On the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond!

Yesterday I went on a little outing to Loch Lomond! If you have ever been in choir you will probably know that this is a famous lake in Scotland that has bonnie banks. Also, I believe this is the lake where the Lochness monster lives. I could be wrong, but that was my impression. We didn't go to the main tourist spots, but instead visited the little town of Luss. It is this darling little town of cottages right on the lake. We wandered around for a little while and found a tiny church with a graveyard from the 1700s. Some of them had headstones saying that the people had drowned in the lake. Kind of creepy!

My first view of the Scottish countryside! I love being out in the green fields. It is so much prettier than Glasgow.

Little flowers like this grow everywhere here.

A war memorial in Luss.

Here is the headstone for a few people who drowned in the lake.

After walking around a bit, we decided to take a boat tour! It was only 6 pounds and SO worth it!

After the boat tour we went on a nature walk that went through the village, the woods, and a river. It was so great to get some fresh air! The city air is full of exhaust and cigarette smoke. Ew.

After the walk we ate our lunches on the pier! (Well, until we got kicked off by a Scottish wedding party. They had kilts and everything.)

The water was the same dark grey/blue, just like my shoes! It was kind of creepy actually. The lake was absolutely beautiful, but it was a dark, erie kind of beautiful.

I loved the lake so much! It is amazing to finally be visiting things that I've only seen on Google images. It's still a little surreal, but at the same time I am also getting into a routine here. It's starting to feel like I'm living here rather than just visiting. People who visit a country don't have to spend 10 pounds on laundry because the washer flooded. Yeah, that was fun. Also, people who just visit don't make friends with old people at the local church who invite them to Scottish ceilidhs. (That is my next post, so be excited for that one.) Anyway, I am just so happy to be here and to be learning so much. Every day I love this place more. At the same time, I am loving home more as well. I love Scotland and America. I mostly love everyone in my life at home though. I am so lucky to have so many sincere, supportive friends and family.

How did I get so blessed? :)

Edinburgh

Yesterday we spent the day in Edinburgh, a city located near the east coast of Scotland. The first thing we saw was the Edinburgh Castle. I can't remember exactly how old it is because parts of it are rebuilt every century. However, the oldest building in the city is located in the castle, so I think it was 1200s or something like that. I've never been in a castle before, and it was way different than I always pictured it. I thought it was a building, but it really is more like a tiny city. From the top of the castle you can see the entire city of Edinburgh. It was rainy and foggy, but still beautiful. I couldn't take pictures of it, but I saw the crown jewels, crown, scepter, and sword of the Scottish kings and queens! It was so cool!

War memorial inside the castle.

They had some lovely wax figures inside to teach us about Scottish history. So creepy...

This ceiling is 500 years old!

The Great Hall

Just one building inside the castle.

These were carved by prisoners of war that were held here in the castle. They are made out of the bones of the food they were given. The prisoners would use these to make fake money to bribe the guards to let them escape.

Where the prisoners of war slept.

After touring the castle, I walked down the "Royal Mile," which is basically this mile long road with a ton of shops and restaurants. At the end of the mile is the Scottish parliament and Holyrood House. We were planning to tour the Holyrood House, but the Queen is staying there this week so no one is allowed on the grounds.

Inside a Gile's Cathedral on the Royal Mile.

They have the most beautiful and delicious chocolate here. I will miss it so much. However, on the bottom left corner you can see Kirkland Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Like the Cosco kind. What?

Carolyn and I got some delicious fudge!

The Queens Gallery. Apparently there is a museum but it was too expensive.

Scottish Parliament

The Holyrood House

After the Royal Mile we all hiked up to St. Arthur's Peak. This is my favorite thing we've done so far! I LOVE the landscape here. This is the first hiking I've done, so I loved it! This isn't the actual peak, but it's right by it.

On top of the peak! You can see everything from up there!

The North Sea

Sooo windy!

Ruins of an old chapel near the peak.

I can't believe I took this photo. This is stuff I've only seen on Google and now I'm living here. I'm so blessed! That's all I keep thinking these days!