Okay, so you might be wondering about the motivation behind the title of these posts. While I was in Scotland, there were a few times when people's Scottish accents were so thick that I honestly thought they were speaking a different language. I kept trying to hear French in what people were saying, but never quite succeeded. I am a proud BBC fan, but even my years of practice watching Dr. Who, Sherlock, and many other BBC programs did not prepare me for interaction with true Scots.
So, the previous post left off with my first night in Edinburgh, now on to my explanations there!
So, the previous post left off with my first night in Edinburgh, now on to my explanations there!
Day 5 : Mercredi (Wednesday)
My first full day à Edimbourg! The previous night I had spent some time looking up places to visit, particularly places I could go for free. Luckily, I was staying in a very tourist-y part of town (on the Golden Mile), so there were plenty of things to do.
I started walking (with a few goals in mind), and just kind of saw where it took me. Firstly, I wandered to the Edinburgh Castle, although I didn't go in because it costs 17 pounds! (aka like $25)
Then I kept wandering, with the National Museum of Scotland in mind. After I spent a few hours there, I wandered back to the hostel for lunch. Then I set out with the goal of visiting Transreal Fiction, this scifi/fantasy bookstore I'd heard about. However, after one wrong turn, I wound up wandering for about 30 minutes in the wrooong direction. It was still pretty cool, especially since it seemed like a part of the city where tourists don't generally go. After a while, I piggy-backed off of Starbucks' wifi to figure out how to get back, and I wandered up toward my original goal.
I visited Greyfriars Kirkyard, a famous cemetery, known for Greyfriars Bobby, a dog who spent 14 years in the 19th century guarding his master's grave. Then I wandered in the opposite direction, past my hostel, going up to a higher part of the city. I saw Arthur's Seat, the big hill that I was planning on climbing the next day.
Then I wandered back toward my hostel, where I made myself some dinner and did a bit of reading. (Mom: you'd be surprised, but I didn't watch any TV the whole time I was in Edinburgh. Instead I re-connected with my roots and read a whole book and half of another :) )
My first full day à Edimbourg! The previous night I had spent some time looking up places to visit, particularly places I could go for free. Luckily, I was staying in a very tourist-y part of town (on the Golden Mile), so there were plenty of things to do.
I started walking (with a few goals in mind), and just kind of saw where it took me. Firstly, I wandered to the Edinburgh Castle, although I didn't go in because it costs 17 pounds! (aka like $25)
Then I kept wandering, with the National Museum of Scotland in mind. After I spent a few hours there, I wandered back to the hostel for lunch. Then I set out with the goal of visiting Transreal Fiction, this scifi/fantasy bookstore I'd heard about. However, after one wrong turn, I wound up wandering for about 30 minutes in the wrooong direction. It was still pretty cool, especially since it seemed like a part of the city where tourists don't generally go. After a while, I piggy-backed off of Starbucks' wifi to figure out how to get back, and I wandered up toward my original goal.
I visited Greyfriars Kirkyard, a famous cemetery, known for Greyfriars Bobby, a dog who spent 14 years in the 19th century guarding his master's grave. Then I wandered in the opposite direction, past my hostel, going up to a higher part of the city. I saw Arthur's Seat, the big hill that I was planning on climbing the next day.
Then I wandered back toward my hostel, where I made myself some dinner and did a bit of reading. (Mom: you'd be surprised, but I didn't watch any TV the whole time I was in Edinburgh. Instead I re-connected with my roots and read a whole book and half of another :) )
Day 6 : Jeudi (Thursday)
So after breakfast I set out for Arthur's Seat. I had the idea that it would be a long hike, but it actually wound up only taking a few hours. So I set out, and did some hiking, before getting to the point where I could choose between Arthur's Seat and the hill next to it. I set off toward Arthur's set, avoiding a path that looked very steep, instead choosing a path that led to some stairs. Imagine my surprise when these stairs (which I had dubbed the "wimpy path") ended in a rocky "path" up the to the real path. So yay, accidental rock climbing, great for someone who's terrified of heights and frequently trips over her own feet.
Happily, I made it up, following behind a family of four for most of the way. It was nice to hear the banter between the family, especially since I could identify with the mother, who was not happy to be rock climbing. After I made it up to the real path, I kept on hiking up, despite the wind. Eventually I made it all the way to the top, which was really fricking cold. Then I listened to my dad's advice (in the words of Jeff Beck) and took a different path down. A much more gentle path, which took my by the ruins of an abbey. I stopped there for lunch, before heading the rest of the way down. Then I wandered back, past my hostel, over the same streets I had walked the previous day. Finally, I went into the Elephant House, where I got a pot of green tea and some elephant-shaped shortbread. I went into the bathroom, where I saw the results of years of pilgrimages to that very spot. It was really powerfully cool.
Then I went back out, wandering some more. I found myself visiting the National Gallery, where I saw some beautiful paintings and modern art that I totally didn't understand.
After a bit more wandering, I headed back to my hostel, where I put together some food, read a bit, and packed my bag to head back in the morning.
So after breakfast I set out for Arthur's Seat. I had the idea that it would be a long hike, but it actually wound up only taking a few hours. So I set out, and did some hiking, before getting to the point where I could choose between Arthur's Seat and the hill next to it. I set off toward Arthur's set, avoiding a path that looked very steep, instead choosing a path that led to some stairs. Imagine my surprise when these stairs (which I had dubbed the "wimpy path") ended in a rocky "path" up the to the real path. So yay, accidental rock climbing, great for someone who's terrified of heights and frequently trips over her own feet.
