Conquering Cobbler

A few weeks ago, Ian's dad told me that we were going to climb a mountain named Cobbler. I was excited but nervous!

What southern belle wouldn't want to climb a mountain named Cobbler? After all, I've eaten peach, cherry, and blackberry cobbler my whole life! 

Peach Cobbler: fruity filling poured into a big dish and covered with biscuit. Unlike a pie, cobblers do not have a bottom crust.

I was also pretty nervous. On my last trip to Glasgow, we climbed Ben Lomond. Because I was so out of shape and the air was so thin, I had two panic attacks. I thought I was going to die. 

It's all fun and games at the bottom...

The mountains in Scotland are classified based on height. Ben Lomond was considered a Munro, mountains that are 3,000+ feet. The Cobbler almost made it as a  Munro, but was only 100 feet short, with a peak at 2,900 feet.

View of the neighboring mountains.

At the bottom, the Cobbler zig-zags through trees up to about 1,000 ft in a very annoying and tiresome way. I was already exhausted by the time I could actually see the peak. 

At about the half-way point, we came across a reservoir with fresh spring water. Because of the heat, it was tempting to jump in on the way up. We saved it for the way down! 

The dogs enjoyed the water on the way up!

Also on the way up, we came across a couple who were making their way down. Ian asked them where the elevator was, and they replied with an AMERICAN ACCENT! The couple was from Kentucky. They live in Scotland for six months out of the year to run the Ferry Inn, built in 1896 by the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria (Princess Louise). Such as small world! Here is the link to their pretty little inn: http://ferryinnofscotland.com/owners.html

Back to the mountain! There were a few ways to get to the top. We chose to go around to the back of the mountain. It was very steep!

The Peak! Apparently this is where The Cobbler gets its name...the rocks are supposed to look like the figure of a 'crooked shoe maker' (cobbler).

If you look closely you can see people rock climbing! 

When we finally got to the top, Ian climbed the needle. To get to the top of the needle, you have to pass through a small opening in the rock which leads to a tiny ledge. Then, you have to climb up a slope which leads to the flat summit rock. Few people (including myself) never make it to the actual peak, and even fewer people stand up!

Ian actually did stand up, but the picture was blurry. 

The American in me expects a coffee shop or souvenir shop on top of the mountains...I would have definitely purchased a t-shirt that said "I climbed Cobbler." However, the views are enough! 

Made it to the top! 

The descent was a piece of cake (or cobbler, haha). I was literally running down the mountain because I wanted to jump into the water!

In the freeeezing reservoir!

 I was also looking forward to taking another titanic picture! Definitely a mountain-climbing tradition!

                         

The whole trek was just over six miles. As you begin to walk down, you really appreciate what you accomplished. 

Next time, I will just remember to put sunscreen on my back/legs...I am absolutely fried.

Scottish Cup

Ian's sister, Kayleigh, works for the Scottish Football Association...the governing body of football in Scotland (I know! Really, really cool). She is constantly getting us tickets to cool sporting events, like the friendly Scotland v. Denmark match and the Aviva International Match. Not only do we get to go to the events, she gets us fantastic seats!

This past weekend, we went to the Scottish Cup final. Some facts about the Scottish Cup:

• It is the main national cup competition in Scottish football
• It is a knockout competition
• The Scottish Cup trophy is the oldest national trophy in the world 

This year, two Edinburgh teams made it to the final match, Hibernian (Hibs) and Heart of Midlothian (Hearts). According to Wikipedia, it was the first time the clubs have met in a Scottish Cup Final since 1896...kind of a big deal.

The only big football game I have been to (other than Ian's Mercer games, haha) was a friendly match between Scotland/Denmark, so this past weekend was my first, real football match. Let me tell you, it was such a neat experience.

The whole event was completely different than American sporting events. 

First of all, the fans are separate the whole time. As soon as they arrive at the train station, they are put on specific trains, which unload at specific places. At the stadium, Hibs fans entered on one side, and Hearts fans entered on another. This is done to avoid fights between the teams! Once they enter the stadium, Hibs fans and are on one side, and Hearts are on the other, separated by a wall of police. 

The Hearts are on the left in red and the Hibs are on the right in green. The yellow are security!

We were in the middle of the action in the Hibs section! I happened to be seated next to Hibernian's number one fan! He was very, very passionate.

Another big difference is you are not allowed to drink alcohol at the game. They are really strict about having alcohol...apparently football passion plus alcohol is a bad combination.

I took a few videos of the pre-match festivities:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cVOIQ9-NtQ&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq3ZW6qNRxg&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_J-mvj2swA&feature=youtu.be

If you ever get the chance, GO TO A FOOTBALL GAME IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. So much more exciting than any American sporting event!

Culzean Castle

 Exams are over!!

That means the boyf is back in my life! He had six exams in three weeks. Needless to say we didn't see much of each other! But boy are we making up for it! 

