Reading, writing, coffee and more reading

My time in Scotland has been a relaxed experience, spending most of my day relaxing, reading, writing in my journal, and writing friends online while sitting in a magnificently comfy chair in the coffee shop Zest in St. Andrews. Matt and Alissa both travel into St. Andrews during the day and if we have plans in St. Andrews in the evening I have the pleasure of accompanying them to town at 9 or 10:00 that morning. We part ways with plans to meet up later, them to work and me to my coffee shop. Sometimes I leave the confines of the shop and wander the cobblestone streets to enjoy the sun, when the sun is actually shining. When we have no plans in St. Andrews I remain in the quaint Quill Cottage in Pittenweem and pass my time in a very similar fashion only at their house or the local coffee shop. The local coffee shop Cocoa Tree is greatly superior to Zest and I will miss their White Mocha with Soy when I leave in 2 days. Yesterday I indulged my desires and completed my day of leisure with fish and chips from the modest shop next to Cocoa Tree. It was a wonderful day.

In between my leisurely activities we have enjoyed many entertaining nights and afternoons with each other and with friends. Friday night we celebrated a friends birthday with dinner at a Pub in St. Andrews. Saturday we traveled into Dundee to buy Matt and Alissa a new car and then to Edinburgh to hike Arthur's Seat and have a magnificent dinner at a Tapas Restaurant. Sunday was Palm Sunday and after church we had an outstanding Sunday roast of leek and potato soup, fresh bread, smoked salmon, roast lamb with potatoes, cheese, wine and bread and butter pudding. 16 of us filled the quaint restaurant in Pittenweem. Monday was the day of Matt and Alissa's friend Jen's viva, or the defence of her PhD along with St. Patrick's Day. We celebrated with Pizza followed by a great evening of drinks in Jen's favorite Pub. Tonight I am excited to experience 'The Vagina Monologues' a play I have been wanting to see for quite some time. Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday and an evening of Matt's famous Sangria and Cheesecake. Unfortunately it is also my last evening in Scotland as I travel back to England Friday afternoon where I will meet Erin. While I am filled with excitement at visiting Rome, and Easter Sunday in Vatican City, I am sad to leave Scotland and more importantly Matt and Alissa. I have been blessed with amazing family and am so thankful we are so close as siblings, despite living in different parts of the world. I look forward to the next time I see them and will miss them when I leave.

Scotland

Here I am in Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland. After a long and emotionally draining day of travel, I have arrived at my brother and sister-in-law's cottage in Scotland. Leaving Spain was one of the hardest things I have done, I was not ready, nor do I feel my time in Spain is completed. I am determined to return. I began my traveling yesterday at 2:00 in the afternoon and completed my journey about 2:00 this morning, 13 hours of travel including 1 subway, 2 buses, 1 train, 1 plane, and 1 car. I became quite famous on my plane, maybe notorious is better fitting. After checking my bagage I had to pay a fee for checking 2 bags which required me to wait in yet another queue along with about 20 other passengers on the same flight. After rectifying the matter I made my way through security to the plane. Oddly, I heard my name being announced overhead, the plane was waiting for me. I quickly jumped the line, went through security and ran for the plane. I handed my boarding pass and passport and made my way down the steps onto the tarmac. The plane had already closed its doors and was backing away! I stood there shocked, not quite knowing what to do. One gentleman took pity on me and signaled the plane to stop. I saw the door open and the stairs unfold as a flight attendant stuck her head out the door. I quickly boarded the completely full plane, apologized immensely to the passengers and quickly took a seat, not sure if it was mine or not. The passengers gave me a quick hello, a few even clapped, possibly out of annoyance possibly out of amusement. Needless to say it simply added to my desire not to leave the people, city, and country with whom I have fallen in love. As if leaving Spain wasn't hard enough, my body was quickly reminded I was no longer in the warm Mediterranean climate as the rain and clouds consumed me when I stepped off the plane. The cold, something from which I have been sheltered the last 7 weeks. 

Despite my difficult trip and the cold, I truly am excited to be back in Scotland. Driving through St. Andrews at 1:00 this morning brought me back a year and a half ago when I first visited. I am excited to wander the quiet closes and wynds once again. The architecture is incredibly contrasting with that of Barcelona but it carries its own beauty. Drinking coffee, reading books, catching up with Matt and Alissa, taking pictures, and staring at the ocean will consume my next week. It is the beginning of the end of my travels in Europe, it marks my last 3 weeks abroad; last 3 weeks this time around. I will be back.

Almost time to say goodbye.

I am only in Barcelona for one more week and am terribly sad to say goodbye. I am determined to return.