We slept in today for a good while until packing to leave. We ate a snack to pass for breakfast, and then waited to take the bus to Edinburgh proper. It was a cold, drizzly and dark day, just as our guide Jaime predicted it would be. They were calling for 100 mph winds and one step outside and you'd believe it. I also came to the confusion the that carrying an umbrella in Scotland is an entirely futile endeavor. The wind blows all different direction rendering your umbrella essentially useless unless you would like to be entertainment for the weather-hearty Scots watching you.
Let me tell you, the city bus is quite the experience. This particular ride (my second) led me to the conclusion that Scots in general are a bit more loud and talkative than their British counterparts. For example, when we ride the tube or train in London, it's silent as the tomb, but in the Scottish buses, a cacophony of accented voices fill the air. There was also a cute little baby on the bus this time around, his mummy pushing him in a stroller. Score!
Eventually we got here and got ourselves to Waverly station to get ticket details finalized which we did. After that we decided to go exploring he streets until our train came at 2:30, The sun came out and all was sunny....for a few minutes. We located the castle and stepped inside for a few minutes before starting back down he street. By now it was beginning to pour rain, and we carefully made our way back over the centuries old cobblestones. We decided to step into one of the "closes" that dot the city to get out of the rain for a minute. A "close" is a medieval alley way between a row of houses. The one we happens to be waiting was named for the man who painted a famous picture of William and Mary, the joint king and queen of England in 1689. We eventually ventured back out, only to stop at another famous close, Mary King's Close. We didn't have time for a tour and they were booked up anyway, so we browsed around the store and learned a little about the history.
Finally, we got back to the station to wait on our train and grabbed a bite to eat. I got a sandwich. I realized that I haven't I told you about the British culture's fascination with sandwiches. They are popular for being both delicious and handy, as they are sold in a majority of stores already packaged and ready to take where your commute will take you that day. They have all kinds of sandwiches, a great deal of them I have never seen before. Lunch meat is rare to see, mostly the pieces of oatmeal or malted rye are stuffed with veggies or sliced beef or pork. Chicken salad is basically what you will get if you ask for a chicken sandwich. Another very popular choice is chicken with mayonnaise and sweet corn. We have decided Pret a Mange, a little sandwich chain, is the best for flavor and price.
Our first train experience was largely uneventful, except the long delay. Our trip from Edinburgh to London, however, proved a bit more exciting. Our seats were not reserved which was not a problem for our first trip. On the return trip, due to the busyness of the train, we ended up with no seat at Newcastle. So we joined the other travelers without proper seats in the little space between train cars for a little something I have hence dubbed the "ghetto train ride experience." No seats unless you sit on your luggage, very bumpy and jiggly, and quite loud with the high winds whistling across the panes. Kind of fun actually! Newcastle is about 3 hours from London so we had plenty of timers get the full experience. As Galen so succinctly put it, "It's not first class, not coach, not 3rd class its an EXPERIENCE!"
Also, should you find yourself in a similar situation, the best theme music for a ghetto train experience is Lost in Berlin by Paul van Dyke. Close second goes to New Shalom by Lecrae. Don't laugh.
Also, there was also a HUGE rainbow over Edinburgh when we left.
I take this as a sign I should go back.
Right?!?
About this time we felt the train reverse directions. Uh oh. That couldn't be good! Everyone looked at each other wonderingly. One guy said that they make a loop back to King's Cross Station, our destination, so we just hoped that was true. Amazingly it was, for we had been turning at such a slight angle that we had barely noticed. Crisis averted. I'm typing this on my iPod sitting on Galen's suitcase across the train from him. I'm watching two college age British guys eat a strange and wonderful candy a few feet away in the space between the car in front of ours. When I say weird, I mean that it unidentifiable. It is long like taffy, but round and long like a rolled up cigarette. It comes wrapped in colored papers. They are just standing there, jostled by the train, having a candy fest in their puma shoes and Adidas sweatsuits. Methinks they are football players. Not sure though.
There has been a lot of kids traveling today with their parents. We haven't seen kids all week because they were all in school so it is very nice. It makes me miss my siblings though! I want to grab them to give them a hug when they walk by, but I have a feeling that wouldn't go so well.
Anyway, the rest of the evening was uneventful. We got back to King's Cross station and grabbed some food before heading to the tube for our journey back to the good ol' Apartment complex 18 No 1. Cosby St. The rest of the evening was spent in various states of repose (some more than others.....Galen!) :)
British and Scottish-isims:
The toilets here have no back, just a bowl. They flush with the push of a button on the wall above and are easy to clean due to lack of parts.
Sometimes they have a room in the public bathroom just for Mums to change kid's diapers. Today there was one with a NICE rocking chair and some toys.
Instead of saying "that's 20 pence" if something is costs pence, you say "that's 20 p." Saves a few letters.
There is a funny relationship the Scots have to the Brits. Most of the times the Scots feign a "mock animosity" towards British people, but in reality, they are just as nice to them as they can be.
Tips at restaurants or grocery stores are kept in a little dish that looks uncannily like the "give a penny, take a penny" dishes back in the states. Glad I realized it and didn't take any of the coins!
Clotted Cream fudge. Oh my.
You know what is weird? Hearing a little Chinese girl with a Scottish accent. Weird.
Jaime had a tattoo on his right inner forearm that read "Misneachail." In the Scottish Gaelic, that means spirited, strong, confident, courageous, and encouraging.
The word "Gaelic" language is pronounced like "garlic" without the r sound- GA-lick. Yep. Who knew?
I also can hear our flatmates having a bit of a party upstairs with some Avicii, Dubstep, and Deadmau5, Thank goodness for earplugs! :)
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