Mandy's Travel Journal

Spring Fling-- Haddington, Museum of Flight WWII Day, and Dundee

2008-05-20T16:21:00.005-06:00

Well, the thick jackets have been replaced with my pink hoodie and my snow boots are retired for a pair of flats. Spring has finally come to Scotland. At home we didn't really have spring. Cool just kind of changes to summer over the course of a weekend. The nicer weather, abundant sunshine, and longer days has made us all a bit more adventurous. The past few weeks I have made a few trips outside of the city.

The first weekend in May was World War II Day at the National Museum of Flight in cow pastures outside the city. Me and my gang got up early in order to make it there in time with the crazy bus schedule. Alas our efforts were in vain and we got to spend some time in Haddington before admitting defeat and taking a taxi to the former airfields. Haddington is a lovely town and we had lunch by a little river with the ducks swimming past. The Cathedral and town square was so pretty! It was the cutest little town bringing me to fantasize about a summer afternoon wedding in one of their old churches. Scotland is loaded with such charming little places.

The Museum of Flight was packed with activity. They had a parade with the old tanks and trucks serenaded by bag pipers complete with rein-actors. I got to have my makeup done like they did in the 1940s. We toured the museum also. We got to sit in a cockpit and look at military airplanes. I was stunned by the sheer size of the now retired concord jet which used to be able to make a trip between London and New York in three hours. We tried to throw tennis balls in a cut out of Hitler and other old time games. However, my enjoyment was most complete because of my friend, who works for the museum, dressed in a Royal Air Force uniform. We finished the day by sitting on a pile of rocks in the field awaiting the return of the bus we had original missed outside the museum. I cannot wait for the July air show at the museum!!

Last Wednesday, in order to collect more research on my topic, I made a trip out to a little town called Coupar Angus. It was a small, nice, little town like Haddington. My only way of getting there was by being picked up by car from the Dundee train station. The fields with flowers and cows were beautiful. I was returned early for my train and had several hours to kill in Dundee. Dundee is a fairly large town on the seaside. The town square had recently been redone, decorated with statues and fountains. Their excellent shopping kept me entertained for the majority of my time there. They had two full sized shopping malls (not the most common thing in the UK) a few blocks form one another. Even a two story Primart! I soaked up the sun in the grassy patch next to their cathedral. The large seagulls disturbed me a bit by their proximity to me as I ate my biscuits (cookies). There was also another church with a large steeple and gargoyles proudly perching there watching the town. I was sad to leave Dundee because in that short time I had developed quiet a fondness for it. Fortunately, I was thoroughly entertained on the return train as it passed the eastern coastline of Scotland. The lighthouses on distant islands and rocky coasts reminded me of how bonnie Scotland really is after the long winter.

Been Bad

2008-05-13T19:48:00.000-06:00

I know I have been a terrible blogger, but I do intend to fill everyone in on my adventures around here. Still waiting on spring break pictures and a drive to write about the world....

“History gives answers only to those who know how to ask questions.” ~Hajo Holborn

2008-01-30T20:28:00.000-06:00

Living in Edinburgh, every step I take is drenched in history. There are few places I have or will travel this year that has not harbored thousands of years of memories. Even returning to Biloxi in August, I will find my own personal and familial past waiting for me under clear starry summer nights. Really, is history ever not surrounding us? Are we just ignorant to its presence, until attention is demanded? I think this is very true.

**WIll We Remember her in a hundred years?**

Many occasions I am stupefied by the knowledge of what occurred in certain places. Even places I have never stepped foot upon. Sunday I viewed at the Edinburgh Film House (an old style theatre specializing in independent films) a documentary on the Holocaust called KZ. This piece of cinema followed tour groups through a concentration camp, which is located in Austria. The crew also interviewed residence, some even in the town when the camp was in use during World War II. On one particular scene the groups are taken into this tiny gas chamber. I do not have to expand on what happened in that tiny cement room. Just viewing it in a theatre made my pulse rate and my stomach turn. I fear if I had been in that tour group inside the actual sight I would have been subject to a panic attack. It would feel like the violence is still there trying to grab me from some nearly forgotten era.

**William Wallace monument- Stirling, Scotland**

Sights with history much later in time can be just as powerful. When I toured Edinburgh Castle on St. Andrews Day we entered the underground rooms where Prisoners of War resided. These chambers were home to many POWs from many different wars including the American Revolution. The doors contained graffiti from all of them including icons of the old Colonial flag. It’s like all those ideals, hopes, fears, and experiences swirled around me. I could imagine the sacrifice made for our country and many other principles. Over two hundred years later, they still whispered to me.

**Touching History at Edinburgh Castle**

Okay, okay, I’m getting a wee bit romantic. Anyway, so many things should not be forgotten by history. That’s why I find it so important to study, read, and teach it. Everything is important to me in the scope of things. Even the stories of young girls sent to work on the farm in the Women’s Land Army during World War II. I giggled at the National Library this weekend when I read the account of a Land Girl who had to relieve herself behind the tree and was spotted by a farm hand who then claimed she had a “Nice little piece of rump.” All of it is important and all of it needs to be remembered in some way, shape, or form.
Besides if we don’t remember them… who is going to remember us?

