That'll Do, Pig. That'll Do. (Friday, June 12, 2009 - Edinburgh, Scotland)

First castle, first abbey, first bus trip, and first UK 'salad' today.

Also, I think my plane jumped through the time/space continuum on the way here, and I am now stuck in a bad re-run episode of 'The Real World: Boston.'

Highlights:

1. Tantallon Castle (Yes, that's right...I said it. C-A-S-T-L-E. Eat your heart out.)

2. Melrose Abbey. Looked for Robert the Bruce's heart which is buried there. Not successful. (Should have brought my metal detector and/or shovel...)

3. Bus lost for 4 hours in the backwoods Scottish borderlands while looking for an iron age broch. Did we ever find it? No. However, we did find a 70 year old Scottish farmer who talked to us for about an hour and was quite literally in my top 5 greatest people to ever meet.

4. While talking to the farmer, saw 2 sheepdogs HERDING SHEEP. Just like the movie Babe. Had to fight the urge to yell out "That'll Do Pig, That'll Do."

5. Going to see Holyrood Palace tomorrow. And might collapse from sheer Mary Queen of Scots excitement overload.

Lowlights:

1. Still have yet to see the elusive 'red squirrel.' Which is the only reason I came, to be honest.

2. Bus got lost for 4 HOURS.

3. My 'toilet' and I are in a fight. I say "flush," it says, "make me." We've been at it for 4 days now...

4. My panini came with something that they call "salad" today. But it would appear that a handful of apples and mayonnaise was dropped carelessly on top of the real thing. Intentional? Let's hope not.

5. Listening to 4 hours' worth of debate on the immortal genius of J.R. Tolkien. I'm going to be honest, here...(since I can't say this out loud)... I hated The Hobbit. I thought it was worse than awful. (I think I just heard one of the guys start crying next door...)

Evidence?http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv82/amj7348/Scotland%20Day%203/

Oh, the Real World... one of the guys paid one of the girls to kiss him, which she did.... and it starts...

Cheers,

Ashley