Another lovely fall Thursday!

Now I don't know what it is about Thursdays here but they all seem to have really fantastic fall weather and be just all around enjoyable days!  Actually the weather here has been generally very good *knock on wood* lately.  I mostly just wanted to post a few pictures from around campus primarily because it was such a nice day, and also because I haven't really had anything to blog about lately, and won't until Saturday.  We're taking a day trip to Stirling on Saturday, and Sunday we're going up to a town called Balloch near/on Loch Lomond - which is supposed to be really beautiful.

Anyway, here are some of the pictures from today.  Not too many, but pretty just the same :)

View down the hill that campus is on.  Slightly tempted to roll down it today but it looked deadly.

View of Kelvingrove Museum (which I learned in History of Art that it was built in 1901!) from the top of the hill that the main building is on.

Some of the University buildings

People have classes here!

I got a picture of this to show that not all of the buildings at the University are pretty.  And there are other ugly ones too!

Yay fall leaves!  Ugly handrail though... you'd think they could have spiced that up a little...j

Another building that people have classes in.  The building where my History of Art class is right to the left of this (like making a T) but there were a ton of people in front and it would have been really awkward to take a picture.  Plus, I have learned that apparently in Scotland its illegal to take a picture of someone without their permission.  Who'da thunk?!

Sitting outside of the Gregory Building, which is where Archaeology is.  Theres a nice stone wall thats perfect for sitting.  Not sure if those buildings on the right are houses or University buildings but they sure are nice to look at!

Did a little more shopping at Waitrose, the grocery store, today.  Its on Byers Rd, which isn't too far from where I was in the last couple pictures, so I figured it was worth walking to.  They have a fair selection of gluten free foods, and some are really really good!  Also took a walk down Great Western Rd between classes.  A bunch of little shops, some cheaper, some expensive.  A bunch of places to eat but none that really looked like I'd be able to eat there (they have their menus outside so its not like I judge them based on the outside).  A fantastic old book shop called Caledonia Books that I could have spent hours in. 

And then tonight we went to see Annie at King's Theatre near the City Centre.  We walked there, and it only took about 15 minutes (but took a taxi back).  A little bit of a different experience than at home (could just be the theatre though...).  I had purchased our tickets online, and when we picked them up at the box office, the lady didn't ask for my ID, my debit card, my student ID (cause we had purchased discounted Student tickets), nothing!  We told her my name and she just handed us the tickets - kind of strange!  And then the seating was a little weird because there were no aisles, just seats all the way across.  Oh, and the program was 4 pounds!  Adults kept talking through it, and not even trying to not make noise (messing around with plastic bags for 10 minutes).  But I'm sure anyone could have an experience like that anywhere, not just Glasgow or the UK.  The performance itself was a little disappointing for me, personally.  I felt there were some parts that were off, in terms of... dancers not dancing in sync with each other... people missing their cues by a little bit... the first few words being left off of lines... and one time a guy said his line and it was suuuuper loud.  And then the story itself... they kind of change it around and personally it was a bit confusing.  Not to sound stupid though, it was still an entertaining night.  The songs and dances were generally good and some of the characters were really funny (Although not sure how I felt about the portrayal of Daddy Warbucks... he was nice, and loved Annie basically from the first minute!)  And every time they let Sandy walk out on stage everyone 'aww'ed. 

Anyway, thats all I have for now I think.  Didn't mean to rant about Annie but I was just shocked!  haha, hope you enjoy the pictures of the nice weather (I hear its storming at home right now).  Until next time!

International Mail

I'm just going to do a little blog post about sending mail internationally (specifically from the UK to the US, as thats the only bit that is relevant to me)

Postcards:

For postcards it seems pretty easy.  When I went to the post office, I just asked the lady behind the counter what I needed to send three postcards to the US.  Make sure that you specify that its to the US because its different postage (obviously).  I think I paid a little over 2 pounds for three stamps and three 'air mail' stickers.  They were sent out on a Monday, and most were received by Friday (one was received the following Monday)

My postcards that I was sending out!

