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. 

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 8 - Going berserk in the kilt-shop!

Day 8 - Tuesday 11. October

Today, or night when I got up the sun was rising. Something that means that I was up early. Very early. I did not manage to sleep, so I went out, in the darkness.

I went over to Prince Garden, with my camera. I took a few nice photos, and then i walked back to the hostel. Then it was time for breakfast. I ate 4 slices of bread, and then I headed off again. I walked around town and took a lot of photos.

Then I found a church, and then I found the castle. I stopped below the castle, and just sat there. Then 2 buses came from the Netherlands, with students. Fascinating language! Then I found a "we-are-making-scarfs-and-kilt" shop. I loved it there. And then this handsome Scottish guy came, in his beautiful purple kilt. But he disappeared before I knew it, he was gone. I think you can say that I went berserk in the Scotland shops. And at the end I ended up at the castle. Very nice place, and I met the executioner, but he wasn't Scottish.

 I used the day to be a proper tourist and just walk around. I think I have walked more these last few days, than I normally do in a whole month. My legs are starting to ache, and its mostly because of the shoes. I should get some new one soon, cause these are falling apart.
I have also been to Fretex, different pubs, ate haggis. Its so yummy! I have also found myself a Top-Gear book, a bag and a skirt. Happy me!


I have also bought way to many t-shirts. I if I know myself right, I would say there will be more t-shirts. I have also been amazingly effective today. The most effective tourist Edinburgh has ever seen. 


I have also looked for men in kilt, and I have tried to follow them, but it does not work. I have also seen soccer games, or at least parts of it. First Ireland-Armenia and then Spain-Scotland. But despite what David said, there were no more guys in kilt for that reason. 

I have also, yet again, found out that drinking on an empty stomach is not a good idea. I think I have had like 4 Guinness, 1 cider and 1 McEwans. Not at the same time, of course, but during the day. But still... 

I had a terrible stomachache, and I really got to hear it from Sue. She said that I should not drink, and that I should find a sink with water in. 
I did not find a sink, so I did not sleep very well, my fault entirely. Not just because I had drank, but because I live VERY centrally situated. There were always traffic outside my window. I guess it was around 03.00 that I woke up, and I realized that I should get some more sleep. And I had this dreadful toothache.

Good night!

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 7 - Crabs and icecream

Day 7 - Monday 10. October

Today I woke up at around 07.00, tired as heck, but I could not sleep. So I went up, and packed the stuff I needed for 6 days in Scotland. Its not that easy getting everything into a wee Converse shoulder bag. I have now remembered the camera, tickets, passports, cables and chargers, my computer, money and a few pieces of clothes. I am hoping for good weather. I removed the sheets from the bed, and threw it out in the basket that were in the hallway, grabbed my suitcase, and pattered down to the reception. There were this handsome Irishman (yes, they do exist). I turned in my suitcase (because this was the best place to leave it, since Padraig couldn't), and the key. Then I went to check facebook, twitter, mail, couch-surfing, newspapers and wrote down the information I got from the hostels in Scotland. And down in the kitchen there were this big placard where it said : Tonite: Crepes and Ice cream, 8.30" and then a few German girls came, and they kept on saying "Crabs and ice cream".

I found everything I needed, and went to find the bus. I walked and I walked, but I did not get lost. I found the bus, and decided that I needed a breakfast. 

It was so lovely to have something to east. At approximately 10.00, I went in to the bus, and this was like 2 hours before I needed to. Then I went off at the wrong part of the airport, and therefore I had to walk a bit. 

Inside the airport it was time to yet another wee breakfast, and then through security. That went fine, and then I had to figure out what gate I had to go to, and after a bit of research I figured it out. I ended up at Starbucks, and I had a big mocca with cream. And a muffin.

Mr. Browncheese, the muffin and the coffee

Then I found 3 handsome guys in kilt, and I thought "they are probably going to Edinburgh", but no, they were going to Alicante. *sad face*. 

That was a bummer! The closest I got to a man in a kilt, was a man with a sixpence hat. I was in gate 108, and the time was 14.50, and of course, the plane was late! I ended up in a queue for at least one hour, not very fun

But there is something that impress me, and that is how many people its possible to get into an aircraft. And how I seem to attract the people I don't want to attract. On the plane I had to sit next to a sheep (well, it wasn't a sheep, but he sure smelled like one, he had an Aran-jumper on). And behind me were this 2 year old which thought that "lets kick Solveig's seat all the way". And I think there were like 4 or 5 

families with small children, and everyone of em were screaming. LOUDLY! It was kinda like "Think positive, don't punch anyone in the face".

