Escocia

Trying something new, here: a video. I went to Scotland over New Year's and visited some friends from Goshen who have been there for the past 1-2 years studying and working. We had a lovely time wandering about Edinburgh, looking at cool buildings, entering cathedrals, cooking yummy food, eating at pubs, etc. On New Year's Eve Miriam and I hiked partway up Arthur's Seat (sweet rock formation formed by iceburgs that the city has now encompassed) and got comfortable with our warm mulled wine in a thermos and waited for the fireworks. They were shot off officially from the castle and another hill nearby, so we had an excellent view of both. Also little private fireworks which went off at various minutes before and after midnight. Albeit short, it was quite a lovely show. After the fireworks we could here the whole crowd on the street party singing Aud Lang Syne. One of my highlights of the trip, though, was finding this small Swedish band jamming in a tiiiny street (a "close," if you will) while wandering a street festival full of official performances and theatre troupes arranged by the city.

Other highlights were walking out to a little island off the coast when the tide was down and tromping about with Miriam, taking an early morning walk by the river, seeing Rosslyn Chapel and learning about some of the many symbols in it, exchanging backrubs and good conversation with Miriam, yummy curry and other splendid foods, lots of tea and hot chocolate and coffee (and some Guiness and Scottish whiskey and locally brewed beer as well), wearing six layers outside, and playing a frozen game of ultimate frisbee on New Year's day with fun hung-over players from Edinburgh's uni team, Ro Sham Bo. It was a lovely trip, and--though cold-- I really only got rained on once, which is quite impressive. There were even two days when the sun was out for the majority of the day. Apparently I was quite lucky. :) I look forward to hosting Miriam and Chris when they come to do a quick tour of Southern Spain in early February. It was fun to be able to say, "see you in a month!" instead of one of those awful goodbye's where you are not sure when you'll see the other person again.