"You go, Glencoe Co! And none for Hawkshead."

This past week was exhausting. We had some really fun moments, as well as some unfortunate instances. We were on a coach tour from March 8 to March 16, so we rode on the bus a lot, and there was much packing up and moving every day.

Day #1--We stopped in Stratford-upon-Avon.  We visited Anne Hathaway's cottage and saw Shakespeare's grave and all that jazz.  Oddly, I was more excited about Jase and I finding a small restaurant called "Fresh and Funky" ... the cheapest meal I've had yet. And it was delicious.  We saw the play "Galileo" that night.  Ian McDiarmid (aka Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars movies!) played Galileo... Jase was pretty psyched to see him, along with all the guys in our group.  I got excited about seeing him, too! We went to the "Dirty Duck," the actors' pub, after the play and we did get to talk to some of the actors from the show. Just not Palpatine. Shucks.  

Day #2-- We headed out to York after that... it started to get extremely cold and rainy. OH... and I should mention that it was worse because Jase accidentally left his coat at the Pickwick in London.  Some of our professors who were still there were able to bring it to him on Sunday, but he still had to go two days without it.  [Insert Emma grumpy face].  We took a tour of Coventry Cathedral. I have to admit, I had a pretty short attention span by this point.  I wasn't the only one, so I didn't feel bad about it. Hah. After the tour, we headed back to our B&B to rest up for our Ghost Tour that night! The ghost tour was pretty fun.... it was really just this slightly creepy man leading us around the town and telling us ghost stories about the buildings.  

Day #3--We made it into Scotland.  I touched Hadrian's Wall, and got all muddy while doing so.  It was sad.  After a full day on the bus, we finally made it to Edinburgh (pronounced "Edinburrow," just FYI).  Jase and I really wanted to go out to see the Crags, and we started to head out. However, by the time we got halfway out there, it was starting to get dark... we decided to turn back. We were in a foreign city that we didn't know, we had no maps, and we had already passed several strip clubs and whatnot.  It was time to head home. Haha. 

Day #4--We took a bus tour around Edinburgh... it was okay. We were all pretty tired of being on that coach.  We got off and headed up to Edinburgh Castle.  I do believe that the top of the castle was the coldest I've been on this trip.  The wind was fierce.  Normally when it's cold here I just get to that numb place where I feel like I've gotten Botox or something.... not this time. This was the cold that hurt.  The castle in itself was amazing, though, and I felt oddly connected to it! Looking through the books at the World War Memorials, I found several Walkers, a few Lyles, and plenty of other Lyells and Lyalls.  I'm guessing those are other spellings for my last name.  After the tour that morning, we got back on the bus and headed out through the mountains to Glencoe.  

The writing on the Scottish coat of arms literally means, "Don't mess with me." Hahahaha.

We drove for hours through the Highlands, and I couldn't even bring myself to do anything but look out the window.  As hipster as it sounds, I put on a Mumford and Sons album and watched the scenery roll by.  We finally got there, and our B&B was nestled in the mountains.  We settled in, ate dinner there, and Jase, Taylor, Lydia, Tim, and I watched The Amazing Spiderman.  It was a good ending to a long day. 

Silly scarf heads at dinner.

Day #5--Woke up in our B&B, the Clachaig Inn, at Glencoe.  Best place ever.  One group headed out to climb the "Devil's Staircase." Jase headed out with that group, but I did not have the proper shoes, so I went with the nature walk group instead.  It was gorgeous.  We walked about 6 miles round trip, but it was so great.  I love Scotland. I would live in Glencoe.  It would be hard, but I would do it.  It would be one of those things where I would take a year out of my normal life and go off and live in the wilderness... and it would be worth it.  

It's like a Bob Ross painting.  "We're gonna paint a happy little Emma right here, and that'll be our little secret."

We came across an itty-bitty town... no more than 250 people lived there.  It was just one long street.  I loved it, and I'm pretty sure I could have stayed there for a lot longer than I did.  

This was the schoolhouse!

The Loch.

 I know. Gorgeous.  

(Left) Taylor and I under the bridge.  The water was so clear!! (Right) Jase and Lydia on the Devil's Staircase hike! They're twinsies in their flannel.  