The plane landed, and I have found out that I would never do a good job as a Queen, minister, president or anything up that street, because getting down a unstable airplane stair, in lots of wind, its not the thing for me. I went through the airport and out on the other side. Jeez, it's cold here. But I got quickly used to it. It was now time to dig out my "Scotland wallet", and find the bus. I paid the bus, and sat down. My first impression of Scotland is very good. The bus driver had this amazing accent. I had Jamie Sives in my head, and that is GOOD!

Then I saw a road sign were it said "Disable people", and I read "disposable people".

I went off at West end, and found the hostel pretty fast. I had to get out to get more money, went back in, checked in and got a key card. Went up, and I did not find the stairs all the way up, went then down again, and up again, this time I knew where the stairs were. Jeez, what a long stair. Went in to the room, had a few photos, and went down, again. 

Out to get dinner, and bought some sushi and a wrap with chicken. *Yummy* Headed then back to the hostel, and had a cider (very sweet, way to sweet) and a beer names Innis & Gunns, and then I ate sushi and wraps, and then I had another beer. The Caledonian 80/-. 

Special beer, this is what the bottle told me: "The definitive Scottish style ale, brewed in our Victorian Brewhouse with a complex mix of no less than 6 different malts, which are infused with the whole hop flowers of Goldings, Fuggles and WGV. This creates a beautiful russet brown beer with a malty, fruity aroma. Flavours are of malt, caramel and a clovery spicyness with a good balancing dryness, in a soft happy finish. Smooth, creamy, and very easy to drink, ´Caley 80 is both definitive, satisfying and in cask, was CAMRA´s inaugural Champion Beer of Scotland."

Tomorrow its sightseeing!

Experiencing Irland and Scotland: Day 6 - The Swan has escaped!

Day 6 -Sunday 9. October


Today I slept incredibly well, and when I got up, I ended up taking a bath. That was lovely! I haven't been in a bathing tub in years. I miss having a bathing tub.
Went into the living room, and Sue was already up, and we had breakfast. I sat and drank hot lime with honey and cinnamon. My breakfast consisted of something that looked like wetabix and then 2 slices of bread with butter. Super good bread! 

Luna was very ready to play, but I had to check my mail first. 

Afterwards I found my camera, and I took photos of the lizards, the fish and the cat, the house, of Luna and of Sue. Went then out with Luna and played. What a charming dog! Then I found a blackberry, and took a few photos of that too. Then the cat came, and he fell asleep on my arm, after licking it. I really miss having a cat. And then Luna looked at me with big eyes, she wanted to play, while I had the cat on my arm. Its not easy throwing far with a cat on your arm. 

Then Sue and I went on a trip to St. Patrick's Well. What a beautiful place!

 

It was really relaxing to be there. I took a lot of nice photos and the guide told be about the Pagan religion and when St. Patrick Christianize the place. And since it was limestone in the ground, the water was self-cleansing and actually quite good. The bubbles came up through the ground. I think I am suppose to have eternal life now. Nice place! And the guide had a really special accent, and then Sue explained that this was one of the accents in Clonmel. His R's were kind of German. Afterwards we headed off to a little lake, with loads of swans and mallard ducks. I immediately though "Oh no, the swan has escaped"

I took a lot of photos of thees cute birds. There were a swan-family consisting of 6 swans, and an armada of mallard ducks. 

Then we headed back to the house, and had tea. Checked the map, and found out where the hostel in Dublin was. Printed it out, and then I sat down with the cat on my lap, and it decided to wash me. It was a very special feeling, being licked by a cat. It kinda reminds me of the feeling of being kissed by a guy with beard on the neck. Guys, now you know how that feels...

Then it was time to pack my bags and get in the car. We were late, and it did not help that Clonmel was playing some hurling team (I think it was Cork). There were cars EVERYWHERE! And a marathon as well. But we got to the station, and reversed the car in front of the bus. I gave Sue a big hug, and threw the suitcase into the bus, and then entered the bus. Sat down by a window, and waved all my hand would allow to Sue. I am really gonna miss her, and her wonderful personality!

The bus drove against Dublin, and I counted cars. Toyota is very popular here. I arrived in Dublin 17.40, and went straight to the tourist office. He said that I could take the 16 bus, so I went "hunting" for the bus, and I did not find it, so I ended up taking taxi to the hostel.
I paid the driver and went in to the hostel. Quite nice actually. I was the only one in my room, and I thought it was rather OK. And I ordered room in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Then I went over to the store and then the pub, had a Guinness and a cider in 15 minutes, which was rather fun afterwards, since I once again did this on an empty stomach. I apparently never learn!

Went back to the hostel, and fixed this and that, and packed my bag.Tomorrow its time for Scotland, and now its time for bed!