Pictures!!

A little bit of Scotland in Chicago. I can have it all!

View of the City from the river.

Merchandise Mart. The widest building in America. Spans two city blocks.

The Willis Tower. Chicago still refers to it as the Sears Tower.

Look at that sky line!!

The Wriggly Building. I love the views in this city!

The Chicago Tribune Building.

At the Aquarium! Peering over at the whales. We had a connection and some day I hope to pet one.

Apple picking in Indiana.

Lake Michigan... it is like looking out to the ocean.

Museum Campus!

Chicago!!!!!

All roads lead to New York!

Navy Pier!

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men...

The best laid plans of mice and men... could be my mantra on life these days. I had meant to post here regularly. Document my this adventure but it has been almost 2 months since I have checked in. I had meant for things to go very differently this past month... but as they say "the best laid plans..."

When I started this adventure I thought it would be smooth sailing. I had faith in the Universe but it was a shallow faith, and looking back, I naively thought everything would be amazing all the time. I am learning so much more than what my professors are teaching me.

When I came here the plan was to stay with a friend. I would help her look after her dog since she had been staying with her boyfriend mostly anyway. I would give her some money towards rent and in the mean time have a "home base" so I can be in Chicago and search for an apt. A week before I left this plan was still in effect but then things started to change. My friends roommate needed me to pay a third of the rent. My staying there was an inconvience and she felt this would make things fair. Okay, a third of the rent. Two days before I left the roommate had found a place of her own and needed me to pay half the rent. Alright, this still seemed like best option. All systems a-go. I had an amazing weekend of adventures with friends and family and said see you later to my city. The day I traveled here the roommate had contacted the landlords and found a way to end the lease a month early. Where was I to stay? The night I arrived I spent most of my time on craigslist looking for a roommate. In attempt to rally the hooray-for-adventure-spirit I went to the deli and over beers, cheese doodles, and Preseco we toasted to Chicago.

That night both the roommate and her mother pulled me aside - told me that it wasn't personal against me but I needed to be out within a week and they were going to do everything in their power to end the lease and get their deposit back. I could feel the anxiety start to set in. The following week I went to orientations and saw apts. I cried every day. Multiple times a day. I was feeling dis-illusioned with the city, with my program ( i was feeling the pressure to have a car/know how to drive), and my faith in the Universe. I was on the verge - I contemplated returning to NYC, taking an apt I didn't like, and at one point one that seemed a bit sketchy. The weight of student loans, "homelessness", and isolation (I was far removed from the heart of the city, didn't have friends, and saw little of the friends I did have) was setting in.

As D-day approached i knew something had to change. I was beside myself. I booked myself into the holiday inn to get away from the situation. I knew I had a couple days there where I could brainstorm. I was going to try and find an apt and give the school a semester to prove its self to me. I decided if life was going to push then I needed to push back. I am a New Yorker! We are bold and fearless. Was I going to just lie down and go home? While, I didn't feel I had anything worth fighting for yet I did know I wasn't going to just lick my wounds and return to NYC. My friend and i threw all our stuff in her boyfriends truck and locked it up in storage. She found a place for her dog and I hit the pavement looking for an apt. There was option that seemed nice and I was close to taking it but the Universe provided... a friends, cousins, friends needed a roommate. This apt was everything I was looking for. I could move into the apt in 2 weeks! Hooray! Now I had to figure out where was I going to live for the next two weeks?

It was the first week of class and I still had a few days paid up at the Holiday Inn. A girl in my class was trying to organize margaritas after class and I thought 1) i need a drink 2) the girls going seem so nice and i need friends. I hadn't told anyone I was staying at the hotel. I was embarrassed. I thought it seemed weird and I needed to solve my own problems... i didn't want pity. I also didn't want to carry my books to get drinks. I took a chance. These girls were going to be my friends I was going to share with them. I asked if I could stop by the hotel and drop my stuff off. I explained the situation and to my surprise they both offered to let me stay with them. I was no longer in NYC. I was blown away by the sincere generosity of these girls. I was feeling so vulnerable and the Universe brought me these friends. I said "YES!!!!!"

A couple of days later I went to stay with E.C. This worked out so well. E.C. is one of the sweetest and most sincere people I know and I was so happy to have a friend. I also didn't have my books yet since I needed to have them shipped to me. She let me use her books and stay with her for 2 weeks. I had my books shipped to M.G. and they both became some of my best friends. I have been on adventures with them. I have been to the Aquarium, the Field Museum, the zoo, a river cruise, the botanical gardens, different neighborhoods, a Bears game, apple picking and Navy Pier.

