The Ben

As of today, I have been here for exactly one month!  What better way to celebrate than by hiking up the tallest mountain in the UK??

(Now before I start showing you pictures, I'll admit that they are not all mine. I'm giving credit to some fellow mountaineers and their expensive cameras that captured the mountain in all its beauty... thank goodness for facebook eh?)

So.. 23 other mountaineering club members and I hit the road at 5:30 on Saturday morning to start the full day climb: Ben Nevis, here we come.

The sunrise was beautiful to see for those of us who managed to stay awake for the ride (I was not one of these people unfortunately, so this is what I missed ^)

... but when we got there, I was all smiles and totally pumped to get started.

The beginning and the very end were probably the most painful stretches - it was like going up stairs for about 2 hours straight >

View of Glen Coe - one of my favourite pictures.

It was hard to look at the view while we were hiking, so every once and a while when we stopped, it was cool to see that we were making progress - despite what our legs were telling us.

My favourite line from the day (as we were all taking pictures of the view above): "I feel like I'm looking at a screen saver!" So true.

We had a snack break at a random Loch 3/4 of the way up.  It was warm enough to take off a few layers and break out the sunglasses - take that Scotland!

For the last 2 hours to the top, we traded in the steps for loose rock - a little easier on the knees.

About 4 and a half hours after getting out of the van... WE MADE IT!

Between everyone in our group, we represented 10 countries! This made for endless conversations on the way up to pass the time.  Here are a bunch of us... looking very satisfied.

So what is at the top you ask??

An old observatory and a whole bunch of rock formations:

(v Another one of my favs)

... because when you climb 1344 meters up a mountain and all there is is rock on the top... you pile it up.

An incredible view to look at while eating lunch... not a cloud in the sky! I still can't believe how lucky we were with the weather.  Apparently, on average Ben Nevis has 20 or so days a year when it has a clear view at the top. I think we saw the best one :)

And now we begin the hike back down...

A few new friends from Belgium and Switzerland - thanks for the company guys!

Sheep!

We didn't take as many breaks on the way down and it seriously felt like my toes were going to fall off. Every time I stopped my legs would start shaking - the key is to just keep going.

After an 8 hour climb, we were all ready for a warm meal and a few drinks. On the way home a few Scottish guys in the van taught us a bunch of new words that I need to start incorporating into my vocabulary. Maybe I'll do another post with all of them. I got back to my res at around midnight and I have never been so happy to see my bed.  And 2 days after... my calves are definitely feeling it. I'm going to be a tank by the time I leave this place.

It was an epic climb and with great company - I'm honestly speechless and so thankful for such a great day, I love this place :)    

Cheers Ben Nevis!

Another weekend - another adventure.

This time: Edinburgh bound.

After I finished my photo-shoot with the telephone booth, our first stop was the castle.. naturally.

The iddy-biddy chapel that was very cute and cozy inside.  ^

Re-visiting the lion I sat on when I was 9...  He's smiling because he missed me :)

Some guy dressed up as William Wallace... Later on, as we were poking in and out of shops, I saw a postcard with him on it - he's famous!

omg. Endless kilt possibilities. 

Interesting design for the Scottish Parliament - apparently it has won awards for its architecture.

A little Ceilidh dancing to warm up for the hike to the top. And here we go...

Ironically sitting at the very top of Arthur's Seat - I didn't want to leave.

^ The Queen's crash pad when she visits: Palace of Holyroodhouse. Even the light posts are royal! 

Why not finish the day off with a hot plate of haggis, neeps and tatties!?  Boo yah.

On our Sunday morning walking tour - because we're that hardcore.  We stopped at the grave of Greyfriars Bobby.

Dad, this one's for you - guess who's buried under car space #23 in the parking lot of St. Giles' Cathedral... kinda weird that they couldn't give up that spot to have a little head stone or SOMETHING - he's only considered the founder of the Presbyterian's in Scotland... no biggy.

The rest of this post is for Harry Potter fans only...

 +  =

The 'Original Hogwarts' private school  +  Edinburgh Castle  =  Hogwarts!

And there you have it.  Are you seeing the connections??  This is where J.K. Rowling got her inspiration for the books. 

  

^ This is the most expensive private school in Scotland (possibly even the UK) and J.K. Rowling's kids even go here.  Who wouldn't want to send their kids to the original Hogwarts?

The cemetery J.K. Rowling used for inspiration when she was stuck on what a character's name should be - Tom Riddle's name is even here, crazyyyy.

And just around the corner - we had lunch at the cafe where she sat and wrote the books themselves (a good chunk of the first one at least.  I'm sure once the word got out and the sign went up, she peaced out of there pretty quickly)

 Elephant love all around <3


My body is sore from carrying my backpack around for 2 days, climbing Arthur's seat, and sleeping on a wonderful wire-y mattress at the hostel.  But, like the Ceilidh night, I take this as a sign of a good weekend and I'm looking forward to more days of sore muscles to come! 

Thanks so much for the awesome weekend guys! Cheers.

Hop-ity Hop

I got the chance to go to a Ceilidh (pronounced like the name Kaileigh) and it was one of the best nights I've had since I've been here.  A Ceilidh is a Scottish dance that involves a lot of hopping and clapping - youtube it and you will see the awesomeness.  My calves still hurt when I go up stairs...

A few drinks in preparation for what was to come...

Another Canadian friend and I made an awesome team for the night!

Yay Kilts! (The picture you've all been waiting for)

 For some dances we were constantly switching partners so it was fun dancing with these guys - they were the only ones who knew what they were doing.

All of us listening to the instructions and being very confused at the beginning - this is how every dance started, but we got the hang of it eventually.

No, I am not one of the people in this picture - thank goodness! 

For this dance, they didn't tell us what we'd be getting into, otherwise I don't think as many people would have volunteered. At this point, two guys on either side picked up the girls and spun them around until they were almost horizontal in the air... All I can say is there was a lot of laughing, videotaping, and falling.

These guys were so great! The man in the red kilt did all the explaining and demonstrating of the dances.  He used the words "Hop-ity Hop" a lot and had a wonderful accent.  They were so friendly and funny and made it a good night.  More Ceilidh nights to come for sure.

And I will leave you with a few random pictures of campus:

One of my lecture theatres and the super cool 'study pods' in the Library - equipped with rotating tables and touch screen computers! I've been wanting to take a picture of them for a few weeks now but there are always people sitting in them. So I waited until this random guy was behind the computer screen just enough so he couldn't see me.  

People must be able to recognize the exchange students from miles away because we are always taking pictures of random things. I don't think I have any pictures of my campus back home, but I'm pretty sure I've photographed every inch of this place now, which is kind of ridiculous.  I mean, what kind of person takes a picture of the lecture hall... too cool.

Anyway, Have a wonderful weekend, 

Cheers!