What was given to me by the lady at the Post Office when I told her I wanted to send 3 postcards to the US.

The best way that I could figure to put the stamps.  Apparently it worked!

Packages:

Very similar to sending packages at home, except that you have to do the customs declaration sticker (which gets put on the back of the package, along with your address abroad).  You just need to know what you're sending (duh), and the value of each thing.  Its obviously going to be more expensive than sending packages back home, but thats to be expected.  I paid a little under 11 pounds to send a package to the US that was about 2 pounds (in weight).  Its not something I would do all the time, but its not sooo bad for something to do every now and then.  I mailed the package on a Saturday, and it was received a little over a week later, on that Monday.


Not sure if this post will be obvious to some people, but I was not quite sure how it worked so I figured there would be someone else out there who didn't know as well.

Highland Cows!

That, my friends, is a Highland Cow.  We visited a bunch of these fellows at the Pollok Country Park today.  I've been wanting to see a Highland Cow since I saw a picture of one months and months before I left for Glasgow.  I've been trying to figure out where to go to see one the whole time I've been here, and had no idea that there were some I could see right in Glasgow.  Pollok Country Park is free so I didn't even have to pay to see them!  Plus the park also is where The Burrell Collection (an awesome collection of art and historical artefacts), and Pollok House (didn't go in this yet so not sure what the deal with it is) are.  

My first glimpse of them.  See those big beasts back there?  Yup, thats them.

Look at this guy!!  (No, it was not that dark, the flash on my camera was just being a dork)

A baby!!!

Another baby!  I have no idea why its white.

He wanted to pose for us, stood there FOREVER

Melancholy Cow

Seriously, this cow is posing.

Look at the horns!

So yeah, those are Highland Cows.  I WILL be both going back to see them in Pollok Park and also finding the place where you can actually pet them and get pictures next to them and all that. 

Oh, and, here's some pictures from the rest of the park:

The entrance to the park.  At first I thought this picture was ruined by that darn car but then I was like, wait, thats a British car that is (sort of) driving on the left side of the road... thats PERFECT for my blog!!

Pollok House ( I can get in there for free with my National Trust thing that I bought)

Thats all for today!

Have a whole week of school to get through *sigh*... and then Stirling, and a visit to Loch Lomond next weekend! 

Edinburgh!

Today was the International Society's trip to Edinburgh.  It really is such a beautiful town (debatably prettier than Glasgow), but obviously filled with tourists.  It has such amazing architecture and I guess just the way the city and streets are laid out is amazing.  Left Glasgow University at 9, got to Edinburgh by 10:15 (by bus), so not too bad.  Didn't get to see too too much due to some issues (thanks International Society), but I won't really go too much into that because it would be way too much of me ranting.

On the Royal Mile, St Giles Cathedral in the Background

Victoria St, which curves down towards Grassmarket

(I got some really cute prints of Edinburgh from a store down this way)

Beginning of Grassmarket.  A lot of pedestrian walking space (don't even think cars can go down there) and stores/restaurants on both sides.

On Grassmarket looking back towards Victoria St.

A little side street thing

Anyway, one of the first things we did was go to Mary King's Close, which is a street closed up underneath the Royal Mile (the main street leading up to Edinburgh Castle... it was built on top of other streets), and you can tour the street and houses/rooms that are still intact down there.  Its amazing because these places are still intact and looks like a street, but theres now a street over the top of it.  Apparently it hasn't seen the light of day in over 400 years!  Tour was interesting, sadly, no pictures of inside.  Did purchased a picture that they take of you inside with infrared cameras (to catch any ghostly visitors! - did I mention that its supposed to be the most haunted place in... Scotland? Britain?  Somewhere), but I don't really have a good way to post it right now.  By the way, its really easy to get to.  Its in a little alleyway (Warriston's Close) right off the Royal Mile.

