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.