Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 12 - Edinburgh's the only place you see kilts, really. Teuchters wear wellies

Day 12 - Saturday 15. October

Today I slept a bit better than yesterday, since I had not drank just before bedtime. I walked down to the kitchen, and then back up, then down again, because I had forgot something in the kitchen, then up again, packed a bit, then I walked down again, and picked up the laundry from yesterday. Then back up, since I had forgot the sheet. So I walked a few times up and down. 

And the blisters were hurting even more. So I walked out, down the hill and to "The Clockwork Orange". Isn't it typical that when I have started feeling like home in a place, then its time to move on.

I got to the city, and found the tourist bus. I sat and listened to Neil Oliver (the voice) while he guided me through the drive around town. Then afterwards I popped into a tourist office and bought... yes, postcards! But do I have time to send them, that is another problem. So now I am stuck with Scotland postcards, that I guess I have to send from Ireland. Unless I find a pen and a postbox on the airport.

After being in the tourist office, it was time to find the pub, the time was now 11.45. But I got distracted by 3 guys in kilt that played bagpipe, snare drum and you know those "boom boom" drums. I ended up standing there for quite a while. 

Then it was time for the pub, and I stayed there for quite a while, mostly because I did not get anywhere, the pub was filled with Celtic fans. I felt almost like home, even though my right foot was sleeping (Sleeping foot). It was sleeping from the top of my thigh down to my toes. Kinda like me on a Monday morning. I had two Guinness and one coke, while I was there, since this was the last time I was there for several months. I am getting more and more certain that its Glasgow I want to live in, even though there are more guys in kilt in Edinburgh. 

I will probably figure it out. After the pub-stroll, it was time to find the bus station (Bunchanan) and the bus to Edinburgh again.

I got safely to Edinburgh and I went off right beside Ryan's Bar. So I went in, and had a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows. Its so yummy! But then it was time to find the hostel, and I walked up and down by the castle, and I did not find the hostel, and my feet were nearly killing me. 

Then eventually I found the hostel, a very cool place indeed. So I went inside, and locked in my things, and went out to find men in kilt. I did not find anyone in kilt, except from in the kilt shop I got locked inside. I had a nice conversation with the two handsome guys there. What I did find was a Ferrari, which I completely fell in love with. Then there came another Ferrari, so I was quite happy, even though the lack of men in kilts. Then I went and had dinner, guess what I had... YES! Haggis!<3
Yummy!

Then I went back to the hostel and went to sleep, because I am getting up at like 05.00 in the morning.

Good night!

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 11 - Sexy, scottish accent!

Day 11 - Friday 14. October

Today I slept pretty badly. I woke up, and fell to sleep all the time. At last I gave up, and got out of the bed. I went to the toilet, and then in to the kitchen. No, they are not at the same floor. I did a lot of gentle walking.
Ate breakfast, checked mail, facebook, twitter and so on, and realized that no one was missing me, I can just as well stay here.

Well, I can't really do that, since I have appointments here and there. Oh well, no my problem is finding Mark again, and it turns out to be really difficult. I have seriously no idea how many different Mark there are in Glasgow. I think I should move here, and make "Fáilte" my local pub. I am hoping I'll see him again. Well, that's life!
After breakfast it was time to get on "The Clockwork Orange" . aka Subway/Metro/Underground. A very noisy carrier. But a nice way to get from A to B. I think I can walk the way to the pub, without looking. I'm not sure if that is a positive or negative thing.
Today was the day to look at Glasgow from the bus. I am not sure if it is possible to fall in love with a voice, but today I manage to do so. I did not catch much of what he was saying, the voice on the bus. My own personal tourist guide, that is probably going on repeat 20 times a day. But the important thing here was his accent. I was actually expecting a plain, boring English accent, but I ended up being surprised by this awesome accent. I want a man with that accent!

After the bus drive, I ended up at...can you guess it...yes, you are right, the pub! This was not only because it was an Irish-themed pub, but because of the blisters I had on my feet, because of the new shoes. But neither Mark or the man from New Orleans was there. Bummer! But the two awesome barkeepers were there. And apparently they know me enough, to know what I want. Yes, I got two Guinness. I don't think I can cope with more on an empty stomach. I am a tiny bit dizzy, and a lot more happy than I was earlier today.
I'll survive!
I ended up getting lost in Glasgow, and the blisters were punctured. Jeez it hurts! So I ended up going to McDonald's, and I thought "now is the time to count cars". But I was all along interrupted by people asking me for directions for the bus-station and train-station. I look like I am from Glasgow, it seems
I went back to the pub, and had not just one, but two more Guinness. And I think I have drank like 37 alcohol units in like 10 days. And I haven't been to Dublin yet. And I have one more day in Edinburgh as well. Both the handsome barkeepers were there today, and I just had to look at them, and they knew what I wanted. One of em reminds me of a mix between Michael (handsome host from last Ireland trip) and some other guy, while the other one was more like... a mix between Kenneth (captain on the boat I was on with my class in Greece) and Eric Bana (without beard and with surfer-blond hair).

