velkommen omboard

velkommen omboard

Norweigan Fjords

Copenhagen is absolutely gorgeous.  Although I could just be saying that because right now it is almost 70 degrees and sunny out.  Ridiculous.  But I actually have a computer for once, so maybe I can do a more official blog post.  So, when we last left, we were still in Flåm where we had an adorable room in the most beautiful hostel in existence.  It was set in the valley of the fjords, had keys without keys, just little pieces of plastic that you pushed up next to the keyhole thing, a wonderful kitchen, and our own bathroom (that we shared with two women from Singapore).  Now, these women we lived with were a treat.  Especially one of them, who I now realized we never asked the name of, would not stop talking almost the entire two days.  She even asked to borrow Logan's hairdryer and then proceeded to blow out the circuit.  Yikes.  Anyways, she was so interested in absolutely everything we did--they tried to go on the same hike as we did but OMG would you believe it? there was a dog barking so they had to turn back (I heard this story three times) and they were also very interested into why we were traveling, do a lot of americans travel? they see a lot of americans traveling, you're norweigan? Why on earth would your ancestors have left? Norway is so rich?  Did they follow their husbands over?  Things like that.  VERY amusing, though less so when I am trying to subtly get into bed as she is still talking to me...

Anyways, our only full day in Flåm was spent on the fjords, to Gudvangen and back on a boat.  It was lovely and gorgeous.  Except for the part when a bunch of Asian tourists started throwing bread up into the air so the seagulls would swoop in and eat it all.  It made one very nervous that they were going to be pooped on... But then Gudvanger was great. We did a sundance, played egyptian rats (which is a game like war that usually goes on forever... only I won THREE TIMES in ten minutes... winner), walked around the little viking town they had set up, and explored the town (although it was quite small...). Then we headed back and spent some more quality time in the hostel, as the night life in Flåm is, predictably, non existent.  So instead we watched the series finale of Smallville before going to bed.  Good times.  

So then we woke up early to catch the first train out of Flåm, so we could make an early train to Oslo, so we could catch the ferry to Copenhagen.  Now, one: I cannot believe this all worked out, and two: they use the word ferry here very lightly.  Logan and I were on a hard core CRUISE SHIP.  I kid you not.  It was fabulous.  We sat by a cafe and shared a weinerbrod (I don't make these things up) and a lemon and ginger smootea.  It was delicious, and helped with the seasickness, in the beginning at least.  We also realized that being on this nice cruise ship meant that we would not be eating very much... so we purchased a bottle of champagne for ten dollars and then had some appetizers instead.  And even though we were so excited to be able to be on this boat, we were close to getting sick, as it was rockin like mick jagger.  SO HARD CORE.  So we called it an early night and went back to our bunks to stop our own heads from spinning.  Admittedly the champagne might not have been the best idea...  

But then yesterday morning, we arrived in Copenhagen.  It was partly sunny, which is so much more sun than we had been experiencing in Norway.  So, first we walked to try and find the train station, an endeavor which failed when we discovered we had no Danish money, and then decided, well, what the hell, let's just walk.  So, we walked about two miles with our packs on, and somehow (it's still unclear as to how exactly this happened), found our hostel.  But, we couldn't check in until two thirty, and it was only about eleven, so we immediately headed out again to find The Little Mermaid Statue, the King's Gardens and the castle there, and everything in between.  I think we walked about ten miles yesterday.  Needless to say, we were both very ready to get back to the hostel and cook up some pasta and pesto and mozzarella and peppers... only we realized after grocery shopping and getting all excited that the hostel doesn't have a kitchen.  RUDE.  So, instead, we just cut up the pepper and mozzarella, put one on top of the other, and then smeared pesto on top.  It was a good alternative.  Plus, we had strawberries and juice, so all was well.  Then Logan went to bed and I stayed up talking to a frenchman.  Good night.  So, today we are headed to exchange money, reserve our tickets for Germany, and go to Tivoli Garden) and then... go out for dinner for the first time in forever.  Don't worry--we'll find somewhere cheap.  