I have moved into my new home and we are caught up to today. It has been up and down. A learning process about vulnerability, trust, friendship, the Universe and faith. I am going to post some photos and sign off. I will try to come back more often.

Chicago

I have not forgotten about you blog. I am in Chicago and will post soon. It has been a busy and eventful couple of days.

Museum

In one week I begin the 2 day journey to Chicago. But before I can even think about that there is much on this end to do. Paperwork and packing. And see you laters. I don't like goodbyes. Paths cross again. I already have plans in the works for my first visit back. But before I leave or make plans to comeback there are still adventures and celebrations to be had here. Before this new chapter begins.

And today was adventure and celebration. The weather was beautiful. A taste of what summer in my mind should be. Cool breezes stiring the leaves in the trees. Sunny days. Smiles on the faces of everyone. And a lack of humidity. Because I have the summer off and my good friend has summer fridays; we decided to make the trek to the Museum of Natural History. I grew up at this museum. Fitting I should visit it before I move to a new city.

When I was a kid my mom would bring my brothers and me to the museum. We would visit the dinosaurs, the big blue whale and my favorite the gems. I loved being able to run through those levels and touch the gems and the geodes. I love geodes; there is something wonderful and maybe poetic about how on the outside the rock is plain or unattractive and on the inside is color and texture.

So "J" and I went uptown to visit the museum and check out their brain exhibit. It had been awhile since I was there and dang the museum has changed. The cafe has become gourmet with fancy Italian dishes and a salad bar, they have closed the lower level of the museum shop, and a few exhibits have a new facade. All the changes though seem to be positive (and they left the gems section as is) and it was wonderful to be at the museum. "J" and I bought our tickets and made our way downstairs for some food. Where she presented me with this...





Great minds think alike. I love it.


After lunch we made our way to the brain exhibit. It is a great! Most of it is tactile and hands on. I learned some cool new facts. We played some fun games they had to demonstrate how the brain works and explored the exhibit. Visited a few of the old favorites (like the big tree) and then left. Overall it was great time with a great friend.

I am going to sign off now. It has been a long day. Sweet Dreams.

Counting Down

I can't sleep. A mix of having a "lazy summer" schedule with the luxury of being able to sleep late and thoughts about this new adventure I am beginning.

Since I last posted there have been a couple of developments....


I was in Barnes & Noble and I bought myself two books on the in's and outs of living in Chicago.





I am going to know the best farmers markets, the best days to visit the museums, how to navigate the public transportation, the history of Chicago...

When I moved to Scotland I had a few books with me. One that was all maps, one about the customs and things to see. I went on tours and explored and learned that city like it was back of my hand. When my friends came to visit for Christmas and New Years I knew every inch of the city's history and was able to give them a tour. We went to the castle, Arthur's Seat, Mary's Close, the new city, the parks, the museums, Colton Hill, the Royal Mile...I was even able to tell them an anecdote about the lead horse statue on the Royal mile . It had to have a few modifications on it due to the Scottish weather. I don't know if this is the exact truth but this is how I heard it from the Scots. So, in Scotland it rains every day. Multiple times a day on most days and there is this horse statue that sits on the royal mile outside the old parliament . Actually it is King Charles II on a horse. To save money they made the horse hollow but every time it rained, water managed to get into the statue and it would tilt. So they made a hole in the bottom of the statue so the water could drain out. Now every time it rained it looked like King Charles was sitting on a horse that was urinating. In the end they had to fill the statue and make it solid.

When I have friends come visit I will be able to share stories like that as well with them about Chicago. Local folkore that adds flavor to the city. Chicago I am going to know your secrets.

I am also in the process of ironing out details about my living situation. It was too much to be able to go to Chicago for a couple of days and rush decide on a place to live. So I am crashing with a good friend for a couple weeks while I search.

Sleep is starting to kick in so I am signing off. Sweet Dreams.

Home Sweet Home

Part of this adventure has been finding a place to live.

