Scotland

I went on an epic 3-day trip to Edinburgh at the beginning of August with Spencer and our friend Mark. It was literally a dream come true in so many ways! I honestly can't even begin to describe the play by play, but I've included more than enough photo evidence to prove I was actually FINALLY THERE!

And so they begin. With a groupie.

The best photobomb I've ever experienced.

Hello Edinburgh!

View from the overlook outside of the Castle Gates

 St. Giles Cathedral

 

Calton Hill

Views from Calton Hill

Day Trip to the Highlands
Edinburgh was a lot of fun, but the overwhelming highlight for me was our epic day trip to the Highlands. I've dreamed about visiting the Highlands for years--studying the history and culture, reading books about it and novels set there... In short, I'm a total Highlands Fan Girl. So this trip was my long-awaited pilgrimage, and it was everything I hoped it'd be and more.

In some village between Edinburgh and Inverness whose name has now escaped me.
But I want to live there. 

First view. Love at first sight.

Clearly exhausted but literally LOVING LIFE.

Our fantastic tour guide. Seriously one of the best I've ever had.

Loch Ness

I don't know if she looks like this, but obviously Nessie exists.

Mark doesn't believe. 

Searching for Nessie!
#webelieve

I'm actually on Loch Ness.
LOVING LIFE.
AAAAHHHHHHH!

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness

I think this is the point where I forgot to breathe from sheer joy.

Some places between Loch Ness and Glen Coe

Highland Coo

I was so happy and tired I could hardly keep my eyes open!

 

Wish I could remember the name of these castle ruins, but it was somewhere near Ben Nevis.

The Jacobite Express railway, aka Hogwarts Express

Glen Coe valley

This view.
Immense.

Sheep! The cherry on top of a picture perfect view. 

GIDDY!!

Loch Lubnaig

If you couldn't tell, my pilgrimage to the Highlands was a smashing success. Considering it was a whirlwind whistle-stop day tour, I got to see, hear and experience enough to satisfy my soul's yearning... for now.  One day I will go back and spend a nice long visit to just the highlands, but for now my soul rests easier knowing I've been and seen with my own eyes.

Back to Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle obviously featured in A LOT of my photos. 

Thistle is Scotland's national flower.

Royal Botanical Gardens

You all know by now that I am proper obsessed with flowers and gardens. So naturally when I learned that the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh were free, I made sure we paid a visit before heading home. If you don't care about beautiful or lovely creations, then just skip these photos and stay a heathen. 

This sweet old woman was just laying on a bench in the gardens reading her book. Bless her.
I want to be just like her when I grow up. #lifegoals

 

Nothing like a little California Sequoia tree in Scotland.

I've never seen this kind of lily. I love it!

Heather--one of my faves.

Another new kind of lily for me. I want these, too.

Harbour

We finished our trip with a brief visit to the harbour, but we ran out of time to explore much. Hopefully when I go back next month I'll get a chance to see a bit more!

HMS Belfast--the Royal Family's decommissioned yacht

As suspected, I'm even more enamored with Scotland after this trip. Luckily I get to go back for a couple more days with my mom and Bob in a few weeks, but I'm sure that'll only further convince me that my love for this place is well-founded and well-deserved.

British Wedding Season

One of the things I learned about last summer was that there is a pretty specific Wedding Season in the UK. To be fair, I don't know if it is just among British Mormons or all Brits, but most people get married between the end of July and end of August... although it really seems like they all manage to cram them into the same 3 weekends. 

Last year I wasn't close enough friends with anyone getting married to actually be invited to a wedding. So I just stayed home in bed with my leg in the air while all my friends darted in every direction across the country to attend various weddings. It looked exhausting. (Though to be fair when you live on crutches, most things look exhausting. haha)

But this year, I had the privilege of being invited to the wedding of one dear couple who's been in the Birmingham YSA with me the last couple years. Obviously I went. And I observed A LOT of differences between British and American LDS weddings. If I had time I'd go into those differences, but since I'm probably the only one that cares, I'll just share some pics and move on.

Mr. and Mrs. Heath. Love these two!
They are a brilliant couple--so good together and good to everyone around them. Just as it should be.

Typical Poole House antics.

 

Everything is funnier when you are tired.
I was exhausted.

These girls really are like my younger sisters that I never had. I love them!

Cornwall

The day after our tour of Dorset and Devon, we took a little road trip to Cornwall. Once again we were blessed with some gorgeous weather! Our first stop was the necessary rite of passage--a lunch of Philps Cornish Pasties. The rumours are true. It really ISN'T a true Cornish pasty if you get it outside of Cornwall. Let's just say my life is better for having eaten that steak pasty. I cannot overstate its deliciousness.

Thus fed, we began our whirlwind tour of Cornwall. Picture evidence is below. And also on my Instagram. You're welcome. ;)

Marezion and St. Michael's Mount

Penzance, Newlyn and Mousehole

We ate the most incredible Cornish ice cream with real Cornish clotted cream on top as we walked along this fishing port. It was one of the top 5 best ice creams I've ever had in my life. I'm a Blackburn, so I've had A LOT of ice cream in my life.

Land's End

St. Ives

In case you couldn't tell, I sort of liked Cornwall.