Love from Copenhagen,

LPRO and LMRO

our home in flåm

That rhymes, just so you know. Å sounds like o in the tongue of the Norweige. We are just learning so many things, Logan and I, about Norway and the lovely people who call themselves norweigan. For example, the people driving cars are all so polite! Not once have we had to wait to cross the street-they always wait for us. Patiently too! It seems standard that everyone speak English; which is good for us, but also reminds me how lucky we are and how stupid America really is (and I mean this in the nicest way possible). But in America, we are not required to learn another language, so everyone goes around demanding that anyone in our country must speak English. I mean, we don't all go around saying it, but there are no signs written in multiple languages after you leave the airport, and not always even then. Anyways, it has been nice being able to talk to almost anyone we want to--we're living with two other women from Singapore for the next few days, and they both speak perfect English. Although somehow they could tell that Logan was older... The mother just pointed to her and said, "eldest?" and I thought grr... Though why that still annoys me I have no idea.

So, then, the last few days: our second day in Bergen was nice, but not entirely eventful. It was still raining catsicles and dogsicles, so we just went into town to see the art museum, and then headed back up to the hostel for a well deserved night of relaxation. Which we deserved because the day before we had gone to the fish markets (where we had a lovely lunch of salmon and haddocked, of the smoked variety-also I'm still typing on my iPod and sometimes my words get jumbled, as in that lovely last fragment- gamle Bergen, or old Bergen, bey ten (the row of old houses that are different colors and really awesome), and we rode the funicular (funicular? I don't know). So, we had an extremely full day that ended with pasta and some dr. Who. It was a grat day. So then today started early, as we caught the 8:40 train to Myrdal, and the the 9:00 flam Ana train to flam. Hand hokey mackerel, is it gorgeous. Yes, Bergen and Oslo are pretty too, but lord almighty (fjord almighty?), this place is breathtaking. As we rode in, the train stopped for a moment at this gorgeous waterfall, where everyone was able to get out and take pictures, and the was a siren singing a song. Quite literally, there was a women who was dancing to some really loud spiritual music right on top of the waterfall. Then she would duck down, and somehow ?the fjord only knows) would appear at a different place. Wowzers! And yes, I am aware that there were two of them.
Then we got to our hostel, and I have to say, it is absolutely gorgeous and I know it costs an arm and a leg but oh my fyordy it is worth every penny. We have keyless keys- a piece of plastic that you stick to the door and the it opens! What's going on with that? Awesomeness, that's what. So, after we got settled in, we walked over to get a hot dog, then sat down by the port for a while (IN THE SUN!)and played some cards (with the "good" Harry potter deck, and just enjoyed the scenery. Then, oh just you wait mother, you'll be thrilled, we went for a hike.

Now, I can do hikes. I willingly follow when we go up to glacier lake or morrell falls in Montana. But this hike- this was a hike like turquoise lake. The hike that we always refuse to do because it is straight up. We went up and up and up and up and omg I was out of breath. BUT, it was way worth it, because the view was absolutely astounding. And then, of course, I fell and am now covered in mud. But it was still beautiful, and we got to see a man straddling some sheep- I think he was giving them medicine or something, as he was leaping after them like a maniac. Quite amusing. Anyways, that is all for now (my god I'm going to be so good at texting when I get back, this is quite epic). Norweigan kisses!
-LPRO and LMRO