For months now I have been telling friends about this idea I have. My dream house. Not even a house. It is really this backyard. In my mind's eye I see this garden. Friends gathered around a fire pit. Bob Marley or The Beatles playing in the background. The sound of laughter mixing with crickets, mellow tunes, and a crackling fire. A night sky blanketed with stars. Flowers and ferns lining stone paths. There is an ivy covered trellis, solar powered twinkle lights, and a hammock. The smell of smoke and spicy herbs. And the icing on this (saccharine-y) cake is that in the background a dog is eating tomatoes off the vine. While this concept is so cheesy I can spread it on crackers, to me this sounds wonderful.

Alright, so while I know that I won't move to Chicago and find this magical garden of all the perfect sounds and smells complete with a dog who has a taste for tomatoes; esp. those right off the vine ... a garden is on the list for my apt search. Being a New Yorker and living in an apartment a garden is this foreign concept that holds so much potential. So, along with an interest in certain neighborhoods and amenities I know a garden will help make my apt. a home. Luckily, Chicago has a plethora of beautiful apartments to help make this dream come true.

So far the apt search has been an interesting endeavor. While it has yielded no permant abode yet, I am in touch with friends whom I haven't spoken to in a while. Their kindness and support has meant a lot during this transition. I have also met a few potential roommates/friends through the school (some even from NY; take us out of the city and we tend to gravitate towards each other) My "fall back" is also a wonderful option thanks to a wonderful friend. All in all this should be good and as time flows I will update as to which option I went with.

Anyway, it is late and time to call it a night. Sweet dreams.

Beginnings

I come back here for all new beginnings it seems. Scotland. Cross continent trips. I will try to stick with this through the journey. Not just to mark the new beginning.

I am starting a new adventure. I am moving to Chicago within the next month. Really it is probably within the next 3 weeks to start graduate school. In truth that statement isn't real to me yet. I do not have a set moving date. I do not have an apt yet or a roommate. There is still so much for me to do. But I have faith it will all come together.

I have all sorts of feelings about this move. The first being... this makes sense. So many things have pointed me to Chicago. I believe deeply this is what my next step should be. I can feel it in my bones this is where I am suppose to be. It is KISMET. This is where my career, my mind, and my spirit will be nurtured. At the same time I am nervous. This is happening all in the span of a few weeks. I was only accepted a couple of weeks ago. And the excitement is tempered by all sorts of silly worries that have flitted through my head. The "what if's" can be overpowering when so much is yet unclear.

I am jumping in with both feet though. Ready for the adventure that follows. I love this quote "Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: "I'm with you kid. Let's go." - Maya Angelou

Well, " I am with you kid. Let's go"

hello loves,

it has been a very long time since i wrote in this.

a lot has happened since i have been back; both good and bad. i am heading back to europe to do a 3 week camping trip. i'm both excited and nervous but i think it will be a great adventure. after that... well the next great move i hope to do is boston. im leaving mid-august and will be back the very beginning of sept. i will try to update when i am abroad. anyway just trying to warm up to this again.

hello loves,

i am in my final count down for this trip. i head home on sunday. much to the excitment of my family. as well as my self. i miss them and it will be nice to be home.

its strange. im back where i started but the people are different. even the scenery has changed. the days are shorter. i have changed. it is so bitter sweet to be leaving. i have come to feel like this is my home. but who knows what the future holds. it will be good to be home and i plan on coming back in a few months for the summer. contiki tour? i have also gotten it in my head that i want to be in an english speaking country and just hop on trains and see where i end up. explore and hop on another train. we shall see...

hey,

i know its been forever and a day since i posted but a quick update on my life...

the wednesday before christmas was my last day of work. hopped on a plane the next day to visit libby. met up with libs and explored paris. found rue christine, danced, saw the city at night, went to the louvre, the pompidou, and had a mini spa day in paris. 

met up with hil and katie and came to the land of the scots. left on a haggis christmas tour. saw glencoe, loch ness, spent the night in a haunted castle, met the locals, went to the isle of skye, inverness, and fort william. had tons of fun. and a lovely christmas.

came back to edinburgh for the new year. went to the torch light procession and saw amazing fireworks from 3 of the 7 hills around the city.  went to the christmas market and enjoyed my time. sadly hil and katie left shortly after.

came and chilled with ali for a few days. had lots of fun and then went to ireland. took a tour around for 6 days. met up again with one of the girls on the christmas tour who just randomly happened to be on my paddy wagon tour. went all over ireland. belfast and the freedom wall, derry, the cliffs of mohor, killarney, galway, cork, all over. it was amazing and i made a few good friends along the way. 

now im back in edinburgh. for a few weeks. we shall see what happens...