Anyway, after all the Guinness' it was time to get home and rest, the time was almost 18.00, and I am tired as a pack of carrots that has been laying to long on the kitchen counter. But I have learned that I should wait until at least 23.00, or else I will be fully awake at 23.00.
Well, I guess I should drink up my coffee, and  get home, cause there is no point going back the the pub. I wonder if I'll ever meet Mark again...Who knows?

I went back to the hostel, and the nice, old lady was there, and we sat and talked about music, piano and Scotland and Norway for quite a while. Incredibly nice!
We were so similar to each other, and we talked for hours.She was a retired pianist, and she knew so much about life, and when she was young she had a boyfriend from Norway. She had a very special accent, with an almost Norwegian sound to her voice. She said that I was a artistic person, and that I needed a man that understood that passion.
Then it was off to bed...

Music comes from the heart

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 10 - The Clockwork Orange

 Day 10 - Thursday 13. October

Today I woke up, early as ever. I found out that I wanted to do the same as yesterday. Counting cars. So I packed all my belongings. Everything from Haggis, to the kilt, 2 enormous deliveries by post. So I went down all the stairs, and handed in my door-card, and headed for Ryan's bar. Still not THE bar, since it was like 08.30. I sat at the same spot as last time, unloaded my stuff (my super heavy bag, scarf,jacket, sweater, 2 bags and 2 deliveries by post). I think I looked like a beast of burden. I ordered a cup of hot chocolate with cream, and started counting cars. I think I counted as many as 617 cars in 1 hour. It was a different waitress there today. I think she was Irish, from Kerry.

Afterwards I wandered over to the bus stop, and waited for the big, green bus. At last it came, and I stomped along inside the bus, and sat down. And I stayed there all the way to Waverly Bridge. I went off there, with all my bags, and found a toilet. Well, I did find a bagpiper, in kilt. Awesome! But it was not a man, so I need to keep looking for that. 

 

Then I started the quest for the post office, and I wandered back and forth on Prince Street, but nothing. So I was this close to just give up, when I realized that I had a map over Edinburgh, so I folded out the map, which was almost as big as me, and found the nearest post office.
Apparently I look like I am Scottish, because people tend to ask me for direction and stuff. 

 

After a while I found the place, and the dispatch of the envelopes was done. Now it was time for breakfast. So I found the Starbucks, and ordered a panini and a café mocha. Yummy yummy! Then it was time to find the bus station, and of course, I started going in the wrong direction, and then the map came out, and I found it eventually. I also found the bus to Glasgow, and I sat and listened to the accent the bus driver had. He reminded me of a Scottish version of Steven Fry. 
 

Then I arrived in Glasgow, and it was time to find the metro/subway/underground, So I pattered obviously in the wrong direction, cause I did not find the metro/subway/underground. But what I did find was an Irish pub, and of course I stayed there. For quite a while actually, and I talked to a man from New Orleans. I had 2 Guinness, and sucked up the atmosphere. The barkeepers where dressed up as cowboys, with a cowboy hat and a water pistol. Fascinating! Then I realized that I maybe should find what I was looking for, so guess what I found 2 minutes after I left the pub. Yes, you are right, I found the metro/subway/underground. So I went down, and bought a ticket, and tried to do as everyone else was doing, since this was my first acquaintance with the metro/subway/underground. It is indeed a fascinating way of travelling. Very noisy though! I went off at Hillhead, and followed the manual I had made in Dublin. At last I found the hostel, and of course, I am sleeping on the top floor. I memorized the door code, and went to the shop, and then back down to the metro/subway/underground, and headed back to city centre. I went down the hill, and over to the Irish pub. 

 

The man from New Orleans were there, and another young, nice man called Mark. (This is THE Mark I was talking about). I ordered a Guinness, and we sat/stood and talked, and I learned him a few Norwegian words, and he thought me how to say “cheers” in Scottish Gaelic. And as we talked he ordered not just one, but 2 Guinness for me. And I thanked him politely, and drank up. But then he and his mate (Johnny) had to go, and got hugs and kisses. I was quite happy as I sat there. But then it hit me, I forgot to ask him for his last name. FUCK! Because this was the sort of guy I would like to get to know, and he was not coming back to Glasgow until next week, and then I am in Dublin. SHAIT!