“History with its flickering lamp stumbles along the trail of the past, trying to reconstruct its scenes, to revive its echoes, and kindle with pale gleams the passion of former days.” ~Winston Churchill

A Moment

2008-01-23T21:11:00.000-06:00

"Once upon a time, I wanted to know what love was. Love is there if you want it to be. You just have to see that it's wrapped in beauty and hidden away between the seconds of your life. If you don't stop for a minute you just might miss it" Sean Biggerstaff's charater in the British film CASHBACK.

Something I would have missed if not paying attention....

Making new friends....

Finding a guardian angel....

Stepping into an old Inn that should be in a Robert Louis Stevenson novel...

Something truly breathtaking....

Defended a city.....

Felt what it was like to have a snow day....

This place is fantastic and I truly love it so.....

In the mood for a Cafe Latte...

2008-01-17T19:03:00.000-06:00

My post today is dedicated to my favorite place to visit in Edinburgh or anywhere.. The coffee shop!!!! Edinburgh is a very classy and artistic city. It has turned out some of the most fantastic writers. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ian Rankin, and everyones favorite J.K. Rowling created their tales here. There is a coffee shop for everyone in Edinburgh whether you're a hippie/student or a young professional needing a quick cup. Coffee is something I dearly love, a passion fueled by my time at the coffee shop in Biloxi. Here are my favs by category!

:::::::TOP THREE:::::

My absolute favorite is a shop across from Old College on South Bridge called Black Medicine. In order to create the atmosphere of a mountain lodge with Native American influences, this shop has wooden seats, table tops, and even it's own totem pole! The coffee and sandwiches are just as good as the atmosphere with friendly staff. As a former coffee girl, I must say I'd love to pick up a few shifts there! I always get a mocha or a latte here and if I'm particularly hungrey I will splurge for a filled bagel with tex-mex or some other unusual concotion.

I would approach this shop with caution. It's one of the closest to my flat, but is always overun with tourists. Why? Becuase it's a shop called The White Elephant.... known as the birthplace of Harry Potter. It's not hard to imagine why J.K. Rowling would've chosen this place to work on the adventures of the boy wizard. There is a stunning view of the castle and Greyfriars churchyard and cememtery from huge bay window at the back of the cafe. They take their elephants seriously here with huge wooden chairs carved as elephants and large flower pots with trees in the shape of elephants. It's a wonderful place when it's not crowded and the elephant shaped sugar cookies shouldn't be ignored!

A little nest spot for me when I have too much time between meetings on campus is the Harlequin Cafe. This little shop is on the corner of campus underneath a used book shop. (The buildings sometimes have basement entry ways, it's really cool like descending into a secret hide away). When I say little I mean one room with wrap around seating and about eight tables. Meat eaters will not find delight here. The Harlequin only has vegetarian and organic selections on their menu. Also only fair trade coffee is served here. Prices are great and the customers are always discussing the world. I always get a sandwich with mature cheddar, sun dried tomatoes, and hummus.

:::: Top Coffee Chains:::::

Okay so you can't avoid the man when you are in desperate need of coffe. I can always get a good coffee at a Costas which are scattered throughout the city at my favorite bookstore, the airport, and any where else. If you want some food with your coffee the Beanscene has some great combo deals with paninis and pizzas. The one in New Town off Princes Street is particularly classy hidden in the vesade of a Georgian mansion.

:::::: Not so great:::::::

Although I loved Starbucks in Biloxi because simply there was no where else to go for coffee, it's not such a good idea here. WIth the UK/US exchange rate it is excrutiatingly expensive for mediocre coffee. Plus that's where all the tourist stop anyway. Then there are these little booths around the city called "Police Box Coffee"... got one latte from there booth and never made that mistake again. Just not good stuff.

So that was a brief coffee shop tour of Edinburgh, however I'm always on the look out for a good cup of coffee!

Mandy and Ed's Winter Break Trip--- Epsiode 2 Amsterdam

2008-01-10T11:23:00.000-06:00

So the second leg of our journey meant taking a six hour train from Berlin to Amsterdam. Amsterdam, a city possibly more notorious then New Orleans, had something comepletely new to give us in our adventures. Ed and I arrived in the city late Saturday night and had a time finding the hostel we were staying in for one night. This place which we have affectionately nicknamed "Bob's Youth Palace" yielded the true hostel experience. We slept in a room of 16 people and it was pretty gross. For this reason Edward and I had something to eat and wandered the streets of Amsterdam for several hours without knowing where the heck we were going. We quickly found Dam Square with the royal palace and took a stroll down the Red Light District. We were so exhausted afterwards we had no qualms passing out in our bunk beds at "Bob's Youth Palace."

