Greetings everyone! Life is going strong in Edinburgh, and it’s well past time for another update. So, here we go.
First, our friend Ashley came to visit, which was a huge and wonderful blast! We saw all the great sights of Edinburgh and just enjoyed having the three of us together again like old times. But, it got even better (and a bit more stressful) when a certain, unnamed (un-name-able) volcano decided to erupt and disrupt travel plans. What was supposed to be a Sunday departure ended up being a Friday departure. It was a lot of fun having those extra days when we could just visit and enjoy more time with Ashley. We are glad that she made it safely home and that there were no problems.
(Ashley’s photo)
We next celebrated Cinco de Mayo. It’s not a big holiday over here, but we got together with a bunch of other Americans (or at least it started that way). It ended up as a very multi-cultural celebration with excellent Mexican food. That’s something we’ve definitely missed over here! Thanks Julie!
The next big event was Matt’s birthday. we went out to a nice pub on the Royal Mile called the World’s End (if you’re curious about the name, just ask). It’s a touristy little place, but the food is great, and the environment and service inside are equally good. I (Matt) had what is is quickly becoming one of my favourite dishes, Chicken Balmoral (ask about that too). I also got some great gifts, particularly I got the Percy Jackson book series (which I’m a big fan of now). While they are simple books, they are well written and they do a great job of incorporating Greek mythology. I want to read more about it every time I read one of the books.
Summer has officially come in Scotland. We had a week of temperatures in the upper 60s and even in the 70s. It was absolutely wonderful, and we were able to walk around in t-shirts and shorts, a rarity here! Bailey and I enjoyed a wonderful date to the Royal Botanical Gardens, a free park with acres of flowers, trees, hidden paths, and more. It’s a wonderful oasis in the middle of the city, and with the flowers in full bloom, it was a perfect time to go.
Unfortunately, Summer has also officially gone, as temperatures – and precipitation – returned to a Caledonian normal. Nevertheless, it has given us a renewed energy, and the beauty of a Scottish spring has made all the weather variations worth it.
We’ll soon be returning to the United States for two weddings. It will also mark 9 months of living over here. It seems like just yesterday we arrived, but it also seems a lifetime ago. We’ve settled into a great life here, but it will be a nice change of pace to see America once more, and especially to see many friends and family!
As a last note, this summer has a lot for us to look forward to. My parents are coming to visit, their first trip to Scotland. We’re all looking forward to a great time, and we might even venture out for a little Nessie hunting while we’re here.
Also coming up is the Edinburgh Festival, the world’s largest arts festival. I don’t know if I’m going to like millions more people crowding the streets, but the festival itself should make it all worth it!
Here’s a few more pics for you to enjoy.
