Tag Archives: Edinburgh

Dreary, Sunless Nostalgia

Posted on by

Although it resembles a past life, it’s been a mere six months since I was knee deep in tourism, budget airlines, and tea time.

It wasn’t too long ago I was in England, where the sun barely shines and the clouds seldom uncover the rays.

I could count the sunny days on one hand. And I’ll be the first to say it was a much better day when I could dare to wear my canvas shoes without the risk of ruining them in puddles (which sadly was the demise of my favorite Toms). I dreamed of brighter days. Warmer days. I dreamed of the sun and its rare visits.                                                             

Since rejoining the beautiful USA, I haven’t thought once of the sun or when it will be around next. It wasn’t even until this past week, when autumn weather finally made its appearance, on a rainy, dreary, windy day, that I appreciated the sun. It wasn’t until this day, that I looked above at the bleak shade of grey, and yearned for England.

I missed the bustle of the cities and the sheep-filled countryside. The homey villages and the dignified mansions. I missed those English accents and the frequent lingual mishaps.

But what I have missed and cherished the most recently: Those dreary and sunless days. 

British people don’t wake up to another, typical rainy day only to stay in bed netflix-ing the latest guilty pleasure or mull around town grouchy.

They move on.

They go on with their days. Still happy. Still loving life. It was as if they didn’t know it was raining. Which, at times I wondered if this is true.Image

(Taken by the talented Meagan)

Their inspiration is unruffled. J.K Rowling began writing Harry Potter in a small coffee shop, looking out this very window. I imagine many days her view of the Edinburgh Castle was similar to this. If she can find inspiration in the rain, not only am I impressed, but I’m encouraged.

Can we be like the British? Ya know, I think so.

I hope to not be an emotional rollercoaster based on the weather. I hope to wake up, glance out the window – rain or shine – and move on with my day. Move on with my day inspired again. How great would that be? Imagine a world full of cheerful people. Every. day.

That can be me. That can be you.

 

Love,

The Hopeful Weather-Watcher

 

Bagpipes and Book Writers

Posted on by

Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland, to me, always meant… what? Heavy accents, kilts, bagpipes, and sheep. I can’t pinpoint the reasons these images correlate to Scotland, but they do. Even so, I surprised myself with shock when I saw a man in a kilt, playing the bagpipes on the street. And he wasn’t the only one! The more we walked, the more we saw – or at least heard their peculiar sound. How adorable!

I also give this man (and all the other bagpipers out there) props. He can rock a kilt and play this mysterious instrument to a T. His manliness rating climbs the charts in my book!

Image

During our weekend in Edinburgh, which proved to be a truly fantastic city with plentiful amounts of royal and literary history, we came upon a quaint coffee shop filled to brim with influential power. The Elephant House. Not only home to hundreds of elephant paintings, pictures, articles, and statues but also a favorite inspirational spot for author J.K. Rowling. According to the shop, she spent day after day sitting in this cafe, turning her imagination into Harry Potter. I was hooked to this place purely from my new-found love and affection for elephants, but after hearing about its importance, I was swooning over it. It was as if I could sit down, see Edinburgh castle and the rest of the city out the very window this world-renowned author looked through, and find the words to my own book.

If only.

Image

Although I couldn’t find the words to any book-in-the-making, I did thoroughly enjoy this city. With its hilly demeanor, there are numerous lookouts over the entire city – from Arthur’s Seat (a rough 800+ ft climb) to the castle’s hilltop and to Calton Hill on the far side of town – which in turn are excellent front row seats to a picture perfect sunset.

Image