeers.
On Monday, I headed to London after saying goodbye and arrived at Waterloo station on the south side of the Thames. I didn't know quite where I was so tried to head for a tourist info building by St. Paul's Cathedral, but wasn't exactly sure of my directions on the way. Eventually I got there, planned a route to hit the highlights, and set on my way. Down the Millenium bridge I strode, with the impressive Tate Modern infront, and St. Pauls at my back. I turned down the river, past Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and toward the Tower Bridge. I paused for lunch beside the city council building, taking in an impressive vista with the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London on the opposite bank. Crossing the bridge I began to feel quite ill, as if someone had stomped on my internal organ. It was not a pleasant feeling being ill travelling alone and having the trip back to the airport looming.
Painfully, I made my way back to the airport, found a table close to my gate and put my head down like I was back in highschool math class. Feeling a little better, I caught my plane back to Aberdeen, took a taxi home, and was welcomed with some Belgian cuisine from Quinton, for which I was extremely grateful.
Another trip done, and another one coming up, 25 days exploring Barcelona, Madrid and the Andalusia, Morocco, the Atlas mountains and the Sahara. At times all this travel feels a little overwhelming, but I know this summer I will look back on my travels fondely and have some great stories to tell for the rest of my life.
Sayonara!
George
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