Oh, Rabbie!

Well, it's already Wednesday and I've yet to talk about our trip to Stockholm (as hinted in last post). That will come in time, but I wanted to mention that while we were out of the country, we missed Rabbie Burns night here in Scotland. Well, I guess it was celebrated the world over by Scots and Scot-wannabes : for instance, in Canada, there was a Rabbie Burns Supper on top of the CN Tower. Nuts!

For those not in the know, Sunday, Jan. 25th marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Rabbie Burns. Burns is widely regarded around Scotland as their national poet/writer...he wrote in a mix of Scots-English and you'll most likely know at least one set of his lyrics: Auld Lang Syne (traditionally sung on Hogmanay).

Anyway, since we were in Stockholm enjoying some very non-Scottish scenery (but very Scottish weather) we've decided to postpone our Rabbie Burns supper until tonight. Haggis - check, turnips (neeps) - check, potatoes (tatties) - check. And after that, the usual Wednesday night Pub Quiz at Southsider.

Scots Wha Hae!

Carbon Footprint!

Thanks to Dopplr, my carbon footprint after 2008:

http://www.dopplr.com/traveller/whereisbridget/carbon

The carbon footprint is measured by how far you've gone, as well as what form of transportation you've taken to get there. It's so far only calculated January in 2009, which is the trip we're taking to Stockholm (Jan. 22-Jan. 26th). I've yet to enter in account the travelling we'll be doing around Eastern Europe later this Spring, not to mention anything else which may pop up.

Dopplr is a web service (and facebook app) which lets you register your travels as you go and compares them to others using the service. You can keep updated with who's travelling where, and also get city tips from other travellers.

In comparison, they also tracked Barack Obama's footprint:

http://blog.dopplr.com/2009/01/15/dopplr-presents-the-personal-annual-report-2008-freshly-generated-for-you-and-barack-obama/

(The September 2009 trip listed is my potential return date to Canada)

Arthur's Seat

Top of Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

Arthur's Seat is what remains of a volcano of yesteryear. Located just a ten minute walk from our flat, and then another hour or so to climb. 360 views of Edinburgh, Leith, the North Sea and Pentland Hills to the south. 

Today was snowing heavily in Edinburgh. A rare sight indeed. Looking out of an eastern facing window at work this morning, I could see the Seat and it's slight cover of snow. These pictures were taken a few months ago (August) during warmer weather. 

Last time we went up the Seat was in October, and the fall winds were so strong we were actually being pushed. We made it to the top and walked swiftly down again...

Edinburgh Castle from Arthur's Seat

Walking to work...

The Walk to Work: total time - a good six minutes (longer if you don't jaywalk).

The view down the street, as I leave my flat. 

Turn right on the Cowgate

Take the first left up Blackfriars St. 

When you reach the top of Blackfriars, you're at the Royal Mile...

Look left...

But turn right.

After the short walk, reach the intersection at St. Mary's...

Cross the intersection and turn on the first left and walk down Cranston St.

...til you reach East Market...

Cross the street and work!

It's Ed-in-Burra

So, first of all, why Edinburgh?

Because Mike had been here before, briefly, and said it was pretty. Well, let's be honest: he most likely used a manlier word than pretty. Maybe 'awesome' or 'rad'. But the general idea was that it looked like a beautiful place to live.
After our stint in Bath, Dee and I wanted to live somewhere a bit more city-like, but without a city-like busy atmosphere.
London was not on our radar...not even just a bit.
We wanted to live in Scotland because our visa allowed us to be anywhere in the UK. So, why not spread out? England, check. Scotland...check. Glasgow seemed too big of a city, and Edinburgh had history. So we took an overnight bus to Edinburgh, after a few weeks in the hostel found a neat, ancient flat in the Old Town and settled in.

And that's about where we started. No special reason, really, I just like pretty places.

January of 2000 and 9.

Street Party, Edinburgh

We found Alan, aka our former boss when Dee and I worked at Bath Backpackers in Bath, England. 

Guy dancing his way to cheeseburgers.

We didn't lose each other. A feat...and very good night indeed!

Hear, ye!

I think our apartment is haunted.

How do I know this?

Because I go to sleep at night and dream horror.

And this is my first impression of Edinburgh.

Since we moved in to the Old Town district of this fair city, the original walled city of early Edinburgh, my nights have been a bit restless. This was in late February, last year.

When I saw 'we' I mean:

-Diana, my college partner in crime and travelling companion since we got our UK visas in September 2007 and moved to England in October of the same year.

-Mike, the one who I've been seeing nearly every day for the past two and a half years. The one who works from home and whom I spend my lunch hours and every free moment with. Held up in Canada working and tying up loose ends until February 2008.

Since then Dee and I have found jobs working for Edinburgh Council, not the greatest artistic environment but one that nonetheless provides money for other nightly and weekend endevours.

This idea has been stewing for the past few days in my mind, and since I'm completely unfullfilled at my job I've had countless hours to think about what it is exactly that I'd like to share with everyone who cares enough to be reading this.

Since my arrival in Edinburgh I've just been flooded with masses of historical information, and cultural spoilings. Literature, for instance. Let's start there...

I love reading. Since I was barely able to speak my mother would read to me, almost every night before bed. I learned to read at an early age and haven't stopped. I went to college for writing. I point out typos in the newspaper to whoever happens to be around. Words are my life.

Edinburgh has been named UNESCO's first City of Literature. It's been the inspiration for who even knows how many authors. But to name a few: J.M. Barrie, J.K. Rowling, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mary Shelley...LitCity, as it's now dubbed.

If this sounds all over the map to you, how perceptive! It intend for it to be that way, because that's usually how my thought patterns work from one day to another. And there are always new things to be noticed here in LitCity. So let's begin...