So I went out, and back to the metro/subway/underground. I am kind of sad, and I am not sure what to do. I am wondering if I am going to take the trip to the pub tomorrow, and hand in a envelope, and hope that he gets it, or deliver it to the man from New Orleans. Depressive me!

Or I can hang up a note in the pub, and hoping that he will see it. I HAVE to have made an impression, since I was the only Norwegian girl, with Scottish T-shirt and red hair.

I went to bed, and woke up around 22.30, when the other woman I was sharing rooms with came. She was from Scotland, Isle of Sky I think. And elder woman, but very nice. And then the 3^rd woman came, she was German, and she wanted to sleep.

I went back to bed, in hope to get some sleep, but the plastered from 5 Guinness, it wont give in that easy.

Good night!

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 9 - Fresh as a daisy

Day 9 - Wednesday 12. October 


Today I woke up, as I said yesterday at 03.00, and figured out quickly that it was a bit too early, so I fell asleep again, with a horrid toothache. 

I woke up with the same toothache. I got up, and walked to the nearest shop, and bought painkillers and ecological cola. Then I walked over to Ryan's Bar (no, I did not start drinking at 08.30), to have a cup of cacao. While I was trying to get rid of the toothache. I ended up counting cars, again. I think I sat for an hour, watching all the Ford, BMW and Porsche that drove by. Afterwards I took a trip to McDonald's, and bought a bagel. That is funny food! Did not taste to good!

Then  I walked up towards the castle, and then  got lost, and then I found a big, green bus, so I jumped on that, and took the trip around in Edinburgh. 

Lots of things to look at, and you really get the feeling how steep it is to get from A to B. And that is why there are so many bridges in Edinburgh. 

 

I went off at Waverly Bridge, and wobbled about, and found a kilt-shop, and I ended up buying a kilt. Went out, got some more money, and then back in, and bought 4 more t-shirts. Then I went down to Waverly Bridge, and found the green bus, and sat on it til we got to the castle. 

Then I tried to find the post office. Instead I found a Starbucks, so I got a coffee, and continued my quest for the post office. Then I saw a VERY handsome man in a kilt,  but suddenly he was gone. And I found the post office. I bought 2 enormous envelopes, and tried to find a good way to carry em, that was not too easy. This is when the fun began, I got lost. I was foolproof that I was walking the right way, and it turned out to be the wrong one.

My feet ached more than ever, and my shoes will shortly fall off. Then I figured out "I should get back to the hostel, and have a shower". It took a while to find it, and it feels like I have been walking in every single street in Edinburgh. It sure feels like so. 
I think I have gotten a tension in the back of my right thigh. I found the hostel, and went up to take a shower, and there were a sign saying "cleaning in process". So I sat down outside the shower, and waited. Then a person came out with a vacuum, so I went in, and then I figured that I needed a towel, so I went down all the stairs and up again, and walked in to the shower, and there were a woman cleaning, so I had to wait, again. Then I found out I did not have any soap, so I went out, and over to the Co-operative. Then I went back to the hostel, with a low-necked top. I got a few looks!

Went up all the stairs, and in to the shower. That was wonderful! Now I am fresh as a daisy. And first now I realized that I don't have anymore clean tights , so I pulled out my computer and tried to find out where Marks and Spencer and H/M was. It was not that far away. So I pulled my skirt on, a t-shirt and leggings, and strutted out of the hostel. I was thinking "this will be OK, its not that far". Well, this is for everyone else, but me. Because I managed to get lost. And GOD how painful this turned out to be. There is a reason why I am always wearing tights. I tried not to give myself away on how painful it was. After a while I found what I was looking for, and when the shopping was done, I had a new pair of tights, new socks and new shoes. Hurrah!

I went back to the hostel, and put everything into my locker, where Angus (my Scottish highland cow) laid, with Mr. Browncheese. They were sleeping of the whisky-hangover. 

Then I went to Ryan's bar, and ate Haggis and had a Guinness


Then I walked back to the hostel, and tried to figure out a logical way to get all my luggage with me, in my wee bag. I checked my internet-bank, and had some more painkillers. I went down, had some coke and wrote in my diary. Had some more coke, and some baileys. Not at the same time though. That is just disgusting. 

But now its time to go to bed, because I really need to sleep.