there's no such thing as bad weather, only innapropriate clothing

And my goodness, do I have innapropriate clothing. I mean, I purposely went out and bought shirts with no cleavage, skirts long enough to sit cross-legged, and shoes that are comfortable to walk in and fit easily in a suitcase. However, I did not think to bring a winter coat, which is what I am missing most of all... Along with my underarmour pants. I have to say, I didn't want to listen to my mother, as I really didn't think that it would rain on our trip. I mean, come on. This is my trip of a lifetime, so who would have guessed that rain would literally be blowing in our faces as we walked to our hostel today? Well, apart from my mother I mean. Okay, so probably everyone else could have guessed this would happen too... I wish I brought warmer clothes! But alas, life goes on. So, today we took the train from Oslo to Bergen, and omg, it was one of the most gorgeous rides I've ever had on a train. I closed my eyes for just a hot second, and when I opened them, we had been transported to Svalbard. I half expected to see iorek byrnession come running around the corner (he didn't). But we were on the train for around seven hours, so inwas able to stare out the window a LOT- that is when I wasn't watching dr. Who or reading the girl with the dragon tattoo. After, where is a better place to read that book than Scandinavia? So Logan and I made it to bergen with very little stress, and we have discovered that absolutely everyone in Norway speaks English (though that doesn't stop me from sounding like an idiot every time I start to talk to someone, just to make sure they speak my language). Of course, it doesn't help that I can pronounce any of the Norweigan words we see. Also, I know I've said it before, but this country is ridiculously expensive. For example, the bus ride from the city center to the hostel was 25 kroner each- roughly five bucks a piece. Public transportation. And today, I saw a five dollar candy bar. What is happening? Ps- we didn't buy the candy bar, even hough it was a bounty, and I love bounty. Any ways, that's it for now, I can no longer see what I'm typing. Love from Norway!

same same but different

I don't know what to say.  I don't know how I can possibly be expected to wrap up four months of laughing and learning and loving Linley.  And WHOA that was some awesome alliteration right there.  These past few days have just been great--I mean, apart from the fact that I had to pretend to study for finals.  (Just kidding, I really did study...)  Yesterday we had a great night with everyone in the program we had always wanted to be friends with, but never made the trek to see.  I have to say, we should have done that so much more often.  But anyways, then tonight, we spent a significant amount of time packing (Martha and I always pack/clean while watching one of the Harry Potters--we watched six out of seven, so...) We also had high tea at a hotel, in which one of the boys in our program debuted his ASE promotional video that he worked on all semester (it was very amusing and I will post the youtube link as soon as it is available) and we saw a slideshow that Martha and I seemed to be starring in.  As in, there were pictures of Martha in a jail cell, me on a zebra, and then Martha and Elizabeth and I looking shady in some hats... rough.  But also, very amusing.  Then, we did some more packing before heading out to Sam Wellers, which, if you recall, was the first restaurant we stumbled into in Bath.  There, we wrote the Linley letter to the future girls (it nearly made me cry) and had a cider and black, for old times' sake.  And by old times, I mean yesterday.

Lovely Linley, enjoying a last drink at Sam Weller's

Then, for dinner, we headed to a restaurant called Same Same but Different.  I kid you not.  I could not imagine a more symbolic place to go for dinner on our last night together.  Because, in many ways, I am the same same, but in others, I am completely different.  Bath has helped me to become so much more independent and organized.  It has taught me how to deal with many different types of people, how to be more open minded towards events and everybody around me, and, of course, all about Jane Austen, children's literature, and Shakespeare.  It has, without a doubt, changed me.

BUT.

I still am having a love affair with Harry Potter, and I just downloaded the series finale of Smallville for my ipod.  Same same.

So now I am starting the second half of my adventure, the half that involved Logan, and an endless search for a bed and new sights and warm weather (something I'm sure we won't be seeing for the next two weeks...).  I can't wait for her to get here so we can get started, but at the same time, I'm terrified.  But it's that good kind of scared that keeps me on my toes, not the kind that makes me want to run home forever.  Though, I wouldn't mind running home for just one day...

There are sometimes words or phrases I see that I immediately know will make it in my blog.  Same Same but Different was one of these things--here is another.  I will just have to pretend I have just spent the night in the wonderful place called River Forest (though Bath has also become my home). 

"The weary Mole also was glad to turn in without delay, and soon had his head on his pillow, in great joy and contentment.  But ere he closed his eyes he let them wander round his old room, mellow in the glow of the firelight that played or rested on familiar and friendly things which had long been unconciously a part of him, and now smilingly received him back, without rancour.  He was now in just the frame of mind that the tactful Rat had quietly worked about to bring in him.  He saw clearly how plain and simple--how narrow even--it all was; but clearly too, how much it all meant to him, and the special value of some such anchorage in one's existence.  He did not at all want to abandon the new life and its splendid spaces, to turn his back on sun an air and all they offered him and creep home and stay there; the upper world was all too strong, it called to him still, even down there, and he knew he must return to the larger stage.  But it was good to think he had this to come back to, this place which was all his own, these things which were so glad to see him again and could always be counted upon for the same simple welcome."