I found another online class, so my trip will not be shortened! That means we have a little over one month to do the following things:

1. Visit a castle (DONE!)

2. Go to BrewDog (a place with cool beer)

3. Go snowboarding

4. Play tennis

5. Climb another hill (God help me)

Yesterday, we went to Culzean Castle (pronounced Cullen Castle...yes, like the vampires from Twilight). The castle was once home to the Marquess of Ailsa, the Kennedy family. The Kennedy's, listed as one of Scotland's oldest clans, were all Lords and Earls and had the "home" built in 1777 (lucky year?).

Here are some pictures of our trip to ze castle:

This was Ian's first road trip as a driver. He did a great job!

Culzean Castle is situated on the top of a cliff overlooking the sea. 

South Ayrshire Coast

The circular rooms provided panoramic views of the sea

The wall overlooking the gardens

The sea!

At Buckingham Palace, we got this shot on the very first try! Unfortunately it was not working for us on the coast!

              

   

  

Too late 

Too soon

Hair in the face

This is the best we could do!

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the castle, but it was just as exquisite as the outside...very Downton Abbeyish. I loved that the family members had not only a bedroom but dressing quarters, too. Each room had a view that was to die for! 

There is an American connection to Culzean Castle. It actually has an Eisenhower Apartment that you can rent. Apparently, in 1945, the Kennedy family created a special guest flat on the top floor of the castle as a "thank you" for America's support during WWII. Eisenhower and members of his family have stayed there frequently. Such a small world! 

I would think twice about staying in the suite because apparently Culzean Castle is haunted. There are many ghosts including a piper, who plays on the castle grounds, a woman in a ball gown, a member of the Kennedy family who walks up the oval staircase, and a knight who apparently pushed his wife off the cliffs. I am happy to report that we did not come across any spirits. 

Technology is amazing.

I am finishing up my classes this week, which means I should be heading back to the motherland soon. However, I am trying to stay as long as possible. My visa allows me to stay until June 28th exactly. Unfortunately, I just found out that my summer midterm is on June 13th.

I wasn't going to take any classes this summer, but I need to take an introductory Philosophy class because Mercer doesn't allow seniors to take it. Luckily, Dalton State offers the class online. I will start it next Monday while I am abroad, so cool! 


The midterm situation will shorten my trip a bit, which makes me oh so very sad. Fifteen days may not seem like much, but it's a lifetime to a girl who will be without my handsome guy for seven months!

I came across this CRAZY (and somewhat stalker) invention that was ironically developed down the road in Edinburgh, Scotland. It's called the Long Distance Pillow.

Basically, when your long-distance lover goes to bed, he/she puts on a ring that is attached to the pillow. It picks up your pulse, then sends it to the matching pillow, making it light up. Your pillow glows when the other person lays down on it! You can actually hear the heartbeat of the other person.

Here's the tutorial video

CRAZY...and kind of stalker creepy. This is how I picture it playing out for us:

Ian: Okay, Kels. I'm going to bed because I am really sleepy.

Ian forgets to put on the pulse ring.

Kelsey waits anxiously for the matching pillow to light up.

It doesn't. 

She assumes he is lying and is actually going out with another girl!!! How dare he!! 

Kelsey: How did you sleep last night, Ian?

Ian: Great!

Kelsey: YOU ARE A LIAR! 

Then we have a massive falling out.

A much more practical idea for me would be the boyfriend pillow:

According to Amazon, it provides firm support to cuddle with and is great to snuggle with. 

First of all, it just wouldn't be right because Ian's muscles are much bigger than that (haha). Also, it would probably scare the youknowwhat out of me if I walked into my bedroom to find half of a torso laying on my bed. According to the product details, you can even take the shirt off...I'm not even gonna go there.  

Oh my meme.

I just had to make a meme about studying abroad in Scotland...of course finals week is the perfect time to do it!

1. First of all, most of my friends think I'm in Ireland or England...It's definitely Scotland. Second, they think I am sightseeing and doing touristy things. I think that's what normal study abroad kids do, but I'm here with my boyfrand so we go on fun dates instead! 

2. I think the picture explains itself...there's something about studying abroad that makes people think of going wild.

3. I only go to school two days per week...and the other five are spent doing everything but studying. Sorry I'm not sorry.

4. I can't tell you how many times I had to explain to people that I was not coming over here to get engaged or get married...My dad said that the only way he would let me go is if I promised him I wouldn't get married over here...haha

5. I couldn't decide between freezing or sleeping for number 5. Actually one leads to the other. Because I am literally freezing my bum off, I tend to cuddle in the bed, which leads to sleep. I think Ian's family might think I'm a hermit. I'm not, I'm just really cold.

On another note, I saw a FOX on the way to the gym today. It's so weird to me that an animal like that is found all over a big city like Glasgow. Apparently they flocked here for the food...I guess we had the same motives! 

They are pretty much the American equivalent of squirrels...nuts! (haha)

On yet another note, I told a girl at the gym I liked her pants. She looked at me really weird, then I remembered pants=underwear in Scotland...basically I told a girl I liked her panties...oopsies.