Yesterday a few flatmates, fellow exchangies and I ventured up to the National Wallace Monument; it was spectacular!
On our way to conquer the monument...
In the gift shope: INSAKILT! "From a beach towel to a kilt in an instant"
I think this is an amazing idea.
Stirling Castle
The man himself... and his sword. The sword is 5 feet 6 inches in total and weighs 6 lbs. How does one carry this huge thing while running around in battle is what I want to know.
Ok, this one is especially for you mom, because I know how much you liked it.
This is the strangest and creepiest thing... it's a statue of a man with a white face and then they project a video of a moving face onto it so that it looks like it's talking. It is supposed to be Wallace at his trial before his execution.
Some of the amazing things that Scots take credit for.
A great view of the 'uni' and the hills close by. I find it amazing that the farmland goes up all the way to the base of these huge hills; all of a sudden they appear out of nowhere.
Also, all the little white dots at the bottom are sheep! On my list of things to do before I leave is to pet a sheep.
The crown of the monument that wasn't put on until a few years after the rest of it was built.
As would be expected... they ran out of money.
I took a video of me walking down these stairs but I can't seem to upload it here - which is maybe a good thing because it made me dizzy while watching it. Anyway, 246 steps in total - a good cardio workout.
Look who we met as we were about to leave: William Wallace himself!
In other news... I still have yet to make any scottish friends. I know, shocking! All the orientation events that have been coordinated are geared towards the international students, so naturally, those are the only people that go to them. When classes pick up a bit and once I start playing sports I'm sure I'll meet more poeple. I'll keep you posted :)
Off to bed, cheers!
That William Wallace was a tough one, that's for sure, and I doubt whether the real one looked as tidy as the Wallace wanabe that you met up with on the grounds. Being faceless like the "talking head" would have really freaked out the enemy!! We're glad that you started off your first week with visits to such important (and conveniently closeby) historic sites. Seeing your photos brings back such happy memories of our fun fam. holiday!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, you'll get a chance to pet (and who knows, maybe even shear) a sheep.
Keep your blog posts coming!
Love ya, Mom
Neat expedition! Pleeeaasee tell me you got one of those kilt towels! I'd totally wear it to Sarah's Scots club meetings.
ReplyDeleteLove the landscapes, so pretty and green! The red Canadian Olympic mits just add that little bit of contrasts ;)
Hope you're sleeping well! (Is that creepy to write while you're still actually sleeping?) Enjoy your second Monday in SCOTLAND!
LOVE the kilt towel! Clem, you need to wear it to clubs days next year. Im not sure if that would attract new members or just scare them away? :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Im glad my olympic mitts came in handy. It did look frigid on top of that monument.
“Flatmates”??? *Sigh* You’ve already changed :P
ReplyDeleteThe kilt made me howl. MAN, I wish I could visit you! That’s a crazy sword. My Hallowe’en costume, by the way, was a leopard-print skirt, bikini top, Janet’s (Sarah’s best friend) fanny pouch and Alison’s self-made sword. I went as the girl who made her costume last-minute, yet again.
Faceless Wallace is creepy.
Canada still wins for inventions. We have the zipper :)
PLEASE take some pictures with sheep. I’m behind on your blog (obviously … how do I do a ‘shame smiley’?), so maybe you already have..?