Day 38 to 40 - "Home"ward bound!

The last couple days became a long decrescendo as Heather and I made the most of our remaining time in Edinburgh.

Because I've been so busy, I've combined all my major points into one post, so here we go!

Day 37 - Epic times in the Highlands

There is beauty in every crack and crevice in this mystical country. Taking a 12-hour coach tour around the Scottish Highlands was completely worth every pound.

The trip included breathtaking views of the misty vistas carved from ancient glacial paths and gorgeous lakes that stretched further down deep river basins. 

Of course, the main highlight was a 1-hour ferry cruise around Loch Ness!

Pictures just don't seem to do it justice when I look back at my photos, but they are going to be wonderful stories to tell when I return stateside!

There were so many castles along the trip! One of them I took a picture of right on Loch Ness, Urqhart Castle. 

Some castles were abandoned and left for ruin. Others are still maintained with a lot of funding. We even passed by many sites of famous battles, like William Wallace (Braveheart, anyone?). Also, a lot more history on some famous royals, like the ill-fated Mary, Queen of Scots. 

This whole day has been a wonderful opportunity to see this country away from the bustling city. I always love seeing rolling hills and towering mountains, much like home. 

If only I could take Nessie home with me!

Day 36 - The rains of Edinburgh

At the risk of admitting that I still have not seen an episode of "Game of Thrones", the title best describes the day's events. 

Weather in Edinburgh is quite like a lot of other cities this side of the hemisphere. So, with the rain pouring down all day, Heather and I made the right choice to spend most of it indoors.

After a late morning start, we ate breakfast and visited the National Museum of Scotland and saw A LOT of things only on one floor. It's such a gorgeous place and the exhibits were amazing!

Later on, we stumbled across The Elephant House cafe, which is famous for being the place where JK Rowling wrote the "Harry Potter" books. 

Also, at the delicious cost of some coffee!

With the rain still at it, we braved the "storm" to get into Edinburgh castle. I didn't take pictures because of the amount of wind and rain, but the place is incredible! It's a beautifully old castle that sits atop an old hill with an awesome view of the rest of the city below. 

We got to see 3 exhibits: two on the Scottish regiments and war histories, and the Scottish Crown Jewels. 

Later, we met up with a friend from the program and had dinner. Now, we're relaxing and preparing for tomorrow's next big excursion: the Highlands tour!

That's all for now! I'll leave with a picture of one of the souvenirs I bought today that I proudly own. 

Day 35 - A warm Scottish welcom!

Our trip to Edinburgh made Dublin feel like a distant memory upon seeing the large rolling green hills near the city. 

I believe the bus rides we have taken are quite efficient to get a feel for a city and also a lot cheaper! To be able to go back to pounds after a couple days felt nice, although even the Scottish notes look a little different.

This city is gorgeous, I tell you! I love the idea of rolling hills with old cathedrals that line the streets.

Heather and I are settled in nicely at our hotel. We'll be ready to take on the sights  tomorrow and make more memories. 

Day 34 - Where the streets have no name

(Oh, that red-head is Heather!)

Dublin is surprisingly easy to navigate when you really look at your surroundings. 

There are multiple cafes cleverly named "Insomnia" along the bustling sidewalks of tourist sites and the winding little river that is central to the city's geography (though not quite as massive as the Thames in London). 

Dublin. A city that loves to puff its chest and downs a Guiness after a long day. 

And it certainly was long for us! We got to see several sites, like the National Gallery, the National Library (saw two exhibits, one on Yeates), Dublin Castle, Dubh Linn garden, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch cathedral, and a bridge with a unique structure akin to a harp. 

I won't forget this rugged little city. I'd say it's euros well spent!

Day 33 - It always(?) sunny in Dublin

Do people think of wild things to do while in Dublin? Maybe it's the simpler things that makes a difference in the course of the day. When Heather and I woke up this morning, our plan was to go at a steady pace. 

A lot can be done by a good long walk!

We walked all the way from our hotel to see Trinity College and The Book of Kells, which were both beautiful a find. We even spent time at the National Museum on Archaeology, which also had some amazing displays on history.

But because it was Sunday we could only see so much that was open long enough. We eventually found a small grocery market near our hotel to pick up some food. 

Also, there happened to be a big football match nearby that ended, so crowds of people swarmed the sidewalks to leave while we walked!

All in all, it was a nice, surprisingly sunny day that gave us a fun perspective on the Irish city. :)

Day 32 - Cheers from Dublin

The picture you see is the view from my hotel room. Yep, I made it to Dublin!

And what a trip it's been to get here. 

I couldn't sleep very well, but managed to get up around 6am to head to Euston station. After meeting up with my friend, Heather, we were on our way to the train. 

We can honestly say we saw Wales, but it went by the time I woke from my nap. The views were beautiful, though! Hopefully I get a chance to visit Cardiff someday. 

The ride was long, but we got on the ferry to get to Dublin port. Wow, that was one fancy ferry ride. It had a lot of things I would expect on a cruise ship, like a cinema and a whole restaurant. 

Getting to our hotel was interesting. We got a taste of the city by public transport and familarized ourselves with the €. Thankfully, the bus drivers we encountered were helpful enough to point us to the right direction!

Now we're settled and comfy in the hotel. Lots to see tomorrow in the city!

As the locals say, "Cheers!"