Back in Doncaster

April 1 2012

I had the great privilege to head back to Doncaster and spend time with Danielle and Angela. I was so thankful for the opportunity to chill out and re-groups after my crazy European adventure. I will be forever grateful to them for their generosity.  The highlight of my time with them was Danielle singing at the Doncaster Pride launch party. I am so glad I was able to see her perform. I saw her perform when I was their 10  years ago and again now. We had an awesome time. Check out some photos from a crazy night!

Angela and Nicole

Danielle and Jessica

Ready for a great night!

John and Nicole

SMILES all around!

Sorry for my singing in the video.

Danielle is much better, but I was having a great time!

Danielle performing

Sing it!

Danielle and Angela

Amazing times with an old friend!

Cheers!

Edinburgh- Past and Present

Mar. 29 2012

I really enjoyed my time in Edinburgh. My day and a half in the city was jam packed but it was good fun. I was lucky to spend one of those day hanging out with Amber who I met on the Haggis tour.

Edinburgh is full  of history and stories and here are a few.

I found the story of Bruke and Hair very interesting so it it goes. Burke and Hare were  serial murders in Edinburgh, from November 1827 to October 31, 1828. The killings in Edinburgh continued  until they were eventually  attributed to Irish immigrants William Burke and William Hare, who sold the corpses of their 17 victims to provide material for dissections. The bodies were purchaser by Dr. Robert Knox and used at the Edinburgh Medical College. As you may have guessed dead bodies were worth a lot at this time. During the same era grave robberies happened often since bodies were needed for medical research. Often families would guard the grave of their family member for three weeks after they were buried to ensure thee body was not stolen. After this time the body would be too decomposed to be used for medical research and be safe. It is said that this is where the saying "I am working the graveyard shift" came from.

Another story that I heard many times through out my time in Scotland was the story of "Garde Loo". In Old Edinburgh you would often hear the shouting of "garde loo ".  If you were not quick enough or if someone was holding a grudge  you could find yourself being showered with the contents of chamber pots hurled from windows. Chamber pots were of course used to collect urine overnight. I don't think the streets of Edinburgh would have been the nicest place to walk around a few hundred years ago. The term "garde loo" comes from the French Garde L'eau which means "watch out for the water". Some say this is where the nickname  "loo" , for the toilet may have come from.

Edinburgh has a past full of ghosts and terror so we headed out on a tour of the old vaults.
The Edinburgh Vaults or South Bridge Vaults are a series of chambers formed in the nineteen arches of the South Bridge. For around 30 years, the vaults were used to house taverns, cobblers and other tradesmen, and as storage space for illicit material. As the conditions in the vaults deteriorated, mainly because of damp and poor air quality, the businesses left and the very poorest of Edinburgh's citizens moved in around 1820. Crime and disease was overwhelming and during the tour we were told that people had a life expectancy of about 18 months after moving into the vaults. We learned about the scary side of things and the spirits that are said to continue to live in the vaults.

In the Vault

It seems like no European city seems to be fulfilled fully for me unless I have been on a New Europe tour. This was my 4th tour with this company in just over 6 weeks. Check out some pictures from the sights of Edinburgh.

St Giles' Cathedral

Edinburgh Castle- Located on Volcanic Rock

Memorial to Bobby the dog that stayed by his owners grave
 for 16  years following his death in the war

Where Harry Potter was Born

Where the first Harry Potter book was written

Edinburgh Castle

View from Edinburgh Castle

Scottish Love!

Recreation of living quarters for servants in Castle

Castle Grounds

Amber and I at Edinburgh Castle

Arthur's Seat

Climbing Aurthur's seat was a real defining moment for me. While sitting on top I realize just how much I have done over the past 6 months. I sat at the top forever just thinking about what I have learned and how life might just be a little bit different when I get home. When I thought about doing this trip alone it was terrifying but in all honestly I think it has been the best decision I have ever made. The confidence I now have in my ability to be independent is kind of overwhelming. I have had so many amazing opportunities as a result of having to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I can't really pin point how I have changed during this trip but I know I have. I think I have been so go go go that I have not had time to reflect and I am so happy I had this awesome opportunity to be in such picturesque location to just think .

Scottish Love!