-The Wind in the Willows

However, I don't think that my home is so much plain and narrow.  Simple, maybe, but also beautiful and lovely and warm.  But never plain. 

Last Love from Linley,
LPRO

may fifteenth

Well, it is 22 minutes past my birthday (in the UK though, so I still have about 5 and a half hours of birthday time left in the states).  It was a great birthday weekend, filled with London, great food--like CHIPOTLE--the Little Theater (and one of my littles to boot), shisha, and, of course, champagne.  Although I have to say, there was an absurdly little amount of champagne consumed today, as we, for some reason unbeknownst to me, have finals starting tomorrow.  Here are my problems with this:
1.  I do not believe in english finals.  It is like turning in the first draft of an essay.  Rude.
2.  I do not want to be studying.  I want to be drinking and celebrating a) my birthday and b) the fact that we only have a week left (I mean not celebrating, but living it up)
3.  I am abroad.
4.  It's birthday weekend.
5.  They don't effect my overall gpa... what's the point?
6.  I'm not studying.

There you have it.  The problems with finals abroad.  Anyways, I'm sure you are all just dying to know how different I feel now that I'm 21.  Do I feel older? Indeed.  Is this because I'm now 21? Indeed not.  Sadly, I did not experience some magical moment induced by copious amounts of alcohol (or the birthday gods).  That "growing up" thing happened over the course of the semester, over bus rides to Spain, one hundred pages of writing, touring by myself, over nightclubs, hiding in cupboards, over journeys in England and Scotland, Whiskey and Beer tours, and over arguments about Jane Austen, Philip Pullman, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkein. 

Anyways, I have to try and not be nostalgic, otherwise I'll never get through these finals... So Friday, I woke up at the crack of dawn--seven--so that I could hitch a free ride into London with the ASE crew.  This was a brilliant decision, on my part, I must say, as the bus ride was highly enjoyable.  Probably my favorite line was, "I once woke up in the back of a limo," spoken by one of the boys in our program who I would never have expected that sentence to come from.  But we finally reached London, after waiting for the French people, who were also hitching a ride with us, to get back to the bus after a rest stop.  I then split off from the group and found a secondhand book sale.  So, naturally, I purchased Harry Potter number four (a first edition British copy, mother, can you imagine?).  This has become a new hobby of mine, collecting old Harry Potters from around the UK.  Although I have to say, this one might not have been my best decision, as I then had to carry it around all of London.

My view

Regardless, I had a lovely next few hours, as I just sat in the park in front of the eye, feeling the tube rumble underneath me and reading The Two Towers.  Oh, and getting a sunglasses sunburn.  I then left to catch the tube to the Museum of London, where I met my little Katie and Colleen!  It was great to see Katie, and we had a lovely time shopping in Topshop and H&M (though I thankfully refrained from buying anything).  I got to see her flat too--it was so nice!  Their kitchen must be four times the size of ours, at least.  But anyways, I then left her to go back and find our hotel (yes hotel--it was so nice), where we checked in and then had a rest for a bit. Then we headed back out in search of Chipotle (which we found and OMG was it delicious--they used red, yellow, and green peppers in their fajita mix) and shisha.  The shisha place was interesting, as the man kept on trying to get us to buy so many things, and then insisted that "shisa for four" meant four hookahs.  Struggles.  But it was fun anyways.  Then we went back to Katie's flat and talked for a while, before catching the last tube back to our hotel.

CHIPOTLE

LITTLE!

