AXO Initiation

On the Sunday just after I returned home from Scotland, AXO had their initiation for the Spring 2011 New Members. This time around, however, I wasn't the one planning it (phew!). Instead, both of my littles served as Warden and VP Fraternal Relations (my old position), and did an amazing job planning it. Of course, I was put to work as soon as I returned home, to help Paige get everything in order and everything cooked in time. This year initiation was in the morning, so instead of a dinner, we served brunch. There was amazing food, everything from homemade bacon and onion scones, quiches, french toast, scrambled eggs, home fries, fruit kabobs, and more!

Afterwards, everyone retreated to the Chapter room to watch the bigs present the littles with their little baskets.

Agave

Friday night after I got home from Edinburgh, my friends planned a welcome home dinner at Agave. It was so nice to get to see everyone, and sooo nice to eat Agave's delicious food!!

Welcome Home!

Back in the USA!

The End

Today was my last day in Edinburgh. I spent the morning shopping on Princes Street with Kat, enjoying the (very cold, windy, rainy) day, and buying last minute souvenirs and such. We then met Leah at Brass Monkey for one last 3 o'clock movie :( We watched The Girl Next Door and drank their amazing bloody marys before coming back to the flat and finishing up packing.


This evening, the three of us went to Revolution for dinner to enjoy it one final time. I had a delicious Moroccan bean burger and we all split a 'Blushing Bride' pitcher. Their menus are really fun, with the popular phrase 'Keep Calm and Carry On' gracing the cover, and tonight, I was a rebel and took one as a souvenir.



Now, I'm all packed, taxi ordered for 7am, and stocked up on American magazines (US Weekly and People) for the plane ride!

So, as a final reflection of my amazing months spent here, let's recap:
I met lots of amazing new friends from all over the US!
I traveled lots of amazing places: the Swiss Alps, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Prague, and entirely all over Scotland
I learned about a new city, country, and culture
I picked up the Scottish lingo (only a wee bit...cheers!)
I've had tons of memories I will never forget.
Now time to head back to CT, UNH, and all of my friends and family that await! Thanks to everyone who has read my blog, and who has kept in touch! XOXO

Photography

Tuesday night, we all went out to support my flatmate Lindsay's photography exhibition. The broad assignment was "place", and the different students portrayed their interpretation of this idea. Lindsay's was a display of different scenes in Scotland that reminded her of home in Maine, that she then turned into postcards. It was great!



I also took pictures of the trees in the Meadows to and from the exhibit, because they were very pretty.

Why Not?

Last night, Kat, Leah and I decided to venture over to New Town. We went to a club none of as had been to before called Why Not, because, heck, why not!? (pun intended). It was fun, but the ambiance did not live up to the hype (or the £5 cover!). It was great to have one last hurrah night out with the flatmates, and of course, stop for a late night falafel before going home for the night.

Isle of Skye

For my last trip here in Scotland, my three flatmates and I did a 3-day tour with Real Scottish Journeys to the Isle of Skye. We left on Friday morning at 8:30am, and made our way up the Eastern coast of Scotland, stopping in multiple places, before eventually arriving in Portree (the capital of the Isle of Skye) that night around 7pm. Here is our guide and driver, Bill, showing us our route on the maps.

We stopped in Dunkeld (where I had been before with Mom when she was here), and got to revisit their AMAZING sandwich shop with the best marinated artichoke hearts ever. We all got sandwiches and went over to the cathedral on the water to have a picnic. We also stopped at multiple points to take great pictures of the scenery, and then made a stop to tour Eilean Donan Castle.





That night we arrived at our hostel in the little town of Portree. We had a 6-bed room for the 4 of us (luckily), and it was my first (and last) hostel experience of my trip. Here is the hostel & the town.





Saturday we met up again with the group at 9am to explore the Isle of Skye. We explored half the island, came back to Portree for lunch, and then did the other half of the island. We stopped at Kilt Rock (a rock that supposedly looks like a Kilt), Faerie Glen, which has many stories about the magical faeries that reside their, as well as many other places, including a river that supposedly if you dunk your face in for 7 seconds will give you eternal youth and beauty.









Finally, on Sunday, we left again at 9am to this time head down the Western coast of Scotland and make our way back to Edinburgh. We made photo stops along this route, too, stopping at Loch Ness (and looking for Nessie, the Loch Ness monster!) and my all time favorite - seeing the heilan coos (highland cows), daddy Hamish, new baby, and the mother Heather!










Now I'm back in Edinburgh for my last 3 days!