The entrance, from the street.

Did a loooot of shopping.  Some of the prices in Edinburgh are a little bit better than what I've seen in other places so obviously I had to buy stuff.

We had lunch at a restaurant on Grassmarket, called Mamma's American Pizza Co.  I know I should be eating Scottish food not American, but they had gluten free pizza and a VERY gluten free friendly menu, so I couldn't resist going there.  Atmosphere was so nice, it didn't seem like we were in an "American" restaurant or anything, it felt like it belonged in Edinburgh.  And it was easy to tell on the menu what foods were gluten free, which is always nice.  I, of course, ordered pizza.  Another thing that is nice about this place is that you can pick the different size of pizza you want, even the gluten free pizza (by the way, the gluten free crust was apparently 50 pence more but I don't know if they charged me or not), and I haven't really seen that as an option in most places.  Food was AMAZING!  Gluten-free pizza didn't even taste gluten free (it even had me worried for a little bit that it wasn't because of how good it tasted, but it was fine).  And then my friend ordered nachos (also gluten free), and they were SO delicious.  Best nachos I've had in a long long time.  Definitely recommend this place.  If I ever go back to Edinburgh, I'm eating there again.  And ordering a ton of nachos.

Nachos, obviously.  Look kinda gross here, but actually really good.

Yummy pizza.  Had already had two slices before I remembered to take a picture.  Oopsie!

Outside of Mamma's. 

After lunch we did more shopping, and a little more shopping.  There are so many tourist-y Scottish souvenir stores that they all begin to look the same and you feel like you've been there before.

Looking back up at Victoria St.  Its hard to tell in this picture but thats actually two levels up there.

A really pretty gate outside of some building.  Sadly, I can't remember which.  Also sadly, didn't get a picture of the building, just the gate.

Stopped into St Gile's Cathedral on the Royal Mile.  Took about 4 pictures before I saw the sign saying that a "photography permit" was required to take pictures, and could be purchased for 2 pounds.

Oh, and we saw the cafe/restaurant where Harry Potter was written!  Also known as The Elephant House.  It looked super awesome and if I ever come to Edinburgh, I want to go there for more than a photo op.  It was fantastic for me on two levels: 1) Birthplace of Harry Potter/JK Rowling has been there 2)  This place is COVERED in elephants.  Could have died...

Side note about this pic:  Outside of the Elephant House was this waist-ish height green fuzzy elephant, and as we approached it, I said "I love you" to it (don't know why, I felt compelled).  And then right below the elephant, on the wooden base, was a sign that said "I love you, but please don't climb on me, I'm delicate" (or something extremely similar.  It definitely started with 'I love you' though, which is the funny part)

And then after that we had to start making our way back to the bus to go home... sad face

We went down one of the Close's that looked like it might be interesting and found some pretty buildings

Love this sign!  Its so cool looking!

But we still had time for a little more rushed shopping on Princes St, and then we had to leave.  I definitely want to visit Edinburgh again - there was so much that I missed.  Didn't get to see Edinburgh Castle due to ... issues with International Society (long story short: They had no idea what they were doing and the tickets we bought from them for Edinburgh Castle didn't allow us to get in to the castle.  Yes, we got a refund...)

The closest I got to Edinburgh Castle.  Yeah, I know you can't see it.

Some... building (honestly not sure what).  Never got a chance to actually get close to it, so it could be anything.  But I wanted to take its picture! (Edit: I have since learned that this is the Scott Monument!  And you can go up to the top!)

I'm almost positive that this is Princes St Gardens, but I'm not 100% sure.  IF it is, apparently it used to be this horribly, nasty, sewage filled loch, and they drained it and put in a pretty park.  How delightful :)

  And to end this extraordinarily long blog post (and I haven't even gone back and added pictures yet!), I give you another video.  Of some Edinburgh musicians :)

(Sorry the video is short, I only got to stop for a second as we were heading back to the bus)