Scotland #2: Arrival

My first stop, Chicago, with a seven hour layover(already jet-lagged).

Then, London Heathrow airport. This is where I exchanged dollars for pounds. The exchange rate is already killing the wallet.

Edinburgh Airport

Finally, I arrive at Edinburgh, Scotland. Only a few more hours until I reach my final destination.

St. Andrews Cathedral, St. Andrews

On the second day, I visited

St. Andrews

Cathedral near the ocean. It was a sunny day, which is apparently common on this side of the country. But the weather, like the stout, is often chilly, dark, and austere.

 The forest green grass  illustrates a lively 600 plus years of Scottish heritage and tradition.

The water carries birds (Whooper Swans, Eider ducks, and Geese) kilometers across the ocean to feast on various fish and insects. They’re pretty friendly, even when wadding in the densely freezing water. The ocean outside
St. Andrews is generally 8 degrees Celsius. As annual tradition, brave residents of St. Andrews(mostly students) plunge into the body of water on the first of May. It’s called the

May Dip

, and it begins at sunrise. Most participants liquor up a bit before emerging in the water, which makes more sense than dipping in the water in the first place.  Some come clothed, others completely bare. What can be more fun than jumping into the ocean at five in the morning in your birthday suit?Click for in-depth description!

Small cars and tiny, cobblestone streets

After the sun came the snow, oddly enough. It doesn’t really stick and gather up here, like Santa Fe in the winter, but the snow creates slush.

And then there are the sings. Funny to me but probably very serious and mundane to the locals.

In

Scotland

, English is obviously different than in America. I learnt a few phrases already which don’t quite make sense in American English. Tea is dinner, and dinner is lunch(I think). A quid is to a pound as a buck is to a dollar. Of course, these are small differences, but without knowing these terms visitors would be a little confused.

Little arches everywhere

I’ll probably go hungry for two reasons. One: the food is sub par(sorry U.K). Two: No dinner on the weekends in my hall and breakfast is served 8:00-9:00 a.m, which means I won’t be awake often enough for this.

Fish & Chips (by far the best food so far)

Tags: May Dip, Scotland, St. Andrews, Tradition, Travel