The remander of our trip was spent in a nice hotel in Vondell Park, a posh residential area. Our first full day in Amsterdam we caught another Free Tour. We saw the Old Kirk (oldest church) smack in the middle of Amsterdam's red light district. We wandered about to see the Old Jewesh Quarter, buildings which once housed the illustrious Dutch East Indian Trading Company, saw an old women's prison, the Gates to the city, and past many many canal ways. Amsterdam is infested with bicycles where thousands of them park along the streets, waterways, and even in the case of the Centraal station bicycle parking garages. We ended our tour in front of the Anne Frank house. So Ed and I went there right at the end of the tour to see the tiny rooms which once held the famous girl as her family hid from the Nazis. Incredibly to be walking in something you always read about in school. Ed and I ended the day by having traditional dutch pancakes!!! (Ed had brie, spinach, and cashews, while I had cherry).

Christmas Eve did not hinder our adventure what so ever. We went to the Rembrahnt house where the famous artisit lived and created his masterpieces. Edward was accosted my a house cat in a restuarant in Amsterdam's China town. The Torture museum, VERY disappointing and I would never recommend it. We made our way through the Van Gogh museum also before things closed down. The following day, Christmas, was really uneventful. We explored the park area which neighbored our hotel. It was a lovely time out, and we almost saw a bicycle colision. By some miracle we did find a restuarant to have Christmas dinner that evening... it was a seafood restuarant and I saw the lobster I was going to eat walking in the front door!!!

Our final day in Amsterdam we walked through the famous floating flower market. Thousands of tulips and so many beautiful orchids.. I wish I could've taken one back to Edinburgh with me. A very impressing museum we toured was the Dutch Resistance Museum which explains the various ways the Dutch people rebelled against Nazi occupation during WWII. We tried "Fritz" or french fries and I was adventurous enough to try them with this sweet peanut sauce. It was sweet!!! My highlight of this city was wandering the streets with Edward. We walked along the canals for hours just chatting and watching the beautiful city turn to twilight. That night we went to a cafe near our hotel where all the locals hung out carrying on their conversations.

Amsterdam is a fantastically cultural city. There is so much more than legal prostitution and weed. It houses some of the most famous collections of art in the world, is a place where people did not take occuaption lying down, and a beautiful city which retains it's maritime feel even into the twenty-first century.

Mandy and Ed's Winter Break Trip--- Epsiode 1 Berlin

2008-01-08T20:44:00.000-06:00

The first stop on my trip with Edward was the capital of Germany in Berlin. Because of both World Wars, Berlin is not the traditional European city with streets of ancient buildings. Actually the city is very modern and the older buildings still have bullet holes repaired from the wars. Christmas was definetly in the air in Germany. Christmas markets and gigantic trees were all around the city and the air smelled of the booths cooking the fair foods.

In order to become better aquanted with the city, Ed and I went on something called a "free tour" operated by a particular company. In order for the tour to be free the guides work for tips and they are great! Within a four hour walk we walked through most of the popular sights in Berlin. Brandonberg Gate, the Memorial for the Murdered Jew of Europe, the Berlin Wall, Check Point Charlie, and other great things we revisited. The most powerful thing we saw is Orenplatz (a platz is a square). This platz was where on May 10th 1933 a group of Nazi affiliated students stormed Humbolt's University library and torched thousands of books which did not correspond with Nazi ideals.. this even was a serious indicator of the persecutions which would take place. How powerful it is to stand there years later. Other sights we returned to later and that night we experienced some great shopping! (This one shop we went to.... think Best Buy times 4 more floors.)

Day two we were more focused on our mission to see more of Berlin. We started the day with visiting the Riechstag (The German Parliament) and after sitting in line for awhile we visited the top dome structure recently built. We had an excellent views of the city, and you can see into the government chambers. The museum under the Memorial was very touching full of oral histories. We also road the fastest elevator in Europe which was built by Edward's elevator company Tyssen-Krupp. Outside the tall building was another Christmas market, there is a fair ride which is pretty muich a long hill of snow. As part of the ride we took inner-tubes up and road them down. It was a ton of fun!!! That evening we road the S-bahn all the way to the last stop to a little town called Spandau. The authentic feel of the market and all the German voices really couldn't be denied. There we tried the mulled wine with amaretto, but retired to the hostel early like grandparents.

On the third day we the most touching sight we viewed was the Memorial Church for the Kaiser. This church is only half there, left in rememberance of the bombings which happened during World War II. Thursday evenings in Berlin the state funded museums are free to visit. We started by paying for the German History Museum which had so much! We saw everything from roman mosaics, knights swords, Napoleons clothing, and WWII Nazi propoganda. Took hours to view. We saw the Egyptian exhibit on papyrus and statues. Then we made our way to teh Pergamon Museum. This museum is particularly impressive because it contains entire buildings!! We saw the Gates of Babylon and whole alters to Roman Gods and many mystical statues from the Middle East.