The next day was more interesting--we went to Trafalgar Square and then to a great restaurant called apostrophe where we met Katie and I had a goat cheese, rocket, and pepper sandwich (GOOD GOD THIS WAS DELICIOUS).  Then, we made our way back to Paddington to go back to Bath.  Here's the thing though--they do lots of construction on the tube on the weekends.  As in, we spent four times the amount of time on the tube as we should have.  (We did have a horrible tube ride the night before in which Elizabeth sat on a man twice and Martha stepped on a girl's foot twice as well, and the girl was clearly in pain.  The man just looked confused.  It was very awkward.)  But we finally did make it to Bath, and then we had to run to get to The Little Theater to see Water for Elephants; it was very good and I would highly recommend it.  Also, there was a random tourist commercial for Chicago before the movie started.  LOVE IT.  So then we went out to Second Bridge after the movie, and were nearly bowled over by a bar fight.  Fun times.  I was smashed into the wall, Elysia has bruises, and Martha was punched in the face.  Such fun.

Windy Brunch

Anyways, so then today we had champagne brunch in front of the Royal Crescent, watched Harry Potter, and had some birthday cake (in the form of ice cream).  Not a bad way to spend a day, all in all.  So there you have it.  Oh, and if you were wondering about the coming out of the cupboard story, you can find out what that meant, click here.  And, to see a lovely card my mother sent to me, click here.  So that's that.  I love you all, and thanks for all the birthday wishes!

lions and tigers and guinness, oh my!

I cannot believe that I have A) a little over a week left in Bath, and B) a little under a week left as a 20 year old.  Life is moving so fast!  In a way, I don't think I ever thought I would be 21... that was something other people did, like moving or getting braces.  Yes, I realize I have done both of those things, but they are the type of things that you never think can happen to you.  Or rather I never thought would happen to me.  But, thank God I had braces (I have lovely teeth, don't you think?), I'm so thankful we moved (though I still miss Burling), and I think I will be happy to be 21.

I'm just kidding.  I CANNOT WAIT FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!!  I have a whole weekend planned--Friday we're going down to London to see Katie, one of my littles (!), and then go find a hookah bar and a pub.  Then Saturday we're going to see Katie some more, and then come back to Bath to see Water for Elephants at the Little, and then go out and party, because at midnight I will be able to drink in every country, including America and Saudi Arabia.  Then the next morning, we are going to have a champagne brunch in the royal crescent (not the fertile crescent), and then we are going to go mini golfing, and then we are going to take a nap, and then we are going to have dinner, and then we are going to go to the spa.  Beautiful weekend, don't you think? We'll see how much of that stuff I actually get to do...

Anyways, the past few days (or rather, week):

I'm going to start with this morning.  Because this morning, we had a bit of fun.  We have a classroom in our basement, have I mentioned this?  There are classes in our house almost every day, and there is a cupboard built into the wall on the floor, big enough for a small person (like myself) to fit inside of with the doors closed.  So today, for my roommates' class, I hid in the little cupboard with a book (The Prisoner of Azkaban, if you must know), and waited until everyone had sat down and were talking.  I then simply opened the doors to the cupboard, nodded at a very confused looking professor, and walked out. So try to imagine this: right after you sit down, a girl walks out of a cupboard in your classroom with a book, acting like "oh, well, this happens all the time."  BAHAHAHA highly amusing.

My room!

Anyways, when I last you, bloggerpeople, I was just on my way to Stratford-upon-Avon for three days.  (Sidenote--do you know that Avon means river, so the River Avon is just the the River River?)  Now, normal people take a day to spend in Stratford.  Maybe a day and a half at the most.  We spent three whole days in a town that is only slightly bigger than Allstonefield (which, if you remember, had about 30 people living in it).  Now I suppose I'm slightly misleading you, because I did have a great time for the first two days (the third day, apart from The City Madam, was just overkill).  We got to see an excellent production of Macbeth in which the witches were children--intriguing.  And OH I almost forgot--I got to have an amazing room all to myself in a cute little B&B, with my own bathroom!  Ahh.. life's small pleasures...

The River Avon

Anyways, the next day, apart from having a talk discussing the production of Macbeth, we had no mandatory activities.  Which meant that Elizabeth, Martha, Elysia, Emily and I had an adventure around Stratford.  We did a little shopping in the town, before heading over the river in search of a boat to rent.  We took a ferry across the Avon for 50p each (very cool), then walked down until a boat rental place from which we (surprise) rented a rowboat.  We then spent an hour on the river, where I felt very much like Ratty and we had to run away from a few very frightening geese. Then we found an adorable little puppy and pet it for about ten minutes, before heading back to get some scones and clotted cream and then watching A Very Potter Musical in my room.