love to you all.

hello my loves. i know it has been a while.

first off i think i might become a vegetarian. cooking turkey is gross. you have to remove the neck from the body and clean out all the guts and such and there is so much blood. i made my flat mate clean out the turkey and stuff it. i can barely eat shrimp i should have known i would have had issues with cleaning a turkey. but it came out very good. i invited my flatmates, a few coworkers and a few american friends. we had tons of sides and desserts and it was wonderful. of course that was followed by dancing.

im loving my flat and my flatmates. we have wine and cheese parties and watch lots of girly tv and its a very chill enviornment. so far so good. enjoying being here a lot more. hanging out with friends. have a gym buddy. its good. taking a mental health day and catching up on life and the like. hmmm. i will update with adventures soon. promise!

loving and missing you always.

hello my loves!

greetings from across the pond.

so since my last update i have moved into my flat. have the nicest flat mates. we are all organizing a potluck thanksgiving. went to a concert last night with them and then we went out for some fun ont the town afterwards. its nice to live with locals and go where the locals go... before it was a bit touristy.

i have friends at work now. some people from my old office transfereed over which is awesome.

i should go moneys about to run out will continue the update soon

love you all.

nicole, my love, patience is a virtue.

but yes i did move into my flat and i am very flattered that you stalk my blog.

ok since i have been back from france i have been pretty busy. when i got back i was terribly homesick. but a wise and good friend pointed out that home will always be there and how often will i be in scotland...

and so since i have been back this is the short and tall of it.

the royal bank of scotland has ordered me a fourth banking card because the first one is doing a tour of england, the second was ordered wrong, and the third was not delivered because i have ordered 3 cards and that is "suspicious" alas i am waiting on my fourth bank card. fingers crossed it works out. i should be getting it this week.

the ireland plan is up in the air. i am not sure as of december 20th where in the world i will be until feb. come feb i will be either in ireland or heading home. in between i think i might do a tour of italy? we shall see...

christmas is slowly coming together. and i am excited and when you have all of europe to choose from .... well thats just crazy. new years is being spent in edinburgh. crazy. but i am excited. it should be really good. concerts and ceildhs. yay.

i moved into my flat on saturday. i have great flatmates and a really cute rooom. i am by tons of shops, a few bakeries, movie theaters, and a few parks. i feel like i am living in the village in new york. it is a duplex and im kinda in love with it. i also live with 6 other women.... but i think they are great girls.

hmmm. im not sure what else to say? moved into a hostel the day after i got back. that got smoothed out. im at the same job. my friend emma started working there so we explore the neighborhood during lunch and gossip about all the people we use to work with. its been good.

all in all i believe more and more that what i plan doesn't happen and so im not stressing but just open to the possibilities now. we will see where life takes me. im looking for some adventures...

ok so email me for my address cause im not gonna put that on here to send me packages and mail and send me your addresses for the same reasons!

missing and loving you all.

oh adventures...

alright, its been a while since i have updated. there is lots to update about.  before about a week ago i was ready to hop on a plane and head home 

spent the past week in france. started out taking the train into glasgow with val. my mom booked me a night at a hotel and it was so lovely to have a room to myself and watch lots of tv and just veg out.  my mom was so excited because the hotel was near the airport... turns out ryanair has there own airport.... 40 min outside of glasgow. at 12 after i checked out i went running for a cab to the train station to go on a 40 minute ride out to preswick. 

got to preswick and boarded the plane. boarded outside all quaint like. sat next to the world champion porridge maker. arrived in boveais (spelling?) and waited for parky.  neither of us realized how far away from paris we were going to be.  

the week led to some awesome times....

lots of french food, bought the cutest shoes, took a late night walk through paris and saw the rivers and cathedrals, spent time catching up with parky, saw amboise and where davinci lived and died, made a yummy home cooked meal, met some awesome assistants, had an awesome night dancing, and just in general some good times.

woke up really early today.  took the train to the train. got on the metro was so proud of being able to change trains and find my way around. then in french the conductor comes and says something about getting off the train. i go over and say "i dont speak french..." and i was told to go up and get the bus. so i was able to find the bus took some pictures of the arch. got on the bus, took the coach to the airport, found out my plane was delayed, finally boarded the plane, got to prestwick, took the train into glasgow and was told the train to edinburgh was on strike, got the bud to edinburgh and finally made it back to the hostel. to find out that the hostel screwed up my reservation so i called ali and val and came on over to crash here and watch the bridge to taribithia. saddest movie ever. 

and that is where i am at. move into the flat on saturday and you know taking each day as it comes.  

hey all,

i know its been a while since i updated in this. its still been a bit of a crazy time. work is kinda lame and my living situation leaves much to be desired. but i have about a week to go and then i am done. woohoo. and i am on the waiting list to change rooms as well as viewing 2 flats tonight. so i am making moves to change things. my fingers are crossed and hopefully it will go well.

the plus side of things...

