So anyway, onto the actual things I've done! First of all, I finally felt like a real uni student again last week, while going to the library with Jo for study sessions every day except Friday! (On a side note, is it confusing for anyone else that I now have two friends called Jo who I could be writing about? Lol.)
Had a horrible class test for comparative politics this week, that I was actually semi-organised and studied early for.
But anyway the (first) main event was going on the Dundee University Sailing Club's annual Booze Cruise! This involved taking a bus across to Oben, which is on the west coast, then sailing from there up the Sound of Mull to the little town of Tobermory and back again the next day. It was definitely a weekend of experiences - most importantly my first experience of real sailing. But I think the best way to describe it is in chronological order, so I'll go back to the start!
Around midday on Friday I got a bus with about 13 other people (the larger group was split into minibuses and cars for the trip) to Oben. Our bus went a bit earlier than everyone else's, so we could do a tour of the whisky distillery at Oben before it closed. That was pretty interesting, I learnt that whisky only has 3 ingredients - barley, yeast and water - and that it takes a hell of a long time to fully finish a batch! Also had a tasting of some whisky - both from a cask they had opened early (12 years instead of the usual 14) and from a fully matured bottle. Actually preferred the younger one which was a lot more alcoholic, but possibly this was because I drank it all in one long sip, instead of trying to take lots of little sips. I definitely find the taste too strong to take lots of little sips... Anyway, after that we went and got fish and chips for dinner then headed down to the docks (marina?) to unload our stuff from the bus to the yachts that would be our accommodation for the weekend. I've decided to try and be fancy and put some pics and stuff in this entry, but if you've been on Facebook you will have already seen them anyway :) So there were 5 yachts with 10 people on each (I think they were 40 something foot?). And my yacht for the weekend was called the Oceanlord.
Inside they really were just like a caravan - fully decked out with beds aka berths, kitchen aka galley, sitting area aka saloon, etc etc. A caravan, but for water. So yeah, eventually everyone made it to the docks and onto their boats, and then the trip really began with general partying on the boats.
The next day was a bit of a slow start, as I think many people were recovering. But we eventually got out (my boat was a close second to being first out!) and then the sailing experience began. We motored out, and then put up the sails and turned the motor off. It really was quite cool - tacking in particular is definitely an experience. To go faster you sail on an angle, that at times was alarming sharp! Everything loose was sliding around in the cabin, but of course the boat is very well designed, so that even when you're on an angle like that, you can still boil the kettle for some tea. So yeah, sailing up the Sound of Mull to Tobermory took most of the day (a good 6 hours at least I think), but the scenery was beautiful and it was quite peaceful. Have to admit I had a wee snooze at one point inside the cabin, as a week of poor sleep caught up to me.
Once we got to Tobermory, we had about an hour to use the bathrooms/go to the supermarket or whatever before we all met for dinner at one of the local pubs. Then we had dinner and drinks, including a 'boat race' which was basically a small team representing each boat, in a tag team to finish their drinks first. I have to note, there was one guy who wore his kilt - something which I find awesomely in keeping with stereotypes! Someone told me that Scottish boys will use any excuse to get their kilts out, and so far I have found this to be fairly true. I love it! Definitely means there's no forgetting where you are! :P But anyway, eventually the party was then moved both to the other local pub called The Mish Nish (love the name!) which even has a 'disco', and also back to the boats. All round another good night had by all - though I have to admit I crashed early, cos I was so tired I wasn't functioning very well... But I learnt an awesome tip for having a gin and tonic - don't just put in a slice of lime, but add a slice of cucumber as well. It tasted great. Jo (Australian) you should definitely try it the next time you make a gin and tonic, and then let me know what you think :)
Anyway, managed to make a relatively early start the next morning, which was good. My boat was actually the first out that morning. But it didn't leave before I went for a walk and found a bakery from which I got a coffee and a lamington - yes a LAMINGTON! No idea what an Australian cake was doing in a tiny bakery in an isolated little island town, but it was delicious so I won't even question it. Also managed to get a few really nice shots of the waterfront of the town (which was basically the whole town). I reckon it has to be one of the most colourful towns in Scotland, it was so cute.
