August 1
Today was my first day waking up in Scotland, and you're not going to believe this but I literally woke up to the sound of bagpipes...
I woke early, went into the living room and sat at the table near the wide-open window and took in all the sounds of people walking in the streets and also the distant big pipes. It was beautiful.
We have a lot of plans that we want to accomplish here in Edinburgh and so little time. We started the day by going to a cutie little thrift store right next to the Air BnB. It seemed like all of the shirts said they were from the US it was odd. Then we went and looked for food and got turned away from the first place we went because there were "too many of us". But there were only nine which really isn't too bad but we found somewhere else nearby. It was called Mum's Great Comfort Food and it looked like a cute little diner on the inside with checked floors. I got a delicious spinach wellington and loved getting to hang out with everyone at lunch.
After lunch, we went grocery shopping for the place because we planned two family dinners while we were there. Luckily there was a Sansbury nearby, but those steps were brutal.
Then we walked to the royal mile and met up with Ethan to go to all of the little touristy shows and watch the street performers. We spent the whole day on the mile.
Tonight was our first family dinner and it was my teams turn. SGETTI NITE. I was in charge of the bread. I halved TWO baguettes and it looked like a lot but we ate all of it. Sydney made the spaghetti and Shalby Hahn was on salad. It was so nice to finally have a home cooked meal after eating out all the time.
Finished the night teaching the girlies to play clue ( and I won the second game!!)
Loving Scotland, the people are a bit nicer than I thought at first
August 2
Today we split the group in half. We had a team bus tour and a team underground tour. We had learned the day before that Edinburgh had a city underneath where the poor people lived back in the day.
I was on team underground tour. We walked back to the royal mile and booked tickets for the tour...at 10 pm that night because it's all that was available. We had lunch at a cutie little pub. Madison led me astray on what drink to order but it's okay, I forgive her lol. Then we went to more touristy shops and then went back for a nice nap before our late tour. Tonight was fajita night. Sol and her team made a delicious dinner and then we set out for the tour.
Then the night took a turn for the ABSOLUTE WORST. My so-called friends volunteered me for a street performance with the banana man. It was terrible and it almost made us late for the tour because he literally held me, hostage, in from of the crowd in a banana costume with a tambourine that I couldn't keep in beat to save my life. And then the banana man was mean to me. If I see that man again it's over.
But we made it to the tour in the nick of time and it was really interesting. We learned something very interesting, our wonderful view outside our Air BnB window just happens to be GREYFRIARS KIRKYARD. What's that? only the most haunted cemetery in the entire world. Love it. Let's see if get any sleep tonight.
August 3
Our last day here. I'm really sad but I enjoyed every minute here. So we packed up our bags and decided to visit the cemetery in the backyard before checking our bags at the train station. So we went, suitcases and all, and explored. There's a stinking poltergeist there, so spooky ooky. Then we drug our bags to the station and checked our bags. Then we got lunch at a small Italian restaurant and looked for a place to get gelato. I went boba instead and it was really yummy. Then we went to a cool crystal and tarot shop and Sydney and I bought each other a deck. Then we all went to sit in the grass and relax before heading to the train station to make our train.
Then things went bad...
There had been a disturbance on a portion of the tracks on route home so our train was canceled. We were stranded in Edinburgh. This lead to an extremely hectic series of events that I don't care to relive right now, but after about 2 hours everything settled and we got it figured out. We got the Air Bnb back for another night and tickets booked for the next day.
Call me crazy but this is definitely directly correlated to the haunted cemetery and tarot cards, right?
August 4
Woke up and went straight to the station. We get there, get our coffee and watch the screen to see the 10:30 train platform. We see 10:15, 10:28, and then the 10:30 popped up. and you'll never guess what it said. CANCELLED!!
We scramble to figure things out and they let us on the 10 o'clock train. I had delightful train ride and we finally made it back. We had class and then Kristina got us a pizza party. Thank you so so much for that! It was much needed after those two crazy days.
August 5
Today consisted of class in the morning and then, now get this, class in the afternoon. A very work-heavy day trying to meet the deadlines and get feedback on the work.
For dinner, Jerry took us to this super cool little food truck row and we got a great balanced dinner (I got a belgium waffle covered in white chocolate and strawberries.)
Then we went back to hotel and worked on more homework. The deadline for everything is tomorrow.
August 6
Today our projects are due!
We started class at 10 and I worked my butt off until lunch and was able to get everything for Natalie's class turned in. Most of the class went for tea but I stayed back with Haley and Sydney and got brunch across the street. We had mimosas and eggs and bacon. The tea was running over so we went back for naps before Kara's class.
Then we had Kara's class and I was grinding until 7. I got it turned in my campaign and I've never felt more accomplished.
Then we for our last group dinner at the Charleston. I got nachos. SO YUMMY.
It's our second to last day here, I'm ready to go, but I'm also so sad to be leaving. Lots of confusing emotions.
August 7
Our last free day here in London before we fly out.
By the grace of God we somehow miraculously make it on the London Eye. It said sold out everywhere but went in person just to see and we got on!!!! What a crazy view. Did you know the London eye goes upside down at the top? Pretty crazy stuff.
Then we went to Camden market, finally. It was really neat.
And then we went to THE Abbey Road and of course, we took THE picture and it was really silly.
Then we met up with some others and got dinner at Wagamama and you'll never guess who showed up and ate with us. JERRY. It was a really cool way to wrap up the trip but I might have wanted to do it at a different restaurant next time haha, not really a fun of wagamama. Then Jerry directed us to a little gelato place and walked to it and soaked up the view of the water then went home to pack and prepare for the journey home.
BYE BYE LONDON
I am unbelievably grateful to have gotten to take these classes in the places I got to them in with this group of people. It was incredible. Something that will truly never leave me. I feel that I as a person grew so so so much from my confidence, ability to strike up a conversation with a new person as well as my eye for design. I also feel that the bonds with my classmates strengthened tremendously and I left with some pretty great relationships that I feel will last long into the future.
Thank you CCSA, Thank you WKU Art Department, Thank you Kara, Thank you Natalie, Thank you Jerry, Thank you to everyone that led to this getting to happen. It was amazing.
XO Kyndall
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