We found a place off the beaten path by our last full day. We rode the S-bahn to the end again and went to a village called Potsdam. This town contains all the Royal Palaces of the German families. That day it was incredibly cold and I would go as far to say that I've never been so cold in my entire life! We visit the summer palace of Frederick the Great known as Schloss Sanssouci which we had to put on some funny slippers to go across the marble and wooden floors. The lawns were perfect with a fountain of swimming ducks and swans and perfect hedges stepped up the hill. The streams surrounding it were frozen and we got to visit another nice church. There were snow flurries and the trees were completely white and absolutely lovely. That evening we had a nice meal at a restuarant which served tuna and this beer called alger which is a dark brew mixed with sprite.. yummy!

Berlin was actually a city more off the beaten path than expected. Plus with the time we went we saw it in it's full Christmas cheer. It has just wetted my appetite to see the rest of Germany!

Hogmanay

2008-01-05T09:56:00.000-06:00

**My New Years resolution is to post in this blog more often!!!! Time ran away with me last semester and my writing was consumed by the 25 page paper which decides my fate. However, I have plenty of things to write about! I need to catch up on fall, Christmas time, my trip with Edward, and a visit to Stirling.

The focus this post is going to be Scottish Hogmanay. Hogmanay is simply a very large and flashy New Years celebration and Edinburgh is rated to have on of the best New Years celebrations in the world. Being right in the middle of it, I couldn't agree more.

The beginning of the festivities starts a few days before New Years with an event called the "Torchlight." Marching through the streets of Edinburgh beginning in Old Town by St. Giles and ending at Calton Hill there is a large group of people (about 20,000) carrying torches through the street following a chorus of bagpipes and a viking ship. Once on the hill the Viking Ship is burned (symbolizing Scotlands Scandinavian roots) and an effigy representing last year's Hogmanay is also torched. This year it was a stag. After the crowds grows restless and there is nothing left to burned fireworks are lite on Calton Hill above their heads. Amazing!!!

The next few days there is festivities such as outdoor concerts, fairs, and outdoor food booths. Of course tons of drinking.

New Years Eve is the big show however. Princes Street and the Mound where I live were closed and only open to those who had purchased wrist bands. We watched the streets fill from my flat windows and headed down to join the festiviites. The streets were loaded down and the countdown brought in 2008 and the largest fireworks show I'd ever seen. The castle became an inferno of fireworks and around us from Calton hill and other locations the fireworks matched! It was phenomenal! So was trying to get back to my flat... no one does New Years like the Scots.

(Please Note the Video was not done by us, but these people had to have been standing near us with the same view)

Turning British

2007-11-20T10:59:00.000-06:00

I'm terribly sorry for not updating in several weeks. Things have gotten intense like they tend to do in Graduate school. After completing a 10 page paper and presenting it in front of all the other history Masters and First Year PhD students, I am now working on a 25 page paper due in 2 1/2 weeks. This thing is totally freaking me out because it is the entirity of my grade for the semester!!! EEPP!!!

However, I have been thinking of things and wanting to break the tension. Especially since I have been here for nearly three montsh!!!...

Reasons I'm turning British===

*~ I find it more appropriate to say "Cheers" instead of "thank you" when someone hold open the door for me.

*~ I gorge myself on "jacket potatoes" and fancy "a curry"

*~ I drink more than 3 cups of tea a day in place of coffee.

*~ I know a zebra is not refering to an animal

*~ I no longer hate beer at all... I actually prefer a pint of Carlsberg or Guinnius now and again at the pub

*~ Two words-- Universal Healthcare!

*~ I can vaguely make out what a heavy Scottish accented man is saying to me

*~ They are not "room mates" they are "flat mates"

*~ Rainy days are no reason to drive a car to class, enough said.

*~ "Lovely" or "Sexy" can be a very appropriate adjectives

I'm sure there will be more installments to this list as I complete my year abroad, but I find it a good start!

Now back to the paper!!!

My Fall Holiday to Wales

2007-10-24T15:22:00.000-06:00

What a wonderful place! Wales is like a fairy tale by the sea. I greatly enjoyed the outdoors, food, and signs that I could not begin to read on my five day holiday. Although the Cardiff Airport is in the absolute middle of nowhere resulting in an exuberant taxis fee, it was worth it. My hostess Adell and her flatmate Matthew were great company in the new country.

I arrived late Friday night at Cardiff Airport. Adell and Matt met me at the airport in order to drive to Swansea where they lived.

The next morning I got to soak in some of the most spectacular scenery. It was a clear and blue day at Rhossilli and the water was almost as blue as the Carribean Sea. We had lunch behind a big rock breaking the wind on the cliff. Our trip was complete with a trip through a pasture of cows and sheep. It was an invigorating experience and I felt as if time did not exist on those rocky shores. Unfortunately it did.... I missed two weddings and the funeral for my great-grandmother Saturday. However, my great grandmother lived all 95 of her years to the fullest and she wanted all of her grandchildren to do the same. What a wonderful woman she was and somewhere through the clear blue sky I could almost see her smiling.