Happily, I made it up, following behind a family of four for most of the way. It was nice to hear the banter between the family, especially since I could identify with the mother, who was not happy to be rock climbing. After I made it up to the real path, I kept on hiking up, despite the wind. Eventually I made it all the way to the top, which was really fricking cold. Then I listened to my dad's advice (in the words of Jeff Beck) and took a different path down. A much more gentle path, which took my by the ruins of an abbey. I stopped there for lunch, before heading the rest of the way down. Then I wandered back, past my hostel, over the same streets I had walked the previous day. Finally, I went into the Elephant House, where I got a pot of green tea and some elephant-shaped shortbread. I went into the bathroom, where I saw the results of years of pilgrimages to that very spot. It was really powerfully cool.
Then I went back out, wandering some more. I found myself visiting the National Gallery, where I saw some beautiful paintings and modern art that I totally didn't understand.
After a bit more wandering, I headed back to my hostel, where I put together some food, read a bit, and packed my bag to head back in the morning.
Day 7 : Vendredi (Friday)
Tavel day! So after getting up at 4 am, and checking out of the hostel, I caught the bus to the airport, where I waited for an hour (turns out they don't have a passport check, which is why I budgeted in so much extra time). Happily, they posted my gate number a while before my plane started boarding, because I found out that my gate was at the exact opposite side of the airport.
So I got on my plane, napping on and off, headed back to CDG. At CDG I made my way through customs, and caught the RER back to Montparnasse. I got there about two and a half hours before my train, so I wandered around a bit, craving pizza but waaay too frugal to pay the extreme Paris prices. After settling for a big pretzel, I sat down to eat before wandering back into the train station. It was at this point that I realized I had made a mistake. I thought I was catching a bus back to Rennes, and quickly realized that there was no bus station at Montparnasse. After checking my ticket, I realized that I was leaving from Massy, not Montparnasse. Massy is about half an hour from Montparnasse, and my bus was scheduled to start boarding in about 40 minutes. Cue panic.
So, after freaking for a bit I figured out how to take the metro to Massy, and was on my way. So I get to Massy, and rush to the nearest info center, asking where I can find the buses. I rush over, following their instructions, but see no buses. So I go to a different info center, where I give them the details about my trip. That's when I find out that I'm taking a train, not a bus. Great. So now I rush back to where my first bus came in, wandering around the 3rd terminal where my train is supposed to be. Of course, there's no train there. The conductor of a train stopped at the next terminal sees me wandering and asks if I need help. Then he explains that those trains are the city trains, while the trains that go far away are back near where I first looked for buses. Yay.
So I rush back over there, finally getting to where I need to be. And of course, since this is a train, not a bus, the whole "get there half and hour early to board" was bullshit. The train pulls in a few minutes after I get there, we all board, and it leaves.
So. yeah. not fun, but I got back to Rennes. I got back to my house while my host mom was still at work, downed a bottle of water and went for a nap.
While the end to my trip was not so stellar, I'm really glad that I went and pushed out of my comfort zone. I'm glad I got to explore those beautiful beaches and historical sites, and I can't wait to go back some day with my mom and sister.
Thanks for listening to (well, reading) my stories!
I hope you all had a phenomenal week!
A la prochaine fois!
Evelyn
Tavel day! So after getting up at 4 am, and checking out of the hostel, I caught the bus to the airport, where I waited for an hour (turns out they don't have a passport check, which is why I budgeted in so much extra time). Happily, they posted my gate number a while before my plane started boarding, because I found out that my gate was at the exact opposite side of the airport.
So I got on my plane, napping on and off, headed back to CDG. At CDG I made my way through customs, and caught the RER back to Montparnasse. I got there about two and a half hours before my train, so I wandered around a bit, craving pizza but waaay too frugal to pay the extreme Paris prices. After settling for a big pretzel, I sat down to eat before wandering back into the train station. It was at this point that I realized I had made a mistake. I thought I was catching a bus back to Rennes, and quickly realized that there was no bus station at Montparnasse. After checking my ticket, I realized that I was leaving from Massy, not Montparnasse. Massy is about half an hour from Montparnasse, and my bus was scheduled to start boarding in about 40 minutes. Cue panic.
So, after freaking for a bit I figured out how to take the metro to Massy, and was on my way. So I get to Massy, and rush to the nearest info center, asking where I can find the buses. I rush over, following their instructions, but see no buses. So I go to a different info center, where I give them the details about my trip. That's when I find out that I'm taking a train, not a bus. Great. So now I rush back to where my first bus came in, wandering around the 3rd terminal where my train is supposed to be. Of course, there's no train there. The conductor of a train stopped at the next terminal sees me wandering and asks if I need help. Then he explains that those trains are the city trains, while the trains that go far away are back near where I first looked for buses. Yay.
So I rush back over there, finally getting to where I need to be. And of course, since this is a train, not a bus, the whole "get there half and hour early to board" was bullshit. The train pulls in a few minutes after I get there, we all board, and it leaves.
So. yeah. not fun, but I got back to Rennes. I got back to my house while my host mom was still at work, downed a bottle of water and went for a nap.
While the end to my trip was not so stellar, I'm really glad that I went and pushed out of my comfort zone. I'm glad I got to explore those beautiful beaches and historical sites, and I can't wait to go back some day with my mom and sister.
Thanks for listening to (well, reading) my stories!
I hope you all had a phenomenal week!
A la prochaine fois!
Evelyn