Days #6 and #7--We left Glencoe :( and headed out to the lake district to Hawkshead.  We had to "ride and ride and ride" (Mommom, haha)... there were so many sheep.  Sheep everywhere in Scotland.  We were out in the middle of nowhere.  In a sketchy youth hostel.  It just looked like somewhere where a horror movie would have taken place.  I can now say that I have had the true hostel experience.  It was okay... there were eight of us in our room, and the shower was pretty questionable, but we survived.  We passed the time by playing Monopoly and Phase 10.  We also walked down the road and asked a farmer lady if we could pet her lambs.  She said yes, but the mama sheep was super defensive, so we didn't want to mess with her! (Btw, sheep look really funny when they bleet/baa. They stick their tongues out). Our professors felt bad for the sketchy hostel experience, and that night they bought a murder mystery role-playing game that we all played.  It was set in Casablanca.  Jase was a Nazi character.  I was a singer... but then surprise! My character was a cross-dressing agent for the French Resistance. Boom. I was a woman, playing a man, playing a woman. Also, I was the murderer. Acting award, please? 

Still Day #7-- We left that hostel and headed to Liverpool, then to Wales.  We stopped at the Beatles museum. I listened to the Across the Universe soundtrack a lot.  

We then arrived at Caernarfon, Wales.  The dinner was the best dinner I've had on this trip.  It was some delicious chicken.  I ate it amazingly fast.  We really just chilled for the rest of the night; it was a long day.  

Day #8--We went on a walking tour around the city, ending with Caernarfon Castle. I enjoyed the castle... Jase bought me a Love Spoon, a Welsh tradition! Hahaha. 

Overall, it was a really great trip.  It's insane to be back and have to jump right back into schoolwork.  Speaking of which, I need to go read the Two Towers! Mom and Dad are going to be here tomorrow night, and I'm very excited to see them! :) I know they've had a great time in Greece... it'll be fun to show them around London! :)

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend.

I know I should be posting about the events of this week, like how we went to Hampton Court, went on the Jack Ripper tour, saw "Great Expectations" and the opera "Carmen"... but I got some rather depressing news from back home today and I'd really rather talk about that.  My parents skyped me this afternoon and told me that our dog, Annie, died yesterday.  I've had Annie since I was two years old.  It was clearly her time; she's been struggling for a while... but I guess I was just counting on being there for her when she died.  Secretly, I guess I thought she would pull through until I came back from this trip.  It's okay. She was eighteen years old.

I've only ever owned three animals:  Annie and my two cats (who are still at home).  Annie is the first animal I've had to part with.  Like I said, I got Annie when I was two... my family was moving from Kentucky to Virginia and my parents thought it was a good idea to pick up a puppy from the shelter on the trip to Virginia.  My very first memory of Annie describes our ridiculous relationship:  I remember that she stole my cheeseburger.  We were in the car and had just stopped for lunch.  I had meticulously laid out my happy meal on my car-seat tray, when, LIKE A COBRA, Annie jumped out from under the front seat of the car, snatched away my burger, and retreated with amazing Flash-like speed.  I was distraught. I wanted that dog gone! But ever since then, that stupid dog helped me learn to laugh at myself, to forgive others for making silly mistakes, and to be a good friend.

Begging for food, as always!

I love that stupid dog so much.  This dog dragged me (literally, dragged) on many a walk, ate all of my leftovers, learned many ridiculous tricks for my entertainment, and played with me for countless hours of my life.  This dog ate everything but swiss cheese and bananas.  She ate bubbles. She ate extension cords and table legs.  Just not bananas.  This dog barked so much in her youth that she lost her voice in her older years.  She barked so much that we taught her how to do a muted bark... she would look like she was barking but no sound would come out.  Annie was never very good at following commands, but she sure was fun to have around.

She was always the best at singing "Happy Birthday!"

I loved it when she would make this face. 

Christmastime was will not be the same, that's for sure. 

These last few years have been tough on her, I know.  I didn't want her to be in any pain.  It was her time, and I don't deny it.  I'll really miss her.

I don't know if I realized how much Annie had been a part of my life.  She was the best dog for me.  Goodbye, old girl.  I'm sorry I wasn't there to see you off.