Sunday was a layed back day where we took a short trip to The Mumbles. This was one of my favorite things I did in Wales. This is the hometown of my favorite actress, Catherine Zeta-Jones. It was also my favorite because of the sailboats and sea walk. We had lunch at an Italian cafe on the walk. It was fantastic! I had a Bre (sp?) and grape sandwich and we split an ice cream sundae that we mixed ourselves at the table. Hazelnut ice cream is something I highly recommend! We also took a short walk to the castle. (What trip would not be complete without a castle?) That night I tried curry for the first time. Indian and Turkish cuisine is like the Mexican restuarants of the UK. However, I enjoyed my mushroom curry a lot and would like to bring this experience into Edinburgh.

Monday we took a bus to a place called Pernard which is another seaside village. The weather was rougher and the tide was up. I think it gave a wilderness look to the high cliffs and valeys. There was the ruins of the castle which allowed Adell and I to fantasize about what it looked like in its full glory. After getting lost on a golf course and being rescued by a nice old Welsh man, we headed back to Swansea. That night we tried "Pub on the Pond" with Adell's hiking club. I think pub food is the closest to Southern cuisine with all the fried selections. Met some really nice people and got in a little late.

My last day was really laid back. I really did not do too much at all. We took a walk through this rather large park and I finally captured a few pictures of British squirrels for my aunt. I spent the afternoon reading and surfing the web while Adell was in class. When I waled down to the convenience store I saw one of my friends who was a student at a class I had at USM. She was an exchange student last year and had returned back to Swansea Uni. I felt guilty for not informing her of my trip, but I was glad to run into someone I know an ocean away. I also watched the movie ITrainspottingI which was interesting because it is set in Edinburgh and stars Ewan McGregor as a druggie.

*~~~**~~~~**~~~**~~~**~~~**~~~**~~~~**~~~~**~~~~**~~~~*

My trip back to Edinburgh, as mentioned previously, was an adventure. I got back to my dorm by 6 pm and am so happy to be back to my "home." I had a great holiday, but glad to be back to Scotland where the holiday really never ends except for a few days out of the week.

Apologies

2007-10-19T11:41:00.000-06:00

Sorry... I haven't posted in a week. However, I will be posting about my trip to Wales next week!!!!

What I have been eating!

2007-10-14T11:39:00.000-06:00

So a lot of questions have centered about what I have been eating in Scotland. Scotland has a plethora of local dishes, and Edinburgh has any restuarant you can imagine. However, since I am on a student budget I have been eating mostly in my flat.

However, my domestic side is beginning to appear the longer I am hear and the more sick I get of sandwiches.

**There is these bagged pasta's that are way better and just as easy as Mac and Cheese. They have flavors such as Chicken and Mushroom yum!

** Then there are the stables with Bread, Nutella, PB&J. (Yes there is peanut butter around here, but it doesn't taste the same)

** I also enjoy a lot of tea instead of ginger ale because it is so heavy to carry liters back to the dorm from South Bridge and up five flights of stairs.

**Of course I still love cereal!!!!!

I have eaten at a pub and a few other random places since I have been here, but I avoid anything over 6 pounds. So my food post isn't that exciting.... however it does answer a very pressing question!

Arthur's Seat--- My Saturday Cardio

2007-10-07T12:21:00.000-06:00

This weekend, in the spirit of not doing anything on Saturday I climbed Arthur's Seat with a few of my friends. We got a later start in the day by leaving at noon. I went with my flat mate Dido from Turkey, and a course mate Justin from Oregon. The day was beautiful. We began by walking to the end of the Royal Mile and turned at Holyrood Palace.

I thought I had been shaping up with climbing up to the fifth storey of my flat everyday and walking everywhere. The ascent up to Arthur's Seat proved me wrong. We made it up to the top after about an hour and a half (mostly due to my frequent breaks to catch my breath!) But the climb was way worth it. The view was breathtaking. You could see New and Old Town and even the coastline leadnig away from the city. The birds even were suspended right above our heads floating on the wind! I had climbed Arthur's Seat before, but today the weather made it stunning.

The way down we took a different root and passed by some lakes full of ducks and swans. Ultimately we ended up at pub by Nicholson Street full of some angry Scottish rugby fans. When we sat down to our pub grub, England had just beat Austrailia 12 to 10. The whole place was an uproar with Scottish Accents. The food was great since I have been eating almost every meal in my flat. We all got burgers and "chips' or fries. I also got some Ginger ale which is something I can get at the grocery, but do not want to carry back all the way to the Mound! Sorry for this being such a short post, but the grad school work is beginning to be pressing.....

I Smell Fish-- An Afternoon by the Sea

2007-10-03T10:57:00.000-06:00

So I had all intentions of getting up early and going to the Naitonal Library of Scotland to make copies. However, after getting up earlier than originally planed, I looked out of my window at a brilliant fall day. I would not consciously subject myself to being cooped up in the library around the corner. So instead I did something that I had wanted to do for awhile.

I took the number 22 bus a few miles away from the town center to Leith. Now it was an interesting journey when the bus drivers changed shift and I hear the new driver mention that he "had never driven a double decker before." (I was glad not to be sitting up top.) I watched as we drove away from Princes Street taking into account at all the different shops in my new surroundings. I got off by one of the roads that led to the legednary battle ship Brittania. Leith is the old port town that has somehow over time merged into Edinburgh. The architecture is the same, but different. I did not focus on any significantly historical attraction. I just wanted to walk by the water. My only street references were Leith Walk and Bernard Street.