Other things we did: went to a pub to watch a Manchester United game (we won), saw The City Madam (which was VERY funny), performed a bit of The City Madam myself, and saw Kenilworth Castle.  We then got back at one in the morning, when I packed for Dublin, as we left at 6:00 to catch our flight.

So, Dublin: we got there and, as our hostel said it should only take about 20 euro to take a cab to get there (and the buses were 7 euro a person), we hailed a cab and got in. Let me tell you something: NEVER take a cab from an airport or train station. They like to screw you over. However, our cab driver was charming, saying things like, "everyone talks like this in Ireland, for Christ's sake," and then, swearing every other word, gave Martha a wedding reception hall brochure, made her write down all the things we had to do, and the cheapest way to do them. I would have liked him had he not, halfway through, tried to get us to join him on a 90 euro tour of Ireland the next day.  But it was funny nevertheless.  He did not stop talking the entire ride, I don't think...

This was a real peacock, just walkin about.

Then we checked into the hostel, went to go and change the old Irish pounds for euros (87 euros for 65 pounds!  THANK YOU GRANDPARENTS!!! You fed me in Ireland. :) Then we headed for the Dublin Zoo.  Which, I have to say, was an experience.  We saw a tiger up close and personal, a giraffe with a HUGE tongue, some very rambunctious seals (I love seals), a baby gorilla, and, less exciting, a woman nursing her own baby in the gorilla house.  Odd.  BUT I overheard a great conversation between a mother and her young daughter.  She was holding her daughter and was saying, "Hold it in, darling.  Is it a wee or a poo?" To which the daughter replied, "It's a poo, mummy," and then the mother said, "Oh dear. Well, hold it in..." Very funny.

the inner part of the jail

After the zoo, then, we headed back to hostel before heading out to the oldest pub for some dinner.  We conked out rather quickly after that.  The next day, we got a late start (by that I mean 10:30) and had a tour of the Dublin Castle, which is very modern--we got to see the room where the Queen will be recieved--and then walked all the way to Kilmainham Gaol.  (That means Jail.)  Let me tell you something about this--the map made it seem SO MUCH closer than it really was.  We were walking for hours because we didn't want to pay for a bus.  The Jail itself was awesome, though.  Frightening, but awesome.  What's interesting is that the Irish fight for independence from the British actually failed--a bunch of the leaders were arrested, put in that jail, and then murdered.  It was the murder of so many of the leaders that turned public opinion and gave their revolution force that much more power.  Anyways, there is a lot more to Irish history, but this post is getting long.

Martha with our free Guinness!

After the jail, we then walked all the way back to the Guinness Factory and had a tour.  It was actually really cool to see how beer is made--and we got a free pint of Guinness at the end.  And I didn't hate it!  Surprising, I know.  But also, Arthur Guinness signed the lease for the factory and the land for 9000 years.  So he really knew what he was doing.  We then had a delicious Italian dinner and then, again, were extremely exhausted, so we fell asleep almost immediately.

Sandy and me with our life jackets on

Then the next day, we did some shopping and then... had a VIKING TOUR.  Which means we got in a bus that turned into a boat! And we would have gotten viking hats, only there were about twenty million children... so they got them instead.  But it was fun anyways, because we got to roar at unsuspecting people.  Anyways, we then explored the city some more before going in search of dinner, which we found at a Chinese Buffet (which seemed like such a good idea at the time).  It was probably the worst choice of our two weeks of travel.  So that's that.  Here I am, back in Bath, trying to come to terms with the fact that I will have to leave soon. GAH!  I don't like this, I don't like this at all...

But I can't wait for my next adventure.

Love from Linley,
LPRO

wayfarers all

"'This is it.'

'This is what?'

'If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been.'

'C'mon, Sam.  Remember what Bilbo used to say? "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."'"

