Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday may 23rd 2011
Today was our free day in London. We woke up, had a quick breakfast and then went to Buckingham palace for the changing of the guards. When we arrived, it was very packed with people. It was a beautiful day and everyone was excited. We didn't know where to stand because there were a lot of people facing the palace, then a lot of people facing the statue. We chose the less crowded area and waited for something to happen. There were guards on beautiful horses guiding everyone on what to do and where to not stand. We couldn't really see it, but from what we heard it was very cool. We were able to see the guards come in on horses and we could see and hear the bands. It was awesome. The band was wearing kilts and as they were transitioning into another song, one of the guards announced to the crowd "for all you Scottish people out there, this will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up" it was pretty cool. After that we went to lunch at the creepiest restaurant I've ever been to. After recovering from that, we went to the Eye of London. It was awesome. Basically it is a giant ferris wheel with big window egg shaped things that you stand in as it gives you a giant perspective of London. I was terrified because we were very high up but it was still pretty cool. After that went shopping but then went home early to pack for the next day. We celebrated out last night with some champagne and chocolate. It was a wonderful evening. Overall the trip was a success, I learned a lot about Scotland, Scottish history, politics and football hooliganism and had a one of a kind experience I will take with me everywhere I go.
Friday may twentieth
Today was our free day. We woke up and had to pack our luggage and store it in a different room because of scheduling conflicts, it didn't really matter but it was a pain to pack everything. On the free day we decided to go shopping and to see the castle. First we started out shopping then we found a cupcake shop and had a cupcake. We kept touring the city and then decided to go see the castle. The castle was beautiful but judging by the exiting peoples reactions it wasn't worth the money so we decided not to actually go in it. We enjoyed the free day but were very tired so decided to go back and rest.
Thursday May Nineteenth 2011
Today we went to the Scottish parliament. It as really cool. We walked in, they made us go through security and wear name tags. We went on a tour of the place and it was filled with modern art. Everything had a meaning, it was really interesting. After the tour we had a lecture with one of the MSP's Kenny MacAskill. His discussion was practically food for the soul for the course. He discussed everything we have been discussing in this course, Scottish independence, possible war, the power of the SNP, identifying and so much more. His discussion was amazing and helped end the course in a really unique way. After that we had free time to experience Edinburgh.
Wednesday May Eighteenth 2011
Wednesday may eighteenth 2011
Today we had to be ready by nine to get in a train to Sterling. When we arrived in Sterling we got on a city bus and went to the William Wallace memorial. The monument looked like a giant tower that can be seen for miles because it is on top of a hill. In order to get to it, you have to climb to the top of the hill. The hill was just another reminder of how out of shape I really am. After the hill we got to the base of the monument. It was very windy even at the base of the mountain, then we had to climb up 246 stairs to the top of the monument. the monument was very interesting and made of stone. On the top it was incredibly windy. Afterwards we went to another museum and had a lecture by one of the workers. He explained in great detail the art of warfare and techniques used during battles. It was interesting but too gory.
Today we had to be ready by nine to get in a train to Sterling. When we arrived in Sterling we got on a city bus and went to the William Wallace memorial. The monument looked like a giant tower that can be seen for miles because it is on top of a hill. In order to get to it, you have to climb to the top of the hill. The hill was just another reminder of how out of shape I really am. After the hill we got to the base of the monument. It was very windy even at the base of the mountain, then we had to climb up 246 stairs to the top of the monument. the monument was very interesting and made of stone. On the top it was incredibly windy. Afterwards we went to another museum and had a lecture by one of the workers. He explained in great detail the art of warfare and techniques used during battles. It was interesting but too gory.
Tuesday may seventheenth
Tuesday may seventeenth 2011
Today we woke up at 8:45, ate breakfast and met with the class to go to the museum. It was a short walk and it was a nice day. The Scottish national museum was huge. It was also free. It also had six very elaborate levels of artifacts and information on Scotland. The museum was very amazing, one of the things that stood out the most was the robot figures. Unlike the Shetland museum where they displayed a reconstructed face of a woman, the Scottish national museum decided to have visitors imagine what the scottish people looked like in the time of the particular artifacts being displayed. They had random pieces of jewelry displayed on the robot like figures, allowing the viewer to make their own decisions on what the people were like. The museum was artistic and flowed together as each level progressed in time period. Afterwards we had a discussion on the museum and thoughts about it. Some had mixed feelings but I thought it was great. Then we discussed the articles. The discussion was based on Scotland, Wales, northern Ireland, and England in regards to their independence as well as joining the European union. We mostly discussed Scotland and its new changes in the majority party and whether or not they would benefit from joining then E.U. if Scotland were to join the E.U., the value of money would be different because then pound is much stronger than the euro. After the debate we went to lunch at the elephant house where J.K. Rowling wrote the first couple of books of Harry Potter on napkins. The food was really good and it was a cool place. Afterwards we went shopping. In between the shopping we went to chocolate soup. I had a very chocolaty cupcake. It was very good. I bought my dad a whisky/scotch taster, a really cool sweatshirt and some clothes. For dinner we made food from the grocery store then went out for the night. When we all got back, Katie decided to sleep with danielle and I so we had some quality snuggling time.