Where the bus dropped me off, I had no clue where I was. After a detour through a residential area I found Bernard Street. It had some nice looking Seafod restuarants and shops. The things that surprised me was how quite it was at 4 in the afternoon. No tourists, just a little old lady standing guard at a cross walk waiting for children to get out of school and shop keepers cleaning their windows. I found a little bridge, canal, but that is not what I wanted. After walking awhile I finally asked directions. The end of the street was the ocean.

To get there I had to walk by modern apartment complexes, through construction sites, and of course up a hill. But I did make it to the North Sea. Let me tell you, it was worth it. The two pounds fifty for the bus there was the best I have spend since I got to the city. It was calm, the gulls were floating in the small wavelets, and there were boats out on the brilliant day. It is strange to realize that you can feel at home halfway across the world. I walked along the sea wall for awhile, noticing an old man in a park reading his novel. There were a few inns and pubs catering to their regulars and a father held his daughter's hand as they crossed the street. I was sad to leave the sea, but it was getting dark and I was trying a different bus back to Mylne's Court. I do not regret delaying my trip to the library one bit.

Doors Open Day Saturday September 29

2007-10-01T13:54:00.001-06:00

For one exciting day in Edinburgh a lot cool places open up to the public. There are over 70 establishments all over the city which participate in this day organized by the Cockburn Association. Needless to say I only saw a very small fraction of them. We began the day early (9 am!) and tried to hit up some different places around the dorm.

Our first stop was Old College, which I mentioned last post as the original campus for the University of Edinburgh. The really awesome thing to see is Playfair Library Hall. It was used as the library until the 1960s and is decorated with the busts of notable Scottish figures. It is an incredible room with tall vaulted ceilings and balconies supporting the numerous bookshelves. Leading into the library are this large staircases decorated by huge portriats. Adjoining the Playfair Library, there is a art gallary. Had some interesting things, and my favorite were this pieces made from cheap plastic things such as sunglasses or hairbrushes.

Continuing on to other places, the next stop was the Parliament House. Not to be confused with the brand new Scottish Parliament building. This is the Court House next to Saint Giles Cathederal on the Royal Mile. They had private tours of the advocates (Lawyers) libraries. They had manuscripts from the 1600s just sitting there! The librarian told us that every summer they dust the books and hire students.... So I definetly know what I want to do if I'm short of cash come June. One of the library rooms used to be a courtroom and a very famous murder trial was held there. The rest of the courthouse displayed the old judges outfits with the wigs. Pretty cool.

I toured the Central Library also which wasn't as impressive because I had already been in the building to get a library card. However, there is an awesome reference room with balconies of books. There is also a lot of passages and it is not the tour for the closterphobic. The stacks were so crammed! They had floors and floors of reference books that only the librarians can retrieve. It made me a little nervous because I noticed there were no sprinklers.

The other thing I did was climb to the top of Calton Hill which is a very touristy thing to do. It has an awesome view of the city where you can get the Castle in your picture. The hill also pays tribute to Robert Burns and Horatio Nelson. There is also a tiny observetory. It was awfully crowded because it was Doors Open Day and was not raining like it tends to do on a whim in Scotland.

I saw a few other places. A small music hall with a collection of old pianos. Also a modern apartment converted from stables in the back of fancy residences in New Town. In all honesty I am sad that some of the things I wanted to see were so far out from the city. I did not get to see any old residences or museums. Despite this fact, I do believe a lot more of these places are obtainable to the public than I thought previously. Using the guide for Doors Open Day I know there is a Museum created from an old Fire Station, a museum of Geoscience, a National History museum, and the Royal College of Surgeons has a book bound in human skin! Sometimes I think a year is not going to be enough to see everything in Edinburgh!

The University of Edinburgh 101

2007-09-26T13:45:00.000-06:00

*** Please forgive me, but most of this blog is from the University website or google image because of time constraints this week!

University of Edinburgh FACTS:

~Founded in 1582 from a Royal Charter making the Uni over 400 years old. This means, unlike most universities in Europe at the time, the University of Edinburgh had no religious affilliation at its founding. The benefits of this type of establishment simply means that the secular could be taught without debate for the church.

~ The first campus structure build in the 18th Century is what is now known as Old College and another attractive structure is my neighbor--New College which houses the School of Divinity. Both are a step back into time. New College Library is amazing!!!! Another beautiful structure is McKewan Hall which is a gorgeous neo-classical arena built specifically for graduation.

~The University is divided into colleges which then divide into schools. There are three colleges: Medicine and Vetenary, Humanities and Social Sciencies, and Science and Engineering. The school are History, Classics, and Archaeology for example. There are twenty-one different schools.

~Today the University has 23,000 students with a International Student Population of over 5,000. The International student represent almost every country in the United Nations.

