Casey, Kels and I all flew from Memmingen, Deutschland, to Edinburgh, Scotland on Wednesday morning, and it's been nonstop ever since!
Day one:
Bus tour of Edinburgh. This is the way to go. :) We had a great over-head view of everything; the city, the streets, and we drove up really close to the castle. Edinburgh Castle Rock is so breathtaking! Everything you'd ever imagine when you think of epic Medieval battles and lords and ladies. It was absolutely freezing there; record temperatures, and the snow that was on the ground is from the first snow, four weeks ago, still.
Day two:
With all the girls, we headed to Loch Lomond! It's as gorgeous as the songs say. I would love to go back in the summer sometime. We met Kelsey's best friend Iona, and she and I hit it off incredibly well! She's such a sweetheart! After the Loch, we headed into Glasgow and walked around in the wintry lights and chilly air. It was really enjoyable, if just a taste of the city! We then went to a dinner with all "the girls" from Kilsyth, played games and had a great dinner and sweets til late!
Day three: Christmas Eve!
Kelsey, her brother Stuart, Casey and I went back to Edinburgh and visited the Royal Yacht Britannia. We did the very cliche phone-tour! The Yacht was beautiful, an it was interesting to see all the places so many royals have been. We ended the tour by having tea and scones in the royal tea room atop the ship. Very posh indeed. :)
We headed back, just in time for a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner made by Kelsey's mother Corina, and then buzzed off to the Christmas carol service at the Gardiner's church in Kilsyth, called The Storehouse, where the three of us girls would be singing Silent Night in German (Stille Nacht).
It was an incredible experience, being there in a school gym amongst so many believers, all so passionate about the Lord!! When the singing began, I was blown away at the gusto in which these Scot brothers and sisters sang! It was incredible! The whole room seemed to be vibrating with joyful song! Hearing such passion always makes me BEYOND EXCITED for Heaven, when we get to sing with a million others, voices raised together, forever...!!!
Christmas Day was incredibly relaxed. We dressed up, sang songs, ate yummy food, and, of course, opened presents! Casey and I got Kelsey a key chain with all of us on it, Kels and I got Casey a box set of the original BBC Pride and Prejudice! Kels and Case got me a Westlife CD (few people will appreciate this as much as my sister ;) )!!!!
The Gardiners are like family now; I just have to mention how lovely Kelsey's Granda was. The most polite, chivilrous man! The morning we had to leave, we needed to be out the door at 6:30 am. But he was up at 6, dressed, and making us toast and tea! These old men are setting the standards high. ;)
Casey and I flew back on the 26th, and since she was staying at my place all week, we both proceeded to get a flu bug! Nothing like a great friend to share your sick-space with. By the end of the week we'd become thoroughly bonded. :)
For New Year's Eve (called Silvester here in Deutschland!), Casey, L
andon, our friend Martin, and myself all went to a party hosted by Johannes and his two best friends, Frank and Benny. Frank is part of a really elite fraternity, and the building was pretty intimidating! Think wrought iron gate, curved stairs, long dining hall with photos and fencing swords lining the walls...this is where we were having dinner!
It was my first experience with the German Silvester tradition of raclette, and it was so good!! We also watched a video called Dinner For One; another German tradition (although the script, and the actors, are English...). Watch it! It's really funny!
We proceeded outside to watch the fireworks over Stuttgart. It
was amazing. I've never seen so many fireworks in my life. I thought about where my year started, in Prague, and where it ended, in Stuttgart...who would have thought, huh?
Prost to a wonderful 2011!
With all the girls, we headed to Loch Lomond! It's as gorgeous as the songs say. I would love to go back in the summer sometime. We met Kelsey's best friend Iona, and she and I hit it off incredibly well! She's such a sweetheart! After the Loch, we headed into Glasgow and walked around in the wintry lights and chilly air. It was really enjoyable, if just a taste of the city! We then went to a dinner with all "the girls" from Kilsyth, played games and had a great dinner and sweets til late!
Day three: Christmas Eve!
Kelsey, her brother Stuart, Casey and I went back to Edinburgh and visited the Royal Yacht Britannia. We did the very cliche phone-tour! The Yacht was beautiful, an it was interesting to see all the places so many royals have been. We ended the tour by having tea and scones in the royal tea room atop the ship. Very posh indeed. :)
We headed back, just in time for a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner made by Kelsey's mother Corina, and then buzzed off to the Christmas carol service at the Gardiner's church in Kilsyth, called The Storehouse, where the three of us girls would be singing Silent Night in German (Stille Nacht).
It was an incredible experience, being there in a school gym amongst so many believers, all so passionate about the Lord!! When the singing began, I was blown away at the gusto in which these Scot brothers and sisters sang! It was incredible! The whole room seemed to be vibrating with joyful song! Hearing such passion always makes me BEYOND EXCITED for Heaven, when we get to sing with a million others, voices raised together, forever...!!!
Christmas Day was incredibly relaxed. We dressed up, sang songs, ate yummy food, and, of course, opened presents! Casey and I got Kelsey a key chain with all of us on it, Kels and I got Casey a box set of the original BBC Pride and Prejudice! Kels and Case got me a Westlife CD (few people will appreciate this as much as my sister ;) )!!!!
The Gardiners are like family now; I just have to mention how lovely Kelsey's Granda was. The most polite, chivilrous man! The morning we had to leave, we needed to be out the door at 6:30 am. But he was up at 6, dressed, and making us toast and tea! These old men are setting the standards high. ;)
Casey and I flew back on the 26th, and since she was staying at my place all week, we both proceeded to get a flu bug! Nothing like a great friend to share your sick-space with. By the end of the week we'd become thoroughly bonded. :)
For New Year's Eve (called Silvester here in Deutschland!), Casey, L
andon, our friend Martin, and myself all went to a party hosted by Johannes and his two best friends, Frank and Benny. Frank is part of a really elite fraternity, and the building was pretty intimidating! Think wrought iron gate, curved stairs, long dining hall with photos and fencing swords lining the walls...this is where we were having dinner!It was my first experience with the German Silvester tradition of raclette, and it was so good!! We also watched a video called Dinner For One; another German tradition (although the script, and the actors, are English...). Watch it! It's really funny!
We proceeded outside to watch the fireworks over Stuttgart. It
was amazing. I've never seen so many fireworks in my life. I thought about where my year started, in Prague, and where it ended, in Stuttgart...who would have thought, huh?Prost to a wonderful 2011!