The Fellowship of the Ring

After tomorrow, it will be the longest I've ever been away from home.  It's weird to think about, considering A) I feel like I just left, B) I feel like an entirely different person than the one who stepped on the plane to England, and C) I'm still here for another two and a half months.  Knowing that so much of my adventure is still in front of me is a GREAT feeling--but it is difficult to listen to all my abroad friends getting excited about going home and seeing their families and friends.  But not difficult enough to make me wish I was going with them.  There's just... a pang of longing... for Chicago.  For deep dish pizza, potbelly's, the Sear's Tower, Navy Pier, the beach, Lincoln Park, and yes, even River Forest.  (Of course it goes without saying that I miss all my Chicago people as well.)  All I have to say is, God Bless the Chicago Code.  It helps.  Well, I mean, so does the fact that I am GOING TO NORWAY in three weeks with Logan.  So there's that.  But still.  POTBELLY YOU ARE MISSING TO MY TUMMY.

Victoria Street, or Diagon Alley

I found an old copy of The Wind in the Willows at an old bookstore in Diagon Alley (well, Victoria Street in Edinburgh, but please, it was Diagon Alley, without a doubt).  I read it all the last two days in Scotland (appropriate because Kenneth Grahame, the author, was Scottish), and it is now one of my favorite books.  The language he uses is beautiful.  Really, if you have an hour, pick it up.  It's like a long lyrical poem.  It describes the river like this:

"All was a-shake and a-shiver--glints and gleams and sparkles,  rustle and swirl, chatter and bubble.  The Mole was bewitched, entranced, fascinated.  By the side of the river he trotted as one trots, when very small, by the side of a man who holds one spellbound by exciting stories; and when tired at last, he sat on the bank, while the river still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea."

Gorgeous.  I love it.  Anyways, I went to Edinburgh this weekend!  Hoorah!  I have to say, it was one of the best mini-breaks I have ever had.  Very stress free, very relaxing, and just a lot of fun.  We (Martha, Elysia and I) left Thursday after class to get to the Bristol airport.  Now, this whole trip we had the best timing, the best luck, and the best fun.  The train came right when we got to the station, the bus came right when we got to Bristol, and we had just a very leisurely time with a cider and black once we reached the airport.  And then the Airlink bus to Edinburgh (which was like a party bus) left almost immediately when we got there.  And we only had about a ten minute walk to our hostel.  

Which brings us to... 

Our hostel

Learnin time with Liza: What I've learned from Hostels, no. 1

1. Hostels like to use lots of bright colors to make it hip, only it really is quite frightening. 

2. In our hostel, Donkey from Shrek was the mascot (he was everything from a creeper in random photos to Uncle Sam telling us to be quiet after ten).

3. If you get to a hostel late (like after ten) the lights will be off and you will have to put the sheets on the bed in the dark. This is very difficult for me to do in the light, so it was an issue. 

4. It is acceptable for 30+ year old men to stay in hostels by themselves, or in large groups, like bachelor parties.

5. There is a good chance that, if you are in a mixed dorm, there will be a shirtless German sleeping beneath you (on the bottom bunk...)

6.  Always wear pants to bed.  

7.  Hostel rooms smell gross!  Especially if you see a few people sitting on the floor with a pile of peanut shells in front of them.

8.  Normalcy is having a 30 year old gay man sing a German song at the top of his voice in the middle of the room.

9.  Don't sleep next to the door, as it will open at 3 am with loud drunk people stumbling in.  

10.  People are very helpful and very friendly.

So there you go.  Hostel experience one.  So, what did I do in Edinburgh? you may ask. Well...

Edinburgh Castle from The Elephant room. Hogwarts?

The first morning we woke up and went to the Royal Wedding--I got great pictures up on the altar with them (my favorite is the one where he struggled to put on the ring).  Then, after we realized how absolutely freezing it was, we walked to the Edinburgh Castle and had a look around at all the ancient battlements and the dragooners and things, and it was fabbity fab.  We bonded with Mary Queen of Scots (who I feel just had a rather rough life).  

