401 in SCOTLAND!

The Crew: Me, Alexa, Erin, Kristin, Laure, Rachel and Natasha

Me at Malones

After a pretty stressful week researching, outlining and writing essays it was an awesome feeling knowing that our friends from Roger Williams, who are studying in London, were coming to visit this past weekend. Well lets just say it was a great weekend. They all arrived on Friday and after settling in and figuring out where people were going to sleep we all went to the Library Pub to get a few drinks. Once we were there, we had the opportunity to all sit together and just talk about what has been going on in London and Scotland since the last time we have seen each other. After having a few drinks we headed to one of our favorite pubs, Malones, and had a few drinks and just enjoyed the night. We actually ended up closing the down the pub, which has never happened to me! It was awesome just to be there with our friends, who we love so much, and just be able to laugh and joke with each other. From there we all went back to either Alexa or my room and went to sleep.


Well much to our surprise, we woke up to snow on the ground Saturday. It is too bad that it snowed since we all wanted to hike up Arthur's seat, but I guess the girls got a taste of Scotland weather. You can never predict what it is going to be like; it is constantly changing throughout the day! So instead we went to Elephant and Bagels for breakfast, went to the castle, then to Calton Hill, down to Holyrood Palace. After a busy morning, we headed to Southsider to have lunch and a drink. After word we all went back to our rooms and just hung out and rested. Of course, Tash, Lauren and I watched one of our favorite movies, She's the Man.

Tash, Alexa, Kristin, Chipmunk, Lauren, Erin, Rachel and  Me

Saturday night, Alexa and I took the girls out on a pub crawl. Our first stop was a pub right near where I live. Funny thing, the pub was full of people dressed up and the chipmunk insisted on taking a picture with us, so we did! We then went to Rose Street, which has pub after pub on each side of the street. Then we went to Finnegan's Wake, a traditional Irish Pub, with live music and dancing. And again we closed down the pub...I don't know if I should be proud of that or not? After walking around the city during the day and then again at night; we were all pretty tired. So Lauren, Tash and I came back to my room where we skyped our friends back at Roger Williams and then went to sleep.

Sign in the tunnel

Sunday rolled around pretty quickly. We all met at Elephants and Bagels and then headed to the Royal Mile for an Underground Ghost Tour. Well little did we know is that you are literally underneath South Bridge street, in these moldy, damp tunnels that are supposedly hunted. The tour was pretty interesting; and only the last room was creepy. He had everyone turn off their cell phones and cameras. Had the women line up on the right side and the men on the left side because apparently the ghost, who lives in that room, likes to attack women, but prefers to attack on the left side. I guess the ghost is trapped because decades ago South Bridge Street caught fire and everyone hid down in these tunnels thinking they would be safe. Since stone does not catch fire, but gets really hot he essentially burned to death due to the heat radiating off the stones. It was a quick tour (I don't think I could last through the longer one) and very informational. Too bad I was trying to keep myself focused on not thinking about ghosts that I can't remember everything that he said.

Lauren and me on the Royal Mile

From there we did some touristy shopping. All the girls from London got some traditional rugby shirts to bring home. I still need to get one! After that Tash and Rachel had to catch the bus to head to the airport to go back to London. Rachel had class on Monday and Tash had a paper due. After saying our goodbyes, Erin, Kristin, Lauren, Alexa and I went to the market to get pasta for dinner, three bottles of wine and came back to my room. We played a few rounds of cards, had dinner and then just relaxed with each other and enjoyed one an others company.


On Monday, we tried to hike up Arthur's Seat with the girls but it was raining so after getting breakfast we came back to my room and watched The Parent Trap. It was such a good movie, and after visiting London it was nice to actually be able to relate to the different places they filmed. Unfortunately, the morning flew by and it was time for Lauren, Erin and Kristin to head back to London.

After dropping them off at the bus stop, Alexa and I headed back to our rooms. On our way back to our rooms we realized that we only have two weeks left of classes and that in 10 days we will be on our adventure through Europe. I am really excited to travel and to visit all these different places. Then the best part, my family will be in Scotland a few days after I return from my trip! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...it is getting a little bit brighter!

Rachel, Erin, Kristin, Lauren, Tash and me outside of Parliament