Scotland

Scotland was Awesome!

Got back from Glasgow last night. I had such a great time, but the beginning of the trip was rather stressful. The train ride was six hours so I got there at like one. The guy that sat next to me on the first train was really amusing. He was in his late 50s business executive or something and he was reading a sci fi book that I had with me on the train! We both were reading Lathe of Heaven by Ursula Le Guin! Totally random and really amusing to see a guy in a business suit reading a somewhat dog-eared copy of a sci-fi novel published in 1971. When I switched trains, I sat next to a guy who was asleep and then got off two stops along the way, so I sat alone for most of the trip. Yay! Later, this guy who was sitting across from me somehow discovered I was American and tried to have a political discussion with me. I avoided making a fool of myself but only just.

When I got off the train, I realized what an idiot I was for coming here with no idea what I was going to do or where I was going to stay. I found the first hostel on my list which was right next to the train station according to the little map I bought in the station. They had no rooms but they gave me the numbers of the other hostels in the area which reminded me that I had copied them all down earlier. The third place I called was the Blue Sky Hostel and it was awesome, tho I had a bit of trouble figuring out how to get there and went up some really steep and completely unnecessary hills in the process. The people there were so nice and we had lots of fun.

I toured all saturday and saw all sorts of awesome Charles Rennie Macintosh stuff which I absolutely adore. If I ever have enough money to have my own place and decorate it, I want it decorated in that style. It is just amazing. I had tea and lunch in the Willow Tea Room which was just beautiful. I spent a lot of money on post cards. I went back to Blue Sky Hostel after a very busy day and joined two of the other guests on a walk to find the botanical gardens. We walked right off of my map, found some very pretty gardens, got a bit wet in the rain, got a bit lost, got some guy's mobile number and an invitation to a flat warming party (we didn't go), got back eventually and discovered that those gardens were not the ones we set out to see. We then went out to a couple of clubs and had a bunch of fun.

Sunday I did some shopping (bought a skein of yarn and a crochet needle) and had tea at the Willow Tea Room again. I very reluctantly got on the train at four and began my journey home... I made half of a scarf on the way though. I wish I could have spent three more days there! There were still lots of things I hadn't seen (or bought).

Today I am doing laundry so that I dont have to pack dirty clothes and so that I will have clothes to wear since they are pretty much all dirty. Fun Fun Fun!