It is now official: I have utilized every mode of public transportation available, save the trolley/monorail/piggy-back over the course of 2 weeks, 2 days. My personal favorite? the *us. (HAH! in the words of the great 'Cher' from my yester-years.."AS IF!"...I cannot even bring myself to type the full word, much less 'appreciate' it yet...though I do miss Brian the *us Driver).
Did 'run run ru
dolph' through Waverly Station to catch our train this morning...(were sidetracked momentarily by the sight of the royal Rolls Royce and a line of police cars...bonus stalking of H.M. the Queen left us with exactly 1 minute to board...made it just by the hairs of our chinny-chin-chins. Which is a disgusting analogy. But what will you do.)
dolph' through Waverly Station to catch our train this morning...(were sidetracked momentarily by the sight of the royal Rolls Royce and a line of police cars...bonus stalking of H.M. the Queen left us with exactly 1 minute to board...made it just by the hairs of our chinny-chin-chins. Which is a disgusting analogy. But what will you do.) Whilst riding to Glasgow, I could not help but laugh a bit insanely at the fact that we got to the station at Linlithgow in 20 minutes...Yes, THAT Linlithgow. The Linlithgow that took us 1.5 hours to get back from on the bus. I realize, traffic has a mind of its own at times...however...this is no cure for the bitterness I feel when thinking that we could have gotten to ALL of our destinations in a quiet, climate-controlled, and largely-segregated-group-wise environment within minutes. It seems Dr. Petruso has the last laugh. And laugh he has. Especially hard at my tattoo+clever pre-history 'When in Pictland...' adage. It is so nice to be of entertainment value to the senile. Will no doubt earn me 'sainthood' points.
But a quick and painless train ride was merely the glaze on the Donut of the Day...because today was the day I have been waiting for this whole trip...GLASGOW NECROPOLIS DAY. (also, 'Day'...just in case you didn't get enough of the word in the above sentence(s) ). And boy did it deliver! Not only got to see St. Mungo's Cathedral (Fully intact, mind you! Survived the
Protestant Reformation...which was not an easy thing to do, Catholic-ally speaking), but also got to give a 10 minute presentation on the hill of the Necropolis, about the Necropolis, and evidently sold it because everyone proceeded to follow me around it in 'mommy-duck/baby-duck' fashion despite going in being optional. So... i'd give today a 12 on the 10-point scale of excellence. I have also officially decided that Public History will be my game in grad. school...with focus on cemeteries...(I know what you are thinking. What a sick/sad/boring waste!...but I will tell you this for free... I have NEVER been more at home, and my Extreme Excitement flag has never flown so high as it did in that Necropolis. <--And I think that very well might have been one of the only truly sincerely serious things I have written about in this dear little blog. So... mark your calendars). 
Please do see the pictures and enjoy, for today is a momentous occasion: I have painstakingly made sure that all pictures of the Necropolis are turned right side up! Neck strain be gone! (Feel free to send thank you letters as appropriate).
More, You Ask?...Well, If You Insist:
1. Though I am plus one beyond excellent day, I am minus one voice due to the sinus infection+oral presentation factors. I truly sound like a 50 year old woman who has smoked 2 packs a day since preschool. Fortunately, tomorrow is a free day...so I plan to stay up late learning sign language in preparation.
2. Glasgow (aside from the Necropolis/Cathedral district) is like walking into America. I saw a TGI Friday's...3 Starbucks'...The Gap...The only thing to set it apart was the Accordion-
Playing-Gypsy-Grandma-Lady. She was amazing. Had a flash of brilliance and decided she could be my "Michigan J. Frog," and that I could put her in a little box (with air holes...i've thought this one through), and then charge others to hear her play her sweet little music...She was not too keen on the idea. Or she just didn't understand the proposition...but that is neither here, nor there, as my suitcase is currently minus one gypsy. (Side note: Why can't the gypsies at Trader's Village have some sort of irresistable talents? All they do is sell used toasters. Waste of potential if you ask me).
Playing-Gypsy-Grandma-Lady. She was amazing. Had a flash of brilliance and decided she could be my "Michigan J. Frog," and that I could put her in a little box (with air holes...i've thought this one through), and then charge others to hear her play her sweet little music...She was not too keen on the idea. Or she just didn't understand the proposition...but that is neither here, nor there, as my suitcase is currently minus one gypsy. (Side note: Why can't the gypsies at Trader's Village have some sort of irresistable talents? All they do is sell used toasters. Waste of potential if you ask me). 3. I have started a separate list of things I will miss most when back to the hotter side of the pond: heavenly Scottish Pollock Halls shower, rice krispies and bananas served free of charge and with a smile each morning, the CHOCOLATE, being forced to work out by walking everywhere in Edinburgh, toasties, the Necropolis, Mary Queen of Scots, Castle Ruins, glorious weather (when present), loony people roaming the streets, cathedrals, the gratuitous usage of inappropriate terms in street signage, paying for things in pounds and pence in a variety of fun colors and shapes, the accents, the fact that there always seems to be either a cricket game/a concert/or a pg-13 porn on the telly, the pub (food-wise), Gunther the wombat and his caretaker Emmelyn, getting away with wearing the same t-shirt in a different color every day, and perhaps most of all...unloading all of the rubbish that collects in my head each day onto you fine people. (The last one I do not want to think about just yet, though...as tomorrow is another day...and there is no sense doing 'misty watercolored memories' action yet).
4. Things I will NOT miss: seeing haggis at every meal, the strictly carb/fried/potato/bread/chocolate diet I have been hanging on by, the cold+rain+wind deadly combo, the BUS/3rd ring of hell, being with the same group of people for MUCH too long, getting lost looking for sites that we never actually find, toilets that don't flush and/or toilets that I have to pay for, Petruso Standard Time (watch synchronization 10 minutes ahead always), being looked at like a rude American by default, the Lovat Arms, shower-tubs, poultry as a rare delicacy, Everything closing @ 5 p.m. sharp, speed-of-molasses foodservice, sheep, and feeling like a useless thing due to the absence of work (sick...weird...I know...). But there is still plenty of opportunity to be whisked away by the shennanigans of Edinburgh! Tomorrow is mad-dash-souvenier/dress shopping day...the possibilities are endless!
Day 16 Picturas: http://s672.photobucket.com/albums/vv82/amj7348/Scotland%20Day%2016/
Not Drowning In My Tears...Yet,
Ashley
P.S. My tattoo is still there...in the same place. Was not a lick-n-stick after all! Have to put diaper ointment on it constantly...When I pop off to do so, I just say it's time to go "water my flower"! It is a wonder I have not been committed.
No comments:
Post a Comment