The time has come

I'm prolonging going to sleep right now in an effort to not have to wake up to my last day here. Today was my last day spent in the city, and what a successful one it was.

For starters, the weather was beautiful! also, shahida got off work early so we got to spend almost the whole day together - which involved lots of window shopping and enjoying the musical stylings of the most awesome bagpipe/guitar/drum combo I've ever heard. And incase you're wondering, I did pick up a cd!

I know i have nürnberg to look forward to, but why, why, why do I ever have to leave this city?

Can I just stay forever?

well, we made home alive from the highlands road trip. So many good times and good stories, one of which involves me losing my iPod/iPhone charger cable. So we'll keep this short.

I miss the highlands already! So many mountains and castles and kilts.

Up north

oh hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of mini posts, we've been roaming around the highlands where wifi can be sparse. There's lots to tell but just not a whole lot of time to tell it right now.

Aside from one very expensive flat tire yesterday, everything has been smooth sailing and so much fun! And I find myself saying "OMG, that's so beautiful!" about every 3 seconds! See what I mean?

Ew, coffee.

today was not simon's birthday. But since we'll be on the road for his real birthday on Saturday we decided to celebrate tonight.

Since Shahida got him a nespreso machine we all had to try a cup of coffee. And I hate coffee - but since I'm always willing to give things a second chance, I decided to give it a go. Even after copious amounts of sugar, I can firmly say I still don't like coffee.

But I did enjoy the caramel and strawberry cake shahida made!

Sometimes life is cool!

Today was the kind of magical day where the stars align and life is pretty cool. I got to spend the day in the city with some great friends from my home town! The Hintons are on a family vacation through the UK and by a miracle of the fates they ended up in Edinburgh at the same time I was.

I went to school with Gabriel and Katrina, but I love their whole family and may or may not have been trying to become an honorary member for years! It was a fabulous day of lots of catching up and lots of laughing!

Seriously, I love this city

well today was much more active! I was out and into the city by 8:30 for a haircut (yes I got my haircut on a vacation in Edinburgh, and no it wasn't the first time).

Afterwards I just decided to spend the day in the city. This involved enjoying a pot of tea at the Elephant House, a tour of the underground city, eating a baked potato, [window] shopping on princes street, enjoying some beer/free wifi at a pub on rose street, and taking lots of instagram pics!

Seriously, for such a rainy gloomy day I got lots of nice photos to remind me why I love this city this much. In fact, I couldn't settle on only one photo for today's post, so you'll get two!

A fair trade

ladies and gentlemen, today was a gloriously lazy day! I slept, watched lots of tv (Nothing to Declare, of course!) met shahida for lunch and dis laundry. And it was amazing!

But then we had some education trading after dinner. Simon and shahida - who are working in PhDs in physics and biomedical sciences, respectively - gave me some intense science lessons. And in return I taught them a little music (and tuned simon's guitar). But gotta go now for some wii we sing!

Life with the locals

Having a wonderful time in Edinburgh with shahida (and yes, it involved afternoon tea). Wish I had time for more details, but I'm busy enjoying good company and a drink of the island locals! Perhaps you'll get a better update tomorrow :)

Back to Edinburgh... Again

today started out sunny and hot and ended rainy and cold!

You guessed it! I'm in Edinburgh!

It's been a long day of travel with 2 flights totaling almost 5 hours in the air, a connection in Mallorca and a deportation scare. But then shahida surprised me and met me at the airport!

And I guess flying over the Mediterranean wasn't a bad start to the day either!

Those were the days

today was our last day in Rome and the last day of our epic test of friendship (we discussed and decided it is possible to spend 17 days with each other *most the time*). But tomorrow it's off to Edinburgh via Mallorca. What's sure to be a long day (but hopefully not stressful) day of travel.

We spent today with a good throwback to ancient Rome with a visit to the colosseum and the forum. Besides it being among the more mind-blowingly awesome days I've ever had, it was hot, sunny and all outside and on our feet.

But don't worry despite a leaky water bottle, we both stayed very hydrated and when we sat down for dinner it took us 2 hours to stand back up ;)

Città del Vaticano

oh hey, I'm still here! We returned to Rome yesterday after one last museum visit in Florence. While we ended up getting a sweet hostel deal (a private room with private bathroom when we only paid for private room with shared bathroom) it came at the cost of no free wifi. Bummer.

But it's good for the little extra sleep, considering we were up at 7 and out by 8 for a day in the Vatican today. Seriously people, this has been the best day of our already entirely incredible trip to Italy! I mean just look at this breathtaking view that greeted us as we entered St. Peter's Basilica.

Oh my, what big hands you've got there

today Matthew and I waited in line for 2.5 hours to see Michaelangelo's David. During our wait we made friends with people from Seattle, Spain, and Ireland. And although today was not nearly as hot as yesterday, I'm still glad we got to spend our 2.5 hour line waiting in the shade!

Once we got into the museum they tried to tell me no photography was allowed. But luckily, I'm the kind of person that is ten times more likely to take a picture if you tell me I can't.

What's Italy without some pizza?

Guess what! Two exciting things today:

1. I'm guest posting over on Yes, Teacher Crafts today while Sarah takes some blogging maternity leave! If you like reading about how living on Bavaria Franken last year fulfilled all my hopes and dreams about Germany you should go check it out!

2. Matthew Boyle and I made it to Florence this morning! We went into town for a bit to get out bearings while we were waiting for check in. We saw a few of the big sites, but my favorite so far was the adorable little pizza shop we stopped at for lunch! I've already suggested we return tomorrow (there were so many more pizzas I wanted to try!). We're back at the hotel now - Matthew napping, and me feeding my internet addiction. Then later it's off to lots of art museums!

Till then, marvel at my new favorite pizza place ever in all its adorableness.

All roads lead to Rome

Matthew and I weren't in Rome for more than five minutes before the over use of Rome cliches set in...

"all roads lead to Rome!"
"when in Rome..."
"Rome wasn't built in a day"

And I have a feeling when we get back on the 4th it will only get better! But until then it's off to Florence early tomorrow morning! So goodnight and sweet dreams if lots of old Italian things!

Project Urlaub

OMG! Two posts in one day?! Aren't you guys super lucky. Or, my posting schedule has gotten a little off from keeping busy playing hostess.


As you might remember, tomorrow marks the first day of my 17 day Italy/Scotland journey. I'm not sure I mentioned that I won't be taking my computer. Among other reasons, I'm going to be packing 17 days worth of everything in one small suitcase with a weight limit of 10kg/22lb, so the heavy computer just did not make the cut.


But, the thought of going without internet (and without blogging!) for 17 days makes me all woozy inside - and not in the good way. (yes, I realize this points to larger issues, but let's just ignore my sad addictions for now)


But all hope (read: internet connection) is not lost. I'll be taking my fake iPhone - or my iFauxne, if you will (why is it fake? well, it's my sister's old 3g that I was going to but never did get unlocked to use on German networks, so no it only has internet capabilities). This combined with my obsession love of instagram are going to help me with a little something I'll be calling Project Urlaub (btw, Urlaub means vacation in German).


Internet permitting, I'm going to try to post one picture a day with just a short commentary (typing on iPhones is annoying/I won't have time or energy, probably) from our trip. Again, this really all hinges on the internet (that we're supposed to have at all our hostels) working properly. So hopefully we'll see each other soon!

in Cologne with Matthew Boyle last Sunday