~Some famous alum include: David Hume (Philosopher), Sir Walter Scott (Novelist and founder a Scottish "Identity"), Sir Arthur Conan Doye (Creator of Sherlock Holmes), Robert Louis Stevenson (Author/Poet of "Treasure Island" and "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde"), Sir Patrick Geddes (Founder of my Residence Hall), Elsie Maud Ingles (Founder of the Scottish Women's Suffrage Federation), and more recently featured as "Alumnus of the Year" Ian Rankin and Alexander McCall Smith who are both well loved writers. A very special honorary degree holder from the University is J.K. Rowling!!!! And the pride of the School of History is Gordon Brown the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who received a PhD. from the University. This are just a few of the incredible individuals apart of the 400 year legacy of the University.

~With prestigeous Alumni, the University has also had some very noteworthy achievments. It is a top research University that still has great facilities and opportunities for graduate students in all subjects. Lots of scientific as well as philisophical questions have been answered at the University. Presently the University of Edinburgh is considered the top university in Scotland, the fifth best in the United Kingdom and part of the top 30 in the world!!

As for my first weeks here, I have been so impressed with the University, resources, instructors, and most importantly my fellow graduate students! I still have a lot of work ahead, but I definetly understand the value of the degree I will hopefully earn next fall..

"Dear, Green Place"--Glasgow in Brief

2007-09-23T17:26:00.001-06:00

I am lucky enough to go to a Uni that bolsters a huge International Student population to entertain. Every Saturday the International Student Center sponsors trips to various place. This weekend I accompanied my flatmate to Glasgow. Touring a large city, a day is hardly ever enough. However, after this trip I am very content in the fact that I did not decide to go to The University of Glasgow.

We began our journey from the Edinburgh Bus Station in New Town around 10 am and pulled into Glasgow's station by 11. The trip was actually shorter than the distance between Hattiesburg and Biloxi, Mississippi. There was a lot of chaos leaving the station becasue Glasgow was so crowded!!! We walked through the main shopping district and through the city center. I broke my rule (no eating at American establishments abroad) and had Subway for lunch because corporation had already sunk it's claws into the streets of the city.

The first cool thing we saw was the City Chambers built in 1888. It was a beautiful building with a WWII monument in the front and statues comemorating Sir Walter Scott. It was very impressive, but out of place in the gridlocked streets.

After a further hike through the city we came to the Cathedral. Which was the only thing that I actually knew was in Glasgow besides the University. It was actually very nice. Not as big as Canterbury, Wincester, or Westminster. It had great stained glass windows and statues so detailed they made me a little nervous. It is one of the only gothic cathedrals to survive the Scottish reformation. Today the religion that worships there is the Church of Scotland or Presbyterian. We also found a street fair with all kinds of booths and live music. My mouth watered as I noticed a crepe tent with huge jars of Nutella. We settled for a coffee break.

Eventually we just walked to the River Clyde and back to the bus station. All in all the weather was beautiful and the city was not too intimidating even with the high murder rate and the old ladies who wore mini skirts. I'm sorry there is not too much to say, except that the symbol for the city is the trout and Nae Botha! (Glasgoegian for no bother!/Your welcome)

A Tour of my Humble Abode

2007-09-20T12:12:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe I have already been here for two weeks. Classes began and I already have a ridiculous amount of reading to complete in the next two weeks. My supervisors are really interesting and nice. I had no idea how much my dissertation topic fit into the new initiative made by the Centre for the Study of Both World Wars is creating. War and religion are both key in their joint partnership with Birmingham University. Now my reason for admittance has become increasingly clear. As for the city, it is such a wonderful place. I have seen a few things, but still have a lot of other things to adventure out and try in the upcoming year. Now for the subject of my blog tonight. I would like to make an introduction to my residence hall, which in itself is an experience.

I live in a series of buildings on the Royal Mile known as Mylne's Court. They are a series of converted tenement buildings made to accomodate students and purchased for that purpose by the University of Edinburgh in the 1960s. However, my particular building Patrick Geddes Hall is known as the oldest student flat in Scotland. It was an idea from medical(?) professor Patrick Geddes in 1887. My particular dorm is five stories and yes I have absolutely no elevator or lift. It does provide a spectacular view of Princes Street and New Town.

The series of building's in Mylne's Court creates a maze of sorts. Adjoined to New College which is a section of the University that specializes in Divinity and history of the Church of Scotland. The structure of New College creates a close or small allyway which connects the buildings. There is also a back garden behind my dorm that is only accessed by students of New College or Mylne's Court. There is even a secret tunnel. Yes that is right. The common room in the other buildings has a little side room with mailboxes. There is a set of double doors almost always locked. But on rare occassions like our orientation meeting for Mylne's Court extra space is needed. Those double doors unlock to enter into a grand hallway with the huge black and white tile floors and portriats of past headmasters. This hallway leads to New College's dining hall which is like a miniature version of the grand halls found at Oxford and Cambridge.

