Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle - Sunday, Feb. 7th

On Friday the group did a walking tour of Edinburgh. Well, we were supposed to do it as a group, but right before we left for the tour our coordinators found out that if you had a group of more than 10 there was a 5 pound charge per person. Their way to get around this was to split us up into our hostels that we were "staying at for the weekend." We were also instructed to try to go to the tour guide at different intervals so that it did not look like we were all a group from America and that we were scamming the system. Luckily, my group decided to say we were from Indiana because it just so happened that the tour guide went around to see where everyone in the group was from. One unlucky group said they were from Iowa and the tour guide was from Chicago, ironically, and went to a city in Iowa a lot. After the introductions the tour started and went for around 3.5 hours. I had had enough after 2 hours, but the tour was very interesting and I learned a lot about the city. I also even got to see what was underneath a kilt. :) just use your imagination....
Friday night the girls and I went out to the pubs. It was a great time! We started at Blacksmiths' Forage. It's a classy pub that has great music. After a few drinks and snacks we were ready to dance, so we headed to another pub called, Buccleuch. This pub also had great music AND a dance floor. That night we showed the Scots how to dance like Americans.
Saturday was just a chill day at the castle. Everyone was sleeping in and working on homework and planning trips. I was one of those people, too.
Sunday I took my very first train ride in Scotland. They are actually quite fun to ride in. The whole program went to Stirling and Linlithgow to see the castles and palace. Words cannot describe these beautiful, historic places. Everyone here is so proud of their history. You can see and hear it just from talking to them and then seeing how they preserve buildings like the castles. Linlithgow was the best palace. There were so many hidden passages and rooms. We even got to go to the top of the palace on one of the old look outs; very scary, but an awesome view. Below the palace was a cute park, someday when it's nice out we hope to take a picnic there. But after seeing castles for a whole day, I think I am castled out for now.
Last night and this morning I booked my spring break flights to Rome, Italy and Athens, Greece!! I can't wait to plan for this trip. There is so much I want to see and do, but off to bed I go because I have an 8:30 English Lit class.