Scotland! Where they talk like the Nac Mac Feegle!!

If any of you, like me, are total Terry Pratchett nuts, than you know about the Nac Mac Feegle.  Well, it’s really tough when you’re in Scotland and everyone talks like that and you keep on giggling because you’re thinking of little blue men in kilts with red hair who’ll fight or drink anything!  “Na lard, nae quin, nae king… one barrrron, and that by mutually beneficial arrrrangement, ye ken!”  “Ack, what’re ye lookin’ at, ye scunner?”

I wanted to share some things with you because Ana and I are, once again, killing time waiting for a bus with our packs… which means that we don’t want to wander around the town, because while Ana’s pack has lost some weight, mine has gained it and they’re both still ridiculously heavy.

London was awesome, and may be in the top 3 for my favorite cities.  It’s a great blend of old and new, history and progress and great accents!  It’s really nice to be able to talk to people in English, read the menus and street signs, understand random conversations and know when people are talking about us!  Because of that, I was able to laugh when I heard while crossing a bridge, someone behind me say “well,  we have to see someone without their shirt.  Even though it’s cold out, it’s mandatory to see someone without their shirt when the sun shines in London.”  Then about 15 mins later, I saw a guy without his shirt on and laughed about it.  It was cold in London, but the sun was out for the whole 3 days we were there!  I even got a sunburn the last day because it was in the 60’s and Ana needed to charge her solar panels so we spent a lot of the day like true Londoners - sitting outside the national gallery by the fountain!  Even got some ice cream and I had to buy a book because I can’t stand just sitting and doing nothing.  I’m trying to save the book for the plane ride back… so I had to get a magazine the other day when we were waiting for the bus… and Ana and I found a discount book store the other day and I got ANOTHER book… this one of short stories by the likes of Jeffery Deaver and others who write crime thrillers.

Staying with Ron and Sarah was a blessing and a half, as they let us use their oyster cards (for the buses) and gave us guides to the city and ideas of what to do / where to eat.  They have great kids, who were really sweet and quiet when we were sleeping.  I just can’t get over how awesome they were to open their home to two people that they had never met before.  They didn’t even meet my dad when they were in Wyoming!  Talk about a leap of faith on their part!  I really can’t convey in writing or in person how grateful we are for their generosity or what a great family they are.  So here’s a happy face - J and a huge THANK YOU!!!!

Edinburgh was great, but we were only there for 2 days before we had to leave because it was the weekend and there was some kind of rugby match going on, which means that there was no accommodations ANYWHERE in Edinburgh for less than 99 pounds per person per night.  So what did we do the one day we were there?  We went walking and found a grocery store and a YMCA and Ana was able to buy some pants  that actually fit her (since she’s lost so much weight) and I was able to donate one of the books that I read in Switzerland which was the 6th book in a series, which was not the smartest thing I’ve done but meh.  It was entertaining, at least.  So then we went to Glasgow for the weekend, and we found out from our waitress that “Glasgow was voted the friendliest city and also the murder capital.  So you know, we’ll stab you, but then we’ll say ‘thanks very much’ afterwards.”  Cracked us up.  We did survive (so far, haven’t left yet) and we can at least confirm that people in Glasgow are very friendly, as 2 older people helped us to find our hostel on the first night we were here, and when someone ran into Ana he actually stopped to say, “I’m sorry and please excuse me” instead of just walking away.  So Glasgow wins for nice people.  We also found fish and chips here - which was DELISH - and we did try haggis.  And don’t believe what people tell you, it’s not served still in the stomach and it tastes great.  If you eat sausages then you can try haggis.  It’s served with mashed potatoes and mashed turnips, which are surprisingly good.  I haven’t tried any of the beer yet, but we are heading back to Edinburgh today and will be there for 5 days, so perhaps we’ll be able to find a pub.  I think there may be one in Edinburgh… it’s a million-to-one chance!

We did enjoy a nice internet connection last night, and it was cold so we were staying in our room at the hostel (private, so nice) and I was able to educate Ana!  What did she need educating about?  She had never seen Steve Martin singing “King Tut” on SNL.  Now she has and understands why I get the giggles when we’re at a museum looking at the Egypt exhibits.  I also had to educate her on Jeff Foxworthy, Billy Connolly, Ron White and Bill Engvall.  I think we need to have her watch Blue Collar Comedy Tour when we get back… turns out, I’ve been missing movies!  As part of the Billy Connolly education I had her watch the next-to-last scene of Boondock Saints… then I had to have her watch the opening scene of the same movie.  Which reminds me - to all my TX friends - I think we need a Boondock Saints night when I get back.  After all, we’ll be traveling on St. Patty’s Day (sigh) so we’ll need a Non-St. Patty’s Day party for me.  Sound good?  Thought so!

Now Glasgow weather was kinda weird… as we’ve been sitting here (for about 2 hours now) the sun was shining, then it got cloudy, then the sky opened up and snow came down blowing horizontally and big ol’ fluffy flakes, then it slowed down and now it’s sunny again.  What the frick?!  Go home, weather, you’re drunk.  So we’ll be here until Ana finishes her tea and then we’ll load our packs on our backs again and go in search of lunch and wifi, and then we’ll head to the bus station to hang out in their coffee shop until 6:30 this evening (not my best idea ever, but I wanted to be able to SLEEP before we leave) then head back to Edinburgh for the rest of the week before going down to Bristol.  Only 16 days of the European adventure left… holy crap!  Also - Happy Mum’s Day (in the UK)!  After the trip, I may continue with a new blog - Musings of a Catholic metal head.  What you think?  He he he… I wonder if anyone would read it…

MUAH!  Much love from Scotland, Mandi

PS - we made it back to Edinburgh just fine, and it’s been snowing on and off since yesterday… sigh… God is having fun with his Scotland snow globe.