Guitar Girl Around the World: April 2014

Isle of Skye

A couple days after I returned to Scotland from my trip to CA, I took off for a weekend on the Isle of Skye with the Postgraduate/Staff Hiking group. Overall, it was beautiful and I hope I can get back over there during the summer because the weather did not cooperate as much as we would have liked. We still got out to hike all three days, we got pretty wet in the process, but had a fun three days.

Our first day was spent walking up The Storr. Below are pictures I took, and one I pulled from the interwebs to show what it looks like without the mist and fog.

A view on our way up the trail

And the fog begins to roll in...

... leaving us with views of Storr in the mist

Or, on a clear day it can look like this (totally borrowed from the interweb and not mine)

The second day was a little more challenging. We set off in the morning and had to change plans as the rain came in. We ended up going to the Lighthouse at Neist Point, getting completely soaked through, headed back to the hostel to dry up a bit, and then back out for a walk to the beach.

Neist Point

The colors are stunning, but they change with the weather

The Lighthouse is also a bed and breakfast during the summer season

A view from the Lighthouse before the sky opened and dumped on us

On our walk to the beach, the weather went back and forth from sunny....

.... to gray and cloudy....

... and back to sunny

I finished my day with a hot tottie... and it was good and warm.

Our last day in Skye we went on a hike near the town of Plokton before heading back to St. Andrews that night.

Group shot before we headed off for the day

Bridge to that connects the Isle of Skye to the mainland

On our way back down the hill toward Plokton we came across this cute little bridge

A view headed up the hill to our lunch spot

A view from the top

Neon Boneyard

During my trip home for Spring Break, and our mini-break to Vegas, my Mom and I went to the Neon Boneyard one afternoon. It was seriously fun and we decided next time we are down there we will get the combo ticket to the Mob Museum and the Neon Boneyard night tour (where they light some of these bad boys up). The place isn't that big, but there is a lot of history, some really fun neon, and was a nice way to spend some time off the strip of madness. The hardest part was there were some really fun, and really BIG, pieces that were hard to get in a photo because path doesn't allow you to stand back far enough. Still, worth the time to visit if you get the chance.

Oh Binion's... I did miss not having breakfast at midnight here... next time friend, next time

For my Grandpa

There is so much neon it is pilled all over

Hello Sir...

I love this little shirt... so happy :-)

It wasn't all neon, but the skulls from Treasure Island needed a home as well

Stars from the Stardust

Cute little guy...

Spring Break

Sorry for the late updates, but the last few weeks have been a bit on the crazy side.

In March, the University gives us two weeks (yes, 2 WEEKS) off for Spring Break. Many of my friends went up to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day or traveled around other parts of the world. Me, I took the opportunity (and advantage of Virgin Airlines sale) to go home to CA for a surprise visit. I was missing my family and friends something awful, I needed a change in weather, and my craving for Mexican food was starting to get a little dangerous. The way my classes are scheduled, I was able to come home for just under 3 weeks.

It was wonderful. The weather was perfect, I did a lot and was able to visit with a lot of people (not everyone, I'm sorry, but I did what I could in the time I had), and yet I never felt rushed. Well, except one time at the airport, but whatever. :-) We even managed to get to Las Vegas for a couple days so my step Dad could see his nephew compete at an aviation convention.

All in all, it was a successful trip home and just enough to help me recharge for the last few weeks of classes and final exams that are coming up.