Now living here is pretty amazing, but there is drawbacks. The tourists pose a problem because they are always lost and needing directions. Tour groups stop in front of our building which is a little unnerving when your dragging laundry down street. Laundry itself costs about three pounds for a load which is about six dollars in American dollars. But I look forward to an interesting time here in my flat with my four other flat mates and the best view of the city. I wish everyone in much warmer climates the best, until next time!

Break Down in Paris-- My Adventure Getting to Edinburgh

2007-09-13T15:53:00.000-06:00

So... finally I have an internet connection in which I can post on. I feel that it is appropriate I start from the beginning. So tonight I am going to share with you the experience I had getting to Edinburgh.

I left was at the Gulfport/BIloxi Airport at 4:30 am because I went for the cheap tickets. (When I say cheap tickets I mean VERY cheap tickets.) It was hard saying goodbye to my parents and Edward. How do you say goodbye to someone that you will not see for a year? Getting through airport security with my huge carry-on, pillow, and laptop was tricky. I also had a gallon bag full of "liquids and gels" which I had to downsize because a quart bag is all we're allowed. As the plane left the airport it was very nice because the sun was just rising, but the street lights were twinkling. I made sure to get one last glance at home.

Altanta was quite boring. I had a seven hour layover (again the cheap tickets). I sat at one gate for four hours only to find out that we were leaving from a gate on the opposite side of the airport. The wait was just so long... I completed several Sodoku puzzles to say the least. The flight borded on time, but taxied around for awhile. Not a good sign for my hour layover in Paris. The flight went alright. Not too big of a plane so we experienced some turbulence. I watched the movies Georgia Rules and Spiderman 3. I also viewed an episode of Heroes, which was really strange especially after six hours of flight.

We arrived to Charles DeGaulle at 6:15 am their time. Again the plane taxied around. Deboarding took forever because I was in the second to last row on an International flight. (Yes again the cheap tickets) I rushed as fast as I could through the buses, had my passport stamped twice for some reason, and went back through security only to have my bag checked and to be patted down. I missed my connecting flight from Paris to Edinburgh. The next flight was seven hours later....

Hence the beginning of my breaking point. All the doubts of this decision began dancing around my exhausted brain. I began fearing a drastic rise in the dollar pound exchange. I was scared that I would not be able to handle the cold or the coursework. I feared arriving in the city and trying to get my bags into my room. In the middle of my breakdown I called Edward. Bad idea because he caused me to worry about my bags which he had shipped for me the day before. I was concerned because I thought if the bags arrived before me that they would be returned to sender. So yes, you guessed it... I cried in the Paris Airport. I think if I would have been offered the opportunity to cut my loses and return home I may have taken it. But there was no turning back.

The excrusiatingly long lay over did end and I did make it to Edinburgh. Getting through customs, collecting my luggage, and getting to my accomodation was the easiest part of the trip. The day I arrived in the city was beautiful. The airport shuttle drove into the city and I saw all the site of Edinburgh I love so much. Arthur's seat still stood over the city. I was deposited on the side of the Royal Mile where I was greeting my the residence staff and I did not even have to carry my cases up five flights of stairs.

My room faces Prince's Street and the view I have is the best. (Reference my first post... yes that picture is my view!) I discovered my AT&T phone card was not working properly so in order to tell my parents I was alive, I had to find a UK phone card. So with all the travel grunge I walked down the Royal Mile and for the first time in a long time.. I wasn't worried about anything. The sun sparkled off of the cobblestone streets and the breeze was such a relief after the hours I had been cramped inside. It was if the city had waited patiently for me to return four years later and greeted me like a long lost friend. For that rare and special moment in time I knew the drastic decision I have made was the right one.

Update

2007-09-09T08:24:00.001-06:00

I have made it here safe!!! Post pending the connection of my internet! Cheers!!!!

Preparing for Take Off

2007-09-04T22:55:00.000-06:00

So I am on the verge of the biggest adventure of my twenty-three years. I will be completing a year abroad at the University of Edinburgh in the capital city of Scotland. I will be a natural Mississippi girl joining the ranks of the many prestigious people who walked the hallowed halls of the best University in Scotland. Robert Louis Stevenson (author of Treasure Island), Charles Darwin, and honorary alumni J.K. Rowling just to name a few.

However, the past few days these exciting details have been far away from my mind with trip preperations. Packing for a year away in a different climate and an exchange rate where I automatically lose half of my budget have been keeping me up at night. Arriving to this point has been a long hard road. When I fell in love with Scotland four years ago I had no idea I loved it enough to return to it, leaving behind the only home I ever known. After half a dozen failed scholarship applications and turning down one of my top US choice grad schools, I decided that I would always reget not taking this opportunity. Things work out for the best. I have a partial scholarship, a federal student loan, and some very fortunate savings to get me through my year.

Come join me for my adventure. I will post bi-weekly every Sunday and Wednesday I can. Hear about my travels to exciting locations such as the French Riviera, Amsterdam, and Croatia to name a few. Feel the cold breeze of the North Sea as I go to meet my advisors which are some of the most respected in field of modern history. Learn of my cultural mishaps and wrong turns. All you have to do is read on and enjoy the ride!!!!