Ireland, Scotland and Home

I like to be comfy when I fly

The month of May feels like it has flown by! I started out my holiday flying from Vancouver to Calgary to meet up with my family at the airport to continue onwards to Dublin, Ireland. It was an extremely long travel day but we made it, tired and hungry and ready for sleep. Too bad it was only about 3pm when we arrived. So had a little nap then got up and found a place to eat, which was a funky restaurant called The Lucky Duck that was in a very interesting building. It was 3 or 4 stories high and each floor had a few rooms on it that had tables set up in each. The bar tender told us all about the building and was super chatty, which it turns out most people in Ireland and super chatty and friendly. Anyway we had supper, then got a few groceries and then headed back to our Airbnb and called it a day. We did a lot of stuff while in Dublin. We were only there for 5 days and we were busy exploring everyday. We took tours of the Guinness Factory, Jameson's Factory, and Kilmainham Goal (an old prison). We also went to St. Patrick's Church which was right by our house. My dad loves the Red Bus Tours that you can do in some cities so we explored that city that way too, which was pretty entertaining. My mom and I did find a yarn store and bought some yarn and knitting needles. Dublin was a lot of fun and we lucked out with the weather. We were expecting rain and for it to be cooler but our whole trip in both countries it was sunny and 20 degrees. I actually got sunburned on this trip. 

Edinburgh Castle from house

After Dublin we got on a tiny plane and headed to Edinburgh, Scotland. The Airbnb that we stayed at was AMAZING! It was huge and when you walked out the front door you were looking at Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh was quite a bit busier then Dublin and there were a lot more tourists then I was expecting for the beginning of May. On Mother's Day, my mom and I climbed Arthur's Seat. It was something that I had read about while planning the trip and I was expecting to climb it myself, but my mom wanted to come with me. She was a trooper! She is waiting on knee surgery and still climbed it! We went to Edinburgh Castle and it was so windy my brother's girlfriend and I ended up buying toques. I get ear infections so easily that it was a no brainer to get a toque. An exciting part of Edinburgh was getting to go on a steam train just like the Hogwarts Train and go over the viaduct! We also walked the street that is said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley. There were tons of Harry Potter items sold everywhere. I did buy a Hufflepuff notebook and some Harry Potter earrings. Edinburgh was a very interesting city to see, I wish I could have spent more time there. After 5 days we said goodbye to Edinburgh and my brother and his girlfriend as they headed home and my parents and I got the train to Aberdeen. 

Harry Potter train at the Viaduct

I got candy on the train

My mom's family came from Aberdeen, so we wanted to explore the area a bit. The train ride was great getting to see the coast and more of the Scottish countryside. My dad got quite sick while in Aberdeen and ended up staying in bed for a couple days while my mom and I went out and explored. We went to this old prison that you had to climb the steepest, narrowest, spiral staircases to get to. That is one thing I love about getting to explore old buildings is seeing how they are built. A lot of places that we went to there were warnings to watch your head because the door frames and ceilings are lower. I only found one door on this trip that I had to duck. I am 4'11''. That never happens. The doorway in question was at Dunnottar Castle. It is a castle out on a cliff and was fascinating to get to climb around. You are able to climb all over this castle. It hasn't been restored and is somewhat ruined but still cool. The last day in Aberdeen I started to get my dad's cold. I was feeling fine until about halfway through the 8 hour flight home. I got very sick and ended up spending the first day at the farm sleeping and throwing up. But I am feeling better and enjoying being at the farm for a few days before I drive back to Vancouver!

Song of the Day: Black Water by The Doobie Brothers

Free for the Summer

I am done all my exams and free to do whatever I want for the summer along with working. I'm hoping that this summer I can spend as much time as possible outside at the beach, park, hiking and just generally out and exploring. After my month long holiday in May, which I leave for today! So excited to see my family and spend some time in Ireland and Scotland. It's a well deserved trip after a long year of school and trying to figure out my life!
I have made some friends from my classes and I am looking forward to getting to hang out with them this summer too! 

Getting to the airport this morning was pretty stressful with having to drive, find the parking lot, and then take the train from the parking lot. Usually someone drops me off at the airport, but not this time. My brother-in-law is flying back to Vancouver on Monday so it is easier for him to take my car home then taxi in the middle of the night. Now I am at the Vancouver airport waiting for my flight to Calgary to meet up with my family and catch our flight to Amsterdam and then onto Dublin. It's going to be a long day of flying and sitting in airports. Well except for Calgary where I have a 45 minute layover which means I will be running through the airport to catch my plane. That adds a little more stress onto the trip but at least one stressor is over with and I have a little time to walk around the airport before I board. I love flying because I wake up and I'm in a different country. It's wonderful! This is my big adventure of the summer. All my other adventures will be smaller but just as exciting I think. Exploring where I live and surrounding areas will be a blast and hopefully I'll find some cool places to eat. But I am off for now and will keep posting while I am travelling!

May the Fourth be with you! Have a wonderful weekend!!

Song of the Day: Love Triangle by Raelynn