Today we woke up at 8:45, ate breakfast and met with the class to go to the museum. It was a short walk and it was a nice day. The Scottish national museum was huge. It was also free. It also had six very elaborate levels of artifacts and information on Scotland. The museum was very amazing, one of the things that stood out the most was the robot figures. Unlike the Shetland museum where they displayed a reconstructed face of a woman, the Scottish national museum decided to have visitors imagine what the scottish people looked like in the time of the particular artifacts being displayed. They had random pieces of jewelry displayed on the robot like figures, allowing the viewer to make their own decisions on what the people were like. The museum was artistic and flowed together as each level progressed in time period. Afterwards we had a discussion on the museum and thoughts about it. Some had mixed feelings but I thought it was great. Then we discussed the articles. The discussion was based on Scotland, Wales, northern Ireland, and England in regards to their independence as well as joining the European union. We mostly discussed Scotland and its new changes in the majority party and whether or not they would benefit from joining then E.U. if Scotland were to join the E.U., the value of money would be different because then pound is much stronger than the euro. After the debate we went to lunch at the elephant house where J.K. Rowling wrote the first couple of books of Harry Potter on napkins. The food was really good and it was a cool place. Afterwards we went shopping. In between the shopping we went to chocolate soup. I had a very chocolaty cupcake. It was very good. I bought my dad a whisky/scotch taster, a really cool sweatshirt and some clothes. For dinner we made food from the grocery store then went out for the night. When we all got back, Katie decided to sleep with danielle and I so we had some quality snuggling time.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Monday may 16th 2011
Monday may sixteenth 2011
Today we left Lerwick for Edinburgh. It took a flight and a train but we made it! When we finally arrived in Edinburgh and enjoyed free wifi on the city bus. We are staying at the youth hostel and it is cleaner and nicer than some hotels. Our room has it's own toilet, sink and shower. I am living with Katie and Danielle and Danielle and I are sharing the big bed because neither of us wanted the top bunk. We had some really good salad and macaroni and cheese at the hostel then went to the grocery store for breakfast and snack foods. Afterwards we went out on the town. Afterwards I did some laundry and bought an hour of Internet for a pound.
Today we left Lerwick for Edinburgh. It took a flight and a train but we made it! When we finally arrived in Edinburgh and enjoyed free wifi on the city bus. We are staying at the youth hostel and it is cleaner and nicer than some hotels. Our room has it's own toilet, sink and shower. I am living with Katie and Danielle and Danielle and I are sharing the big bed because neither of us wanted the top bunk. We had some really good salad and macaroni and cheese at the hostel then went to the grocery store for breakfast and snack foods. Afterwards we went out on the town. Afterwards I did some laundry and bought an hour of Internet for a pound.
Sunday may fifteenth 2011
Sunday may fifteenth 2011
We woke up and left for Lerwick. Lerwick was very cute. It was a small town and you could see the water from practically anywhere you were standing. The hotel we stayed at was adorable and had a thai restaurant in it. The rooms were very nice and it was a nice break from the military hostel we were just in. The hotel owner let me use his phone at 2 pence a minute to call home which is a very good deal. We went to the Shetland museum to learn more. Shetland has a lot of oil money and therefore a very nice museum. The layout of the museum forced you down a path of shetlandic history. The most memorably things were the paintings and the reconstructed face from a skull of a shetlandic woman. The museum was very interesting and also suggested at the belief of some that Shetland is different from Scotland. One of the post cards said "upside-down waterfalls, only in the country of Shetland". This theory and issue is part of the reason why we are in Scotland. After the museum I experienced Thai food for the first time and discovered it is spicy but tolerable, at least what I ordered. We had a relaxing evening and watched some much needed tv.
We woke up and left for Lerwick. Lerwick was very cute. It was a small town and you could see the water from practically anywhere you were standing. The hotel we stayed at was adorable and had a thai restaurant in it. The rooms were very nice and it was a nice break from the military hostel we were just in. The hotel owner let me use his phone at 2 pence a minute to call home which is a very good deal. We went to the Shetland museum to learn more. Shetland has a lot of oil money and therefore a very nice museum. The layout of the museum forced you down a path of shetlandic history. The most memorably things were the paintings and the reconstructed face from a skull of a shetlandic woman. The museum was very interesting and also suggested at the belief of some that Shetland is different from Scotland. One of the post cards said "upside-down waterfalls, only in the country of Shetland". This theory and issue is part of the reason why we are in Scotland. After the museum I experienced Thai food for the first time and discovered it is spicy but tolerable, at least what I ordered. We had a relaxing evening and watched some much needed tv.
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