Thats not the best shot - see my Facebook for a better one - but you get the idea :) So anyway, as there was next to no wind, we motored the whole way back. Which was actually really great, cos it meant that everyone could relax a bit, and we travelled in a kind of convoy all the way back. We hoisted one of the guys on my boat up the mast in a harness, and then sent him up his brekkie (a beer and a bacon roll) in a bucket, so he could enjoy it while hanging up there on the mast. A few other people on the boat tried it too, and then soon all the boats had someone up the mast. We also watched some guys on one of the other boats wake boarding behind it. I wouldn't have thought they could go fast enough to make it possible, but I realised that because the rope they hold is attached to the top of the mast, its much easier to get up because they are literally pulled up. But yeah, that looked pretty awesome. Another boat had their own guitar player, so they were just chilling on the deck listening to him play and sing/having singalongs. Basically it was just a really chilled ride, ending with all the boats rafting up together and everyone climbing onto the boats to hang out, get pictures and what not. Some crazy guys even went swimming - despite the fact that I was sitting there in like 4 layers and not super warm!
Altogether it was a really good weekend, and I'm glad I got to go along despite not being a member of the sailing club.
The other main event of this past week was today, as I went on a day tour of Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and Stirling Castle. This was the day tour I did, and while action packed it was really enjoyable. Definitely glad I'm finally getting to see a bit of Scotland too! So anyway, as the tour left from Edinburgh at 9:15am, I had to get up around 6am to first get the train to Edinburgh. That was not easy believe me, and my mood wasn't improved when the return ticket cost a ridiculous amount of money, and then when I got to Edinburgh and had to pee I couldn't because it cost 30p and I didn't have a 10p coin! That and they also had absolutely no bins around! But definitely cheered up on the walk between the station and the tour meeting point. Edinburgh is a beautiful city. Not even because its that 'nice' specifically. But everything is so old, and consistently old unlike York with its weird mix of architectures. You get the feeling Edinburgh has just always been there, and has weathered the time with dignity and just the right amount of change. And yes, thats the end of me waxing poetical, because yes it does sound a little odd. But basically what I'm trying to say is that while it is not beautiful in a strictly aesthetic way like Strasbourg for example, it has a character that makes it beautiful in its own way.
So anyway, eventually found the tour, and we all boarded the bus and headed for our first stop which was Balmaha, a village on the shores of Loch Lomond. That was cute, and we had a bit of time to go off ourselves and look at the loch and surrounding area. Then we went to the nearby village of Aberfoyle for lunch, where I met and had lunch with 2 American girls from the bus. They were both really nice, and it was nice to have someone to hang out with - the sole travelling thing can be a little lonely. After Aberfoyle we headed to Loch Katrine for the cruise, going over Duke's Pass on the way - the prettiest road in Scotland in our tour guides opinion.
The cruise was nice - saw some really beautiful scenery, which you can see some of in my photos on Facebook. Then we headed to Stirling Castle, via a quick visit to Hamish the Highland Cow, aka Hamis the Hairy Coo. He is apparently so famous a bull that he has his own Facebook page Hamish the Highland Cow. Our bus driver also took great joy in telling us several times that they are also known as 'hairy coos'. He also took great joy in playing us some old Scottish folk songs. As the title of this post might suggest, I definitely got them stuck in my head, especially the Loch Lomond song
But yeah, Stirling Castle was also great - quite interesting, especially compared to the few castles I have. Definitely a bit different - especially size-wise - than other castles I have seen so far. But awesome all the same. I'm thinking Edinburgh Castle must be a similar size though - will have to go there soon and see for myself!
Could talk a lot more particularly about Stirling, but I'm pretty tired now! So might need to come back next time. New obsession is getting a tartan skirt cos I'm in Scotland so any of the point I'm totally king. But now I desperately need some sleep so I shall bid you all adieu and til next time! :)
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