* went to the ceilidh with jacqui friday. had an amazing time. was flung, swung, and twirled about. still have the bruises from it.

* climbed the crags with some people from the hostel to watch the sunset. an amazing view. i want to go back sometime soon. there is a great sense of belonging from up there. looking down on the city. being close to nature and something real. it was an awesome time.

* had an awesome time making a couple of videos. they are somewhere on youtube and facebook. i make a scary psychic but at the same time it was great fun.

* i am going to visit parky for a week of madness in france. im super excited. it is a much needed and long overdue visit.

* and i think im going to roadtrip to loch ness this weekend. got to get away and have some adventures.

thats all for now.

missing and loving you all.

for the love of nicole... an update.

hello all,

its been a little while since i have writen in here. life has been interensting so far. its been a very mainc week. lots of good moments and a few crazy ones as well.

im living in the hostel and i have some awesome friends there and a great roommate but there are a few characters that i swear could be classified as criminally insane. we all know i dont have luck when it comes to living with people and the current situation involves a guy that my roommate and i found sitting perched on a chair in the dark room with an eerie grin on his face. he then bounced out of the chair and started bouncing around the room focusing his attention on me. asking me if i was going to go for the pull. thinking he meant am i going to the pool (my roommate and i were just talking about how i joined a gym and was excited that there was a pool) i informed him no im not going to the pool at 9 at night. he meant pull. informing me that it means "score." Am i going to score tonight? i told him i was just concentrating on writing in my journal and that it was still to early to even go out. he proceeded to tell me that it was ok if i wanted to. he wouldnt look and that i do have needs. when he travels he likes to experience as much as he can. when he is in italy he likes to sleep with an italian, germany a german, etc. im still not sure if he was hitting on me in a most awkward fashion or if he wanted to bring someone back and was like "hey its ok for you. it should be ok for me..." all i know is that i am officially sketched out. so i am looking for a flat cause i am tired of living out of my suitcase and with crazy people... its not going so well.

i work for the counsel again. i think i am going to quit in a few weeks. time for something new. i do accounts and data entry. not too exciting. but ok.

in exciting news the weekend was fun. went out with some friends to the pubs and danced. climbed the crags by arthurs seat. and went to the museum this morning. had a large chinese buffet lunch that nicole and nili would be proud of. and booked my ticket to visit park. I AM SO EXCITED. i think i did a little dance today when i was telling my friends about it. gonna spend a few days in tour and then maybe a little trip to budapest or amsterdam. we will see its an adventure.a place where you go for a weekend or so. we will see its an adventure. like my mom said "france is calling...."


but i love and miss you all.

alright lets see...

it has been a good weekend. decided to take advantage of the gym and swam and played around on the equipment a bit. enjoyed the relaxing dont think about anything but swimming thing. i think im part mermaid. sunday was really awesome. decided while the weather was nice and before it got to cold to go to the botanical gardens. a friend from the hostel, jacquie came along. got a bit of an education in australia which is where she is from and have decided that it is on my list of places to go.

ok sorry about the tangent. so the botanical gardens are beautiful and so peaceful. we watched some squirrels playing around. smelled the roses. saw a little of the leaves change. they had a beautiful chinese garden. it felt like we were out of the city and out in some more rural place. im kinda missing the fall weather though. i think by the time thanksgiving comes around im gonna be craving multicolored leaves and pumplin pie. well we shall see...

we also met up with some friends at a pub to hear some traditional scottish folk music. it was like something you would see on tv. there were tons of men in kilts(representing scotland in the rugby game that day) drinking beer and singing traditional scottish folk songs. banging the tables and trying to teach us the words. singing at the top of their lungs. they also sang some american folk songs from the 60's and a bit of country. it had me cracking up to hear these thick scottish accents singing "take me home. to west virginia. the place where i belong" but the high light was when the folk singer started playing havah nagelia havah and everyone was singing that throwing in an OY! i love the scots.

nils im gonna claim that as my little bit of yum kippor celebration.

today was my 2nd day of work. so far so good. tomorrow looks to be busier and a bit more intense but im ready. walked home today and found so many cute cafes and pubs. as well as a polish market and an asian one. now i can get my fill of perogi as well as ginger veggies. YUM!

hmmm that might be all for now. missing and loving all of you.

