{Scotland} part six: a day in edinburgh & my italian-scottish-american inspired lunch.

My last day abroad I ventured to Edinburgh from Glasgow by train.  As soon as I stepped out of the train station, I was eager to explore &decided I didn't really need a map, or, ya know, any sort of reference.  So I confidently walked. and walked. and walked. and finally decided to ask someone where I could possibly find Princes Street.  They looked at me, turned around to to where the big hill was I had just walked down for 30 minutes & said, "Miss, it's right up that hill, at the top you'll turn right."

About 25, long, leg-burning, minutes later, I finally found it.  But first, I was hungry. Naturally I went to an Italian restaurant- where I most certainly ordered a hamburger.  I mean, sounds logical, right? Turns out, Italian-restaurants-in-Scotland hamburgers are very different from the kind here in the states. Not in a bad way, just completely different. So after I had my scottish/italian/american inspired lunch I ventured on. There were two things I was determined to do in my 12 hours in Edinbrugh: see the castle, buy my wellies.

...I just decided, mid-post, that those two individual events deserve their own posts. Yeah, trust me.  Obnoxious, noteworthy situations occurred & details are necessary. very. castle-&-wellie-posts to be continued. ; )

xo-

{Scotland} part five: a snowy, sparkling night in Glasgow.

My time in Glasgow was so invigorating but far too short.
I loved the night I spent with a friend who showed me the hot spots & lead me around the windy streets of town. 

I loved that the Christmas decorations were still lit-up
& how it started snowing huge, beautiful flakes, as we walked back home.

I loved feeling completely mesmerized when we happened upon the merchant city
& seeing it covered in lights, building to building.

I'll forever remember those moments. 

But most of all, I'll remember how Glasgow made my heart beat again for the first time in so long - how London filled my stomach with butterflies I thought had flown away forever - & how happy I was that I took such a chance, spread my weak little wings & had the time of my life.  

And those weak little wings? They are stronger now- much stronger.

xo-

“The human heart has a way of making itself large again

even after it’s been broken into a million pieces.”

magazine love. mhmm...

{via: tumblr.}

i love magazines to the moon & back.  
& online magazines, too... mhmm... yes i do. & i'm pretty sure you do, too. 

...so in case ya haven't heard,

Rue Mag issue 3 & the premier issue of Matchbook Mag are both hot off the press!

happy reading & happy weekend!

xo- 

UPDATE: word on the street is there's another mag out to pour over... Adore Magazine, & it's their british edition- jolly good, indeed. ; )

{Scotland} part four: the day i left Scotland for a London adventure.

    

[London, January 10, 2011.]

 i dropped the ball on taking photos while in London.  But I did manage to snap a few with my brave little phone...

London was perfectly cinematic.  it's one of those places you build up in your mind as being fantastically whimsical & come to find out it really is how you've imagined it & so much more.

I explored (read: walked around befuddled in complete awe) & wanted to take every cheesy tour & all that jazz. (because I am american - it's kind of our thing...) But time didn't allow for such activities & I was just as happy wandering around snapping pictures with my silly phone.

I tried (and liked!) oysters.  I sipped on scrumptious english cider (of which i cannot remember the name...) was shown London by a new friend & walked across the tower bridge(!) at night.

& then I pinched myself twice, just to see if i was dreaming.

xo-

because friday deserves a bit more sparkle than the other six ...

 xo-

{Scotland} part three: Glasgow University & wishing my university had a unicorn of its own.

[Glasgow University, Scotland, January 2011.]

I have always been particularly enamored with my university's beautiful campus- but when I stepped onto Glasgow University's campus I couldn't comprehend the beauty.  people go to school here?  they just get to see this every. single. day? how lucky.  

& they have an amazing lion & unicorn staircase. jealous doesn't even begin to describe it.

xo-

Cheerio.

daydreaming of Scotland.

 {via: flickr.}

a month from saturday i will embark on my second international journey. (see journey #1 here.)   
a month from saturday i will begin brave, exciting travels all by myself.  
a month from saturday I will fly across the big blue pond to a land i've dreamed of since i was a little girl.  
a month from saturday i will run off a plane, greeting my great friend helen for the very first time.  

a month from saturday my Scotland-ten-day-extravaganza begins.

xo-