Statistics
We looked inside some of the posts by 001pandamonium and here's what we found interesting.
Average Info
Notes Per Post
20
Likes Per Post
17
Reblog Per Post
0
Reply Per Post
3
Time Between Posts
16 hours
Number of Posts By Type
Text
2
Photo
15
Last Seen Tumblr Blogs
Fun Fact
Premium Tumblr themes are available from anywhere between $9 to $49.
Text
Reflections
Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love to travel. Although I haven’t seen even 1/3 of the United States, I have now checked off Ireland, China, England, Wales, and Scotland in my book. For me, traveling is a kind of exhilaration that i don’t feel while doing anything else. It tests me in ways that push me to be a better person. It forces me outside of my comfort zone and I love it. Sharing this trip with Taylor was an excitingly new experience.
We set off on our journey to find some peace in our lives, but also to reconnect. I think we find too often, our focus is on the immediate now, and not on the overall big picture. Not on the future. This trip allowed Taylor and I to have some time to think, to talk, to be alone together in a way we haven’t necessarily been. While yes, we have taken trips together before, they have always been in the US, where we are comfortable and confident. Going abroad allowed us to step outside of that comfort, and perhaps see that bigger picture of our life together clearer.
In my trip last year, I was alone in England/Wales. I had to adapt to really being alone for what was perhaps the first time in my life. It was scary and it will forever be the trip that changed me. I learned so much about myself that week and it was the greatest healing adventure of my life to date. In the trip this year, I was able to extend that healing with the love of my life. Although he and I have had our fair share of struggles, this trip proved to me that there is a reason he was brought into my life. He pushes me every day to want to be better. He is kind, smart, fun, and encourages me to be stronger than I was yesterday.
We talked a lot about where we are, what we need, and were we are headed. We discussed those things that scare us most. We laughed more times that I could count. I feel that we were at peace together.
As I’ve told everyone who has asked about the trip, I would highly recommend Scotland to anyone. It doesn’t matter what type of person you are, there is something for everyone. The people we met were so kind. The country was beautiful with absolutely stunning scenery. Everything was fairly affordable, which allowed us to really indulge. The accents are funny (although very difficult to understand at times). The food was excellent and the animals were adorable. The city was lively and safe. We felt the history everywhere we went. The culture is everywhere and I love that it is truly embraced.
As I sit here writing (reminiscing), I can’t even think of any negatives on the trip. Yes, I wish I was more fit so I wasn’t so sore at the end of each day. I wish the weather was slightly warmer. I wish we had planned things a little bit better. But overall, I don’t regret any of it. All of those things that didn’t go just right only made the trip that much better.
I cannot believe that as I write this, we have been home for 2 weeks already. Funny how time does that to you, huh? It does sadden me that life just keeps going. We fall back into the same routines. We can’t live in that “dream state” we were in while abroad. We have to come back to reality. Tuning it all out for that week was such a relief on my mental state. Although my bank account won’t forgive me, I’ll just have to get started early on planning the next adventure!
1 note
·
View note
Text
Day 8: Hailstorms and Highland Cows
Our final full day in Scotland started much sooner than we had wished. We had a plan for what we wanted to do that day, so we didn’t waste any time getting ready. We stepped out of the apartment to find a group of 20 or so College kids decked out in full Kilts, faces painted, singing loudly on the sidewalk. Despite it being early morning on a Saturday, we noticed that there were quite a lot of people around, all dressed up, many drunk, and the air had a sense of tension upon it. It didn’t take us too long to figure out that there must have been some sort of big game occurring. A quick Google search told us that it was the Six Nations Rugby Championship game in Edinburgh. Although it would’ve been a lot of fun to watch the game, we decided instead to move ahead with our plans.
We set off back up to the Royal Mile and made our way to Holyrood Palace, the residence of the Kings and Queens of Scotland. It was a beautiful, sunny (albeit cold and windy) day. We grabbed some tea on the walk over and finished them right before heading into the Palace. We walked through the gates and entered a sort of garden area in the front of the home. We then joined the queue touring the palace. We walked through rooms with ornate tapestries, pictures, and decorative weaponry. We viewed the dining room, the throne room, and the hall of portraits. We walked through the King’s bedchamber as well as Mary, Queen of Scots’ Chambers. We even viewed some of the treasures kept in the palace. Although we weren’t permitted to take pictures inside, I did get some pretty great pictures of Holyrood Abbey, located at the back of the palace.
When we had completed our tour, we grabbed some lunch at a quaint Mediterranean bistro. Taylor enjoyed some ‘pancakes’ that looked more like crepes, which I went for the ‘Minestrone Soup’ that was more like tomato soup with noodles.
Once we had enough to eat, we headed to Arthur’s Seat. We had full intentions of climbing to the top and viewing Edinburgh from atop the extinct volcano. However, the terrain was steep, the wind was fierce, and I am-let’s just say- not in the best shape of my life. We had made it a decent way up though, and remarked on how beautiful the landscape around us was. Taylor went up and explored Saint Anthony’s Chapel, 14th Century ruins located on the side of the Hill. As we began our decent down the mountain, the heavens opened up upon us, and hail started pelting us. We waited for our Uber to come pick us up at the bottom and headed to Prestonfield House Hotel.
When we were originally planning our trip to Scotland, we both knew that we HAD to see some real, highland, floofy cows! Although while on the trip, we did glimpse some of these funny creatures along the roads, I was desperate to see one up close. This hotel has a few in their fields that you can get up close too (or closer than I could out in the country) and it seemed fitting to end our trip with some quality Scottish cow time. We didn’t really know what to expect when we arrived at the hotel, but knew instantly that this place was Fa-ancy! A man in a very formal-looking kilt shows up to a room with a fire. Decor was made from some kind of animal antlers and it was full of antiques. I mentioned to Taylor that I could certainly see middle-aged men in the 1800′s sitting around the fire, smoking their pipes, and drinking whiskeys in this room. We were treated to a terrific display of teas and some delicious scones and we just took the time to relax and enjoy ourselves. It is not often that Taylor and I get to experience the more luxurious places in life, so we were soaking it in! Looking at the Hotel’s website now, I can’t believe they even let us in. It looks as though this is were the richest of the rich come to “get away”. And I can’t imagine how incredible it would be to have your wedding here. The vast gardens behind the hotel looked stunning from the room we sat in. When we had had our fill, we walked outside to meet our Highland cow friends. As we made our way across the driveway, Taylor pointed to our right, where about 15 or so of the nicest cars you could imagine sat parked. (wow!) Taylor allowed me a good 15 minutes or so to talk with the cows and take as many photos as I wanted. The two that stood near us seemed friendly, looking over at us between eating. They inched closer when they thought we weren’t looking, like we were playing a game of Red Light, Green Light.
We walked back up the Royal Mile, wandered a book store, and enjoyed the last moments in the city before heading back to the Loft to pack. When we had collected all of our items from around the apartment, we ordered in some KFC and went to bed earlier so we could make our early morning flight.
1 note
·
View note
