28.6.09

I'll Follow the Sun

I've been awake for a very long time. A very, very long time. Just to get to Europe. Was it worth it? Was the 24-hours of travel worth it, America?

Ten-thousand-times yes. Edinburgh is the most beautiful city in the world. Of course, I have only been to a limited number of cities, but one of those is Amsterdam. And, officially, I believe that Edinburgh is at least more beautiful than Amsterdam. My hostel is located directly next to the Edinburgh Castle (the view almost makes me cry), and smack between High & Victoria Streets, two of the most bustling areas of the city. (**Side note: if you’re ever here, A Taste of Italy on Victoria has delicious cheap pizza & coffee. And, if you’re nice to them, they’ll give you extra slices!) It took a while for me to find (the cobblestone streets are windy and subtly marked), but let me tell you, I could have walked forever. Every brick oozes history and culture and just…wonderfulness.

Before I get carried away in poetics, you probably want to know what I’ve been up to since Dublin. Well, first, I heartily enjoyed my flight with Aer Lingus. Cute Irish flight attendants – need I say more? I also got to watch Revolutionary Road and finish Vol. 1 of Sense and Sensibility, so there was some productivity going on. Once in Dublin, I asked approximately seven different employees what to do with myself now that I was there; they directed me to a bus, which took me directly to Waverly Bridge, from which Castle Rock Hostel is a 9 minute walk.

I was greeted into the hostel by a shaggy-haired Scotsman, who finds great amusement in my naivety. Despite having traveled to the Bahamas, Ghana, and various places in the US, I still have trouble figuring out one thing: calling cards. I just want to make a phone call! Why, oh why oh why, does it have to be so difficult? After asking my hairy landlord about the mechanics of three different phones, I returned to the store where I bought the card, and had a heart-to-heart with the man in charge. He let me use their store phone – and even dialed the numbers for me – so I could call my Mom. What a sweetheart! He, too, laughed at my frustrations.

Despite the hostel’s beauty, I can’t help but feel a little awkward. The rooms are cozy, the lounges are large, the Wi-Fi is free – but who do I have to share it with? A tour group just returned from their week, so they’re all bonding and hanging out, and I’m sitting at a table to the side with 3-4 other people on their computers. I did the stereotypical southern “nod and smile,” but to no avail. I definitely believe myself to be more like Marianne than Elinor in this respect, wanting everyone to be as excited as I am about everything. I’m anxious for my tour to begin at 9AM tomorrow, so I can start meeting people and being crazy and rambunctious. Still, after such a long flight, rest is probably what I need most. I haven’t slept in many many many hours, so once I’m done with this blog, I’m going back to bed.

My bed, on a final note, is located in the hostel’s “Brain Suite.” Appropriate. J

3 comments:

  1. Get some sleep, sweetie...Sounds like you've had more excitement in the last 24 hours than you've had in a long time. 9 am will come quick enough. :) Can't wait to here what will happen next on "adrienne does oxford." I love you! MOM

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  2. I'm with your mom..can't wait to see what happened today!

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  3. Just finished my first City Council meeting in Sequim, Adrienne. It's 9:37 here (I have no idea what time it is where you're at), and the sun still hasn't set. I woke up to daylight here just after 4:30 this morning. Makes it's difficult to sleep very late. Nancy says we're going to need some heavier curtains to keep out the early, early morning sun.

    Take care of those feet, and be on the lookout for sketchy looking "Rankin Scots" ;-)

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