View on the way up Arthur's Seat

Last part to climb to Arthur's Seat

Awesome View!

Standing on the top of the world

I took the stairs up and decided to take another way down.
Little did I know that I would be doing some seriously repelling to get down.
 This was the path, but I would call in a rock face.

I climbed to the top of that.

Hollybrook Castle- Residence of the Queen when she is in Edinburgh

Scottish must see

Princes Street Garden

Highland Love

Mar. 29 1012

My trek from Ireland to Scotland was way better than expected.The plan was to take a bus, then a ferry, then another but. I was happily surprised that the ferry was awesome. It had everything; a cinema, bar, and even a spa. My favourite part was the WiFi and I took major advantage for it.

Not like any ferry I have ever been on

Sailing the open seas

I had an absolutely incredible time on the Haggis Adventure. Thanks Dawn Robinson for the recommendation.  The scenery was break taking and I got to spend time with a great group of people. I find it amazing how much fun you can have with people you literally just met. We had great tours guides which made it even better. I gained so much knowledge but sadly enough I have a horrible memory and have already  forgotten most of it

The trip started out from Edinburgh and headed into the Highlands. The feeling of being in the highland is like no other, I love the Highlands. It is incredibly beautiful as well as having the sense of being untouched and remote. I am not sure I could live their but I know it would be an amazing place to go to relax and think. I need a vacation home there. We stayed both nights in Fort Augustus. This is located right on Loch Ness. We spent an amazing day on the Isle of Skye. This small island was very rugged, but had small towns throughout. We spent lots of time on the tour hiking which was amazing. The feeling after climbing and seeing the view is incredible, even if I was a little out of breath when I got there. At one pint I could not resist and rolled down part of a major hill. It may not have been the best idea since it was muddy and their was likely sheep droppings along the way (did I say I was also wearing white). Either way you only live once and it was tons of fun!!!

Our Haggis Wheels
I was completely impressed at the guides ability to drive this on crazy roads

The National Wallace Monument in Sterling

Affectionately called a Hairy Coo by the Scottish - aka Highland

Tour Guide Don

Edge of the Highlands on a misty morning

Hike one of many

My first Haggis
I had it again later so it was obviously better than I expect!

Traditional Cullen Skink- Smoked Fish Soup

Haggis

Pub Quiz night with my team

Not sure this is my look.
 However I am holding my new favourite drink Crabbies

Amazing morning view

The reflections on the Lochs were amazing!

Kilt Rock
The other side of the Giant's Causeway on the Scottish side.

Rocking out climbing a crazy hill on the Isle of Skye

AMAZING!

I think I have over come my fear of heights

Watch out for cliffs!

There were Lochs around every corner

Castle on a small island

So Happy in the Highlands!!!

Putting my face in river as a result of a fairy story that it brings youth.

I laugh every time I look at this picture

We climbed to the top of this.

Hiking on the Isle of Skye

Amber and Jessica

Edge of a Cliff

I am a tiny spot in the amazing world all around!!!!

Learning how to wear a traditional kilt

Traditional Highland Clothing

This sword was super close to her head

He taught us a ton about living life in
Highland 100's of years ago.

Now this would be a horrible way to die!!

Highlander Brent

Love!

Amazing Scenery

One of my favourites

Looking out into true wonder!

No trip can be complete to Scotland without a trip to see Loch Ness. We did the Nessy Hacker, no luck encouraged Nessy out but we had a create time making fools of out self dancing on the shore of Loch Ness.

Loch Ness

We did not see Nessie, but we did do the Nessie Haka to encourage her out.
We looked ridiculous but have fun doing it!

The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation in 1745 of the Jacobite (highlanders) Rising.We went to the battle field of the Battle of Culloden. The conflict was the last pitched battle fought on British soil, occurring near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.

Clans usually fought together, so since the many bodies could
not be identified they were just buried by Clan

Traditional Highland home years ago

Burne- Crazy how all these rocks got her 100's of years ago with no equipment

I love waterfalls

Great times climbing around

Sitting in the middle of a waterfall...LOVE

The Haggis Adventure Gang

I loved my time in the Highlands and I can't wait to go again. Applications for travel buddies being accepted. Special thanks to Andrew Ridge for the use of some of his amazing photos for my blog!