3rd times the charm

i dont know if i mentioned this in my last post but i have decided to treat this trip as a seperate entity than the one in july. yes, i am still on the same visa but this is my third time in scotland and this time things are going swimmingly. not to jinx myself.

i moved into the long term hostel yesterday. i was put in a room with 6 people but decided that wasnt for me and moved to a room for 4. this room is at the on the top floor which is really nice since that is quieter. it is clean. i have a bottom bunk. the room is homey with shelves, chairs, tabels, etc. and it is fairly large.

i have a job with the city counsel. a different branch this time. it is located in the city center and im looking forward to that. i have taken the walking tour of edinburgh which was amazing. it was led by an american by he had pretty eyes and was very charasmatic so you could excuse him from not having a scottish accent. taking lots of pictures which i will put up as soon as i can.

spent last night catching up with some old friends from the hostel as well as getting to know some new ones. went dancing. went to the oz bar. went to an irish pub that is more honkey tonk than irish. spent the whole night up with some friends and then when the sun was rising decided the only thing to do was get breakfast. clearly. came back to the hostel and crashed for a few hours. realized i had a free pass to a health club and spent the past few hours in the pool and hot tub. i feel gloriously good right now.

i truly think everything happens for a reason. in the mean time i hope you all are having fabulous adventures.

and im back. i flew out of newark airport at around 10:30 sunday night. had a lovely seat next to the window in the front of the plane cause as luck would have it there was only a handful of people flying to edinburgh. even had the middle seat empty. flying in was a breeze. my ears were killing me on the flight home and thanks to a little pill called benedryl i was fine.

i have spent the past 2 nights at a different hostel than last time. i am moving into that hostel tomorrow and so far its good to be back. i had an interview today and a potential job offer. im just waiting to hear the details. i have been to the international market and im planning on going on a walking tour of the city in a few days. other than that not much is new.

cheers!

so i am lying in bed watching tv. just got back from the doctor and have been put on strict orders to stay in bed and veg out. not quite how i thought things would turn out but im rolling with it. its nice to be back in the states. im looking forward to some dinner dates and a little shopping before i go back and when i go back... well the adventures will follow.

i had one little adventure the weekendbefore i got sick. my roommate from the hostel and i decided to take the tattoo tour. despite the fact that i was starting to feel sick it was amazing. we met at about 8 in the morning and 18 of us boarded a haggis bus. haggis is a tour company not an actual type of bus. we had an amazing tour guide. and we started out heading north into sterling and learned the real legend of william wallace and on to doune castle. doune castle is a 13th century castle used in the movie monty python and the holy grail. it really was an amazing sight. it was once used as a hunting lodge for the stewarts i believe. after that we continued on to callander (i have to update about the highland games at some point) to meet hamish. hamish is a highland cow. he was the cutest thing. all fuzzy and very tame. when we were in callander for the highland games we had gone for a walk and passed some highland cows and they are very nasty animals. hamish was very sweet and you could buy hamish snacks. we then went to the village killan and the falls of dochart. the falls arent anything like niagra but they are really beautiful an we bought lunch and ate it on the rocks of the falls. we then went to loch tay which is one of the largest lochs and sat out by the water. watched some ducklings and their mother swim around. we then went to scotlands oldest wiskey distillery for a wee dram. glenturrett has been making wiskey since the 1700's and is one of the 50 wiskeys that is contributed to the famous grousse. which i tasted and burns like fire. im not a fan but i do now how it is made. we then took a drive through the highlands and saw the feilds covered in heather and back to edinburgh aka auld rekkie.

we then had a few hours before the show and i took a little rest before we went. the show was amazing. they started with a fan fare and tons of men in kilts came out playing drums and bagpipes. they had drums and fifes from the states. drumers from trinidad. motorcycle riders some as young as 6. a girls band from thailand and highland dancers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the queen to the prince. at the end there was fire works and we all sang auld lang sine and helf hands. it really was a great show. and that is where the night ends. a great day even if it followed with my first trip to the hospital. but its all an adventure...