Schiehallion

This past Sunday I went with other postgraduates and staff to hike Schiehallion.  I am going to be honest with you, I have not been hiking in quite some time and the activities I had done over the last year were in Sacramento, not the highest of high elevations.  That being said, this hike punched me in the stomach... hard.  However, it turned out to be a great hike overall.  I took my sweet time getting up that path, stopping when I needed and enjoying the view all around.  Unfortunately, I did not make it all the way to the top as I had hoped I would.  As I continued on and got higher up, the clouds and fog rolled in and made visibility drop down to just a few feet.  As I got closer to the top, the foot path blended into the rocks more and more and I eventually lost sight of the trail ahead.  I am disappointed that I didn't make it, especially because I had found a good rhythm and was feeling so much better by that point of the day, but I know this was only the first hike of many to come.  Also, it is hard to be too disappointed when all day I was outside, it didn't rain, and I could just take in all the beauty this place had to offer; a day of mentally pushing myself when my physical self was trying to quit.  That is when one knows what they are made of and how strong of a person they are.  Awesome.

View as I was headed up

The ferns were turning orange for fall

It starts out easy enough to see...

Motivation 1 - if the mushroom could find a way to survive...

...Motivation 2 - and the flower could break through, I could get up this mountain

Then the clouds started to come in...

...and visibility went down...

...and I had to stop climbing up.  But, I was still smiling (and so thankful my AMAZING friends got me such a fantastic warm hat) when I went to head back down.

Old Course

Yesterday was Mom's last full day in St. Andrews and we headed out to the Old Course for lunch.  It was another beautiful day as we walked along the North Sea coast to the golf courses.  Lunch was at the Swilcan Restaurant which overlooks three of the golf courses in town as well as the West Sands beach of the North Sea.  We even made it out to the Swilcan bridge for a photo op! :-)

After we got back we were able to see the closing of the 600th anniversary celebrations for the University.  There was a torchlight walk from St. Salvators church and a fireworks show on the East Sands.  There were so many people at the beach, I am pretty sure the entire town came out to watch the show.  After the previous fireworks Mom and I saw in Edinburgh, which were a total let down, these were fantastic.  All in all it was a good day, if not a little sad because Mom and I knew it would be the last time we saw each other for a long time.

Every clock we saw was a Rolex... go figure

Yes, we have our own putting green and a beautiful dog watching over

Great views of the courses from here

The Old Course hotel

Of course I would wear plaid pants to the golf course.

These are displayed all over the place.  It is very serious over here, not a game at all but more a way of life

Royal and Ancient Golf Club - No Girls Allowed!

Swilcan Bridge

Mom kept it classy...

...I went more for the warrior pose

Mother and Daughter together on the green

Kilts and bagpipes, I love ceremonies around here

Undergrads and people from the town taking part in the torchlight walk

So many people

The show started with the pier being set on fire... sort of

Ooooo

Ahhhhh

Not a fake, can you see the happy face?

Anstruther

Last Sunday, 8 September, Mom and I took the bus out to Anstruther for the afternoon.  Anstruther is a small fishing town on the coast about 10 miles south of St. Andrews.  Since the weather has been unbelievably beautiful (almost the whole time), and there were so many people in town moving into University housing, we decided it was a good time to explore more of Fife.  We got off the bus and walked along the main street that parallels the ocean.  We came across a notice board for boat rides out to the Isle of May, but were sad to learn the trips were all full that day because it was an Open day and the lighthouse on the island was open (the first time in many, many years).  Also, the puffin birds that nest there had already left to head south for the season.  Next time we will plan better.  We did a little shopping along the way and had lunch at the famous Anstruther Fish Bar.  Oh boy.  I am not the biggest fan of fish and chips, but these were A-MAZ-ING.  We now know why this restaurant has won awards and is so famous, they have earned it.  We headed back into St. Andrews, full, happy, and ready for a new week.

The sign for the Anstruther lifeboat shop.  A very cool place to check out.

We didn't actually go in, but it is bigger than it looks from this shot

RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Best fish and chips.  Ever.

A view of the main street with high tide

Plan a trip just to come eat here, it will be worth it

The weather has been really fantastic in Scotland this year, so the farmers are able to harvest.  Oh, and the Isle of May is in the background

A still too far away shot of the Isle of May.  Hopefully I can get out there next year to see the puffins.

Just like in the movie.  I think they were plotting to kill me.

My Flat

For those of you who thought I would be in my flat and ready before orientation, you were half right.  I was able to get into my flat, but getting it all set up has been a much longer process than I originally thought it would be.  My mom and I have been very busy unpacking, re-decorating, having the plumbing and electricity fixed, and setting up all accounts (banking, internet, etc).  Moving is not a quick nor painless process, there have been many frustrating instances over the last week plus.

However, I love my flat.  I am on the top floor of the building and have a great view of Younger Hall (one of the buildings of the University) and even a partial view of the ocean.  Climbing all four flights of stairs with my luggage was not the easiest of feats, but I got it done without too much trouble.  Now that I am in, Mom and I have even managed to cook a couple of breakfasts and dinners.

Below are pictures of my flat, some of the town and university.  My flat is big enough to hosts a guest or two at a time, Facebook or email me with your preference and I will get the sign-up sheet started. :-)

Younger Hall, my view from the front door

This is me.... I am not sure why there is a 52a yet.  There is a 54 and a 52 on either side of me.  Confusing.

The view out my bedroom.  It reminds me of Marry Poppins.

Bedroom with a bed that I don't actually hang off the end of.

Kitchen with washing machine.  It is a tight fit, but functional and with everything I need.

My awesome Mom found these for me and I LOVE them

We found these on Amazon UK and couldn't resist

A little bit of home

Of course Jr. and Audrey belong together!

Don't mind my backpack in the corner... also, I couldn't come without my favorite blanket

My Mom found this for my table

I know this is more England than Scotland, but they were so cute and I needed seat pads

600th Anniversary

Today and tomorrow are the final events for the 600th anniversary celebrations for the University of St. Andrews.  Here are some pictures from my window of the special graduation ceremony that took place earlier today.

600 years

Hillary Clinton with Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Louise Richardson FRSE

Dame Jane Goodall

Hillary Clinton receiving her honorable doctorate

Hillary Clinton giving the closing remarks of the graduation

Dame Jane Goodall leaving the graduation ceremony

Undergraduates wear robes to formal occasions, how they wear it reflects their year of study

Looks like a group of wizards... except in red

The police are very bright here

Bagpipes are played in the procession before, and after, the ceremony

Heading off to the dinner reception

Formal kilts are the business

I am digging on the robes and the color (colour?) choices