Then we left for lunch... at the Elephant House.  Which is where J.K. Rowling wrote a lot of Harry Potter.  Which, of course, is the whole reason I was so excited to go.  There is a Harry Potter toilet seat in the bathroom where people have written everything from "Dumbledore's Army!" To "I sat on Harry's face!" to "Denison Quidditch!"  It was great.  And I have to say, if I lived in Edinburgh and was a writer (as I am), I would spend all my time in there, even if I hadn't known about J.K. Rowling. It had a perfect atmosphere for writing--big tables, great music, and a BEAUTIFUL view of Hogwarts (I mean the Edinburgh castle).  And the coffee--HOLY HELGA HUFFLEPUFF--so good.  Best coffee award so far goes to Scotland. Hands down.  Plus the elephant cookie I had wasn't bad either...

The toilet in the elephant room.  FAB.

Then, as it was freezing, we decided to do some shopping down Diagon Alley (Victoria Street).  Now, I have been pretty good with just looking and not buying things, but we went into a tiny old bookstore (Flourish and Blotts) called the Old Town Bookstore.  So really, I cannot be blamed.  Old bookstores are my downfall, especially now that I know I want to write children's literature.  So I bought an old book of Children's poetry, a 1935 edition of The Wind in the Willows, and a 1999 Scottish edition of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  Great time.  

Then we walked down and listened to a few bands down Cowgate Street, as there was a festival.  I especially enjoyed  Scottish band called "The Last Battle." Then we went back to the hostel for a while and relaxed, before heading back out to MEXICAN FOOD.  GOD how I've been missing Mexican.  So then we had a dinner of a fajita wrap and sangria (and oh, how good it was) and enjoyed it immensely.  Although ordering Mexican from a Scottish man just sounded... weird.  I'll have a wee little fajita... bizzare.  Then we all went back to the hostel and watched Michael Scott leave us for good (I cried), and the next day, we had our Whiskey Tour.

Which means that we got on a bus to go to the Highlands. Only before we got on the bus, we managed to lose Elysia and were stressing for ten minutes cause we didn't know where she was and OY should we leave without her or should we not go on the tour we paid forty pounds for oh what to do what to do?  But luckily, we found her just in the nick of time, and we were all able to have a very leisurely tour after that.  A tour in which we went to Birnam Wood (!), the town where Beatrix Potter used to vacation, the most painted waterfall in Scotland, and a Whiskery.  

Whiskery

Our first stop was near Birnam Wood (Macbeth would only be defeated when Birnam Wood came to Dunsinane, if you remember) where we had a wee little hike to a gorgeous waterfall.  Where, coincidentally, Queen Victoria and William Wordsworth used to come (not together) and look out at the scenery.  It was called the Hermitage, and there was even a little hermit's house.  Fun.  Then we went to another little town where we had fish and chips, and then we got to the Whiskery.  (It's actually a Whisky Distillery, but come on, where is the fun in that?)  We each had a wee little taste of whisky, and I have to say--GROOOOOOSYYYY.  I do not suggest it.  Single malt whisky... bleh.  Not my favorite.  Although it might have compounded by the fact that we had been inhaling the fumes for a good half hour beforehand, and that really made us dread the taste (and also made us a little light headed...).  Also, there was a children's table set up by the bar.  Why? Why? Why?

The Queen's View

Then we had a lovely little sit, and then set off again for the Queen's View and the most painted waterfall in Scotland.  Both these things took my breath away.  Then we headed all the way back, quickly passing the castle from Monty Python and Holy Grail where the French Men threw things at them.  Also, I have to say, our tour guide, while he was great, did not know when to shut it.  I do not think he stopped talking our entire tour, ya know? 

Elysia and I sitting by the waterfall

Anyways, the next day we saw lots of gorgeous monuments and relished in the gorgeous weather, before getting on the bus to get back.  It was just a GREAT trip.  Truly, I can now travel rather stress free, which is a good thing to be able to do, right before an epic journey like the one Logan and I are about to embark upon. Anyways, that is all. Love you all!

Hogwarts Hugs,
LPRO

PS Today I made a lasagna.  And it tasted good!  YAY!
PPS The full albums for my Edinburgh trip can be viewed here. 
and also, here.