Advertisement
Published: February 16th 2009
Edit Blog Post
Wow....that is one word that can accurately describe this weekend. Ok, now that you know everything that occurred. Blog over......
Just kidding (funny joke right?). So let me start off with the story about how Tara and I almost missed the train to Edinburgh.
It is 5:15pm and our train leaves at 6:00pm. For some reason, we had imagined that would be PLENTY of time to travel across London, including switching tubes. We are about to walk out, and this is our conversation:
Me: "Tar, got your Euro's?"
Tara: "What?!...Scotland takes Pounds"
Me: "What?!...My wallet is full of Euros...and just 5 pounds."
There was our (my) first problem. No time to stop at an ATM, I shall be broke until we arrive. We depart our flat and take a few steps when I realized I left my Sainsburys' lunch in the fridge. (Sainburys is one of the grocery stores). I sprint back into the flat, taking a second to look at the amazing place we are living in, grab my food and sprint out.
So now its is about 5:23...37 minutes until the train leaves. We board the tube and head towards our transfer point. We transfer
to the circle line....which is by far the WORST LINE ever. I have never rode that line without having any problems (seriously, avoid at all costs). The train we are on decided to come to a complete...yes complete stop in between stations not once...not twice...but three times. We finally get to the train station at around 5:52. It is now a full on sprint. Tara and I have our huge backpacks attached to us (we buckled the straps around us to enhance our touristy look). We are pushing people out of the way, saying "sorry" in our best British accents, and run faster than superman can fly. And since he doesn't exist, we win the race.
5:56: We get to the meeting point where the rest of the group going was supposed to be, and there are 200 people there! We tried calling a few people who were going and finally got in touch with one. We found the group as they announced what platform the train was on, and the mob rushed towards it. It was a free-for-all. BUT.....despite all that, somehow Tara and I ended up with a table seat. Most people were sitting like on a
coach bus, but we had a table....unreal.
We had a great time on the train ride over, and got into Edinburgh at about 10:30. After hitting up the ATM (much needed), we explored the city a little at night and enjoyed a few of the local places.
Friday during the day was a great one. It started out visiting the Scottish Parliament Building. Now although they are not their own country, but part of the United Kingdom, they still have their own parliament that deals with certain issues pertaining to just Scotland (little political science lesson for you). The building was sooo modern and not what I would expect the Parliament Building to look like, but check out the pics.
Then we took a tour of Edinburgh Castle. It was awesome! But...the funniest thing happened. So...everyday at 1pm, there is a cannon that goes off. You will see below 3 different pictures. 1. Right before the cannon goes off....the third picture is right after the cannon goes off, and the middle picture....well, its a little blurry. That is because I got scared and jumped as the cannon went off........ I took the picture as I got scared
and you can see the results. There was also the Crown Jewels, we weren't allowed to take pictures, but I did anyway....just for you.
Then we went to the National Gallery, and the out for some Scottish Tea. I proceeded to give myself a present and buy a new a shirt, and then we hit the town for the night. Before we got any drinks though, (seriously, what you are about to read happened before), Tara and I were having fun playing the tap-you-on-the-shoulder-then-runaway game. Mistake.
So I tap Tara on the shoulder and move the side to get out the way. In an attempt to really trick her, I run to the other side....not seeing there is a car-barrier there.....my legs wipe out, and all I can see is the ground getting closer. My hands reach down, but not soon enough. They smack the sidewalk....my face soon follows. Everyone turns to see what happened. All they heard was a crash landing. There I was laying on the ground. I was actually ok. Just a little scratch, but no injuries and no headache! The worst part about the whole story.....TARA DID NOT EVEN FEEL ME TAP HER SHOULDER!
Then we went out and had a great night!
I will leave you with that for now...part two of my weekend coming shortly.
Trivia and such will be written then.
Londoner,
Sir Darren Nigel Goldberg III of Maida Vale
Advertisement
Tot: 0.095s; Tpl: 0.015s; cc: 6; qc: 45; dbt: 0.0496s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb