Today we went to St. Andrews. This was a cool trip because I have always heard about the golf course so it was cool to go and see it in person. The trip was slightly more than I expected to pay for it but I believe that it was worth it. Even though I’m not really that in to golf I know a lot of people who are so it was cool to buy presents for Papa, Blaze, John and Jerry there. I can’t wait until Christmas to give them to them. It was pretty cool to take the train because I have only been on a train once before so I thought it was fun to travel the way that a lot of Europeans do. I think that if America had a better train system that more people would actually use it. I thought that it was cool to not only get there faster but to also get to see the countryside at the same time.
We couldn’t take the train all the way to St. Andrews so we had to catch a bus to take us the rest of the way. While we were waiting for the bus, fighter jets were flying over us. We figured that there must be a RAF base near by because we were watching them take off and land. Another give away was that across the street there were a bunch of houses that looked very similar and we figured that they were military housing.
When we got to the course we just walked around and made our way towards the gift shop because almost everyone that we were with needed to buy gifts for family and friends. Brooke of course had to take a picture in front of a St. Andrews sign with her shirt that said “Golf, An American Tradition”. It was pretty funny since golf was invented at St. Andrews! The rest of the day we just spent walking around St. Andrews looking at the sights, taking pictures of some of the buildings of University of St. Andrews, while normally this wouldn’t have meant anything to me but since, Prince William went there it was pretty cool to be there walking the same streets.
For lunch we went to a pub but Nick, on of the guys that hung out with us, got carded and he didn’t have any id to prove that he was over 18 so he had to leave! I felt bad but some of us still ate at the pub because it was pretty cheap. When we got back to the train station we had to wait for about 40 min to get on the train. When it finally did get there four of us couldn’t find seats so we had to stand. We were lucky however because the rest of our group ran up to the train right when it started to pull away! They were about 10 sec. too late and had to wait another hour for the next train to get there. Even though we had to stand for part of the trip it was pretty entertaining because there was a bachelor party going on, on the train. They all had on matching shirts and they were traveling with two cases of beer! This would never fly in the States, you would be kicked off the train if anyone did that! When we finally did get a seat near the other two people in the group we had a good time because two of the girls were so funny and we were laughing at the stupidest things ever! I’m sure everyone else on the train was very annoyed and if I was in their shoes I would be annoyed as well but from my stand point it was hilarious.
Monday, August 18, 2008
A Day at the Beach
Today six of us walked down to the beach. It is about an hours walk down there so we defintaly got our work out in today! It rained on us a majority of the way down there but we were determined to make it because we wanted to wade into the North Sea. When we FINALLY got down there the water was freezing!! I kind of expected this but once our feet got numb it didn't feel to bad at all. Our clothes however did get soaked by the waves so it was a very cold walk back.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2077925&l=21992&id=48003742
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2077925&l=21992&id=48003742
Monday, August 4, 2008
Arthur's Seat
Today a bunch of us walked up to Arthur's Seat it is described as follows:
"The remains of a volcano that erupted under water during the Carboniferous period, Arthur's Seat is located within Holyrood Park in the centre of Edinburgh. Although only 250m (823 feet) in height, Arthur's Seat is a notable landmark, dominating the city. Known also as the Lion's Head, Arthur's Seat is the highest of a series of peaks which take the form of a crouched lion.
Geologically what remains is a basalt lava plug that choked the neck of a volcano which would have been active around 335 million years ago. The action of glaciation has cut into its heart, making it one of the most accessible exposures of an ancient volcano.
Two stony banks on the east side of the hill represent the remains of an Iron Age hill-fort and a series of cultivation terraces are obvious above the road just beyond. In 1836, just below the summit, seventeen minature wooden coffins each containing a carved figure were found in a small cave. Their existence has never been satisfactorily explained; associations with witchcraft have been suggested or perhaps they were memorial to the seventeen victims of the infamous William Burke (1792 - 1829) and William Hare (died c. 1860)."
I have to say this was quite a walk. It took us and hour and a half to reach the summit and it was pretty rough going! But it was TOTALLY worth it the views were spectacular!! I put some of the pictures on the link at the bottom of post. Most of the way was pretty muddy and rocky. I slipped a couple of times but I'm okay I just got mud on my pants! When we were walking up to the summit we went one way that we thought was a path but the path actually ended! We ended up having to climb up some rocks with our bare hands to get up to where we were supposed to be. At the time it was scary and funny at the same time. I wish we would have gotten a video of all of us trying to climb up there because I know it would have been funny.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2076835&l=d449d&id=48003742
Here are the long awaited pictures of the guys from Norway. They look really intimidating at first but they are all really nice guys. They said that the avg. age of everyone in the group was 19-20 so they are all right around our age. In Norway you are required to serve 1 year in the military. One of the trumpeters is actually leaving on Wednesday because his one year is up. He said he will be returning to Norway to finish school. Chris (one of the trumpet players) said that most of the people go to school for a couple of years take a break do their one year then go back to school. I'll put more up when I get a chance to make a facebook album.
"The remains of a volcano that erupted under water during the Carboniferous period, Arthur's Seat is located within Holyrood Park in the centre of Edinburgh. Although only 250m (823 feet) in height, Arthur's Seat is a notable landmark, dominating the city. Known also as the Lion's Head, Arthur's Seat is the highest of a series of peaks which take the form of a crouched lion.
Geologically what remains is a basalt lava plug that choked the neck of a volcano which would have been active around 335 million years ago. The action of glaciation has cut into its heart, making it one of the most accessible exposures of an ancient volcano.
Two stony banks on the east side of the hill represent the remains of an Iron Age hill-fort and a series of cultivation terraces are obvious above the road just beyond. In 1836, just below the summit, seventeen minature wooden coffins each containing a carved figure were found in a small cave. Their existence has never been satisfactorily explained; associations with witchcraft have been suggested or perhaps they were memorial to the seventeen victims of the infamous William Burke (1792 - 1829) and William Hare (died c. 1860)."
I have to say this was quite a walk. It took us and hour and a half to reach the summit and it was pretty rough going! But it was TOTALLY worth it the views were spectacular!! I put some of the pictures on the link at the bottom of post. Most of the way was pretty muddy and rocky. I slipped a couple of times but I'm okay I just got mud on my pants! When we were walking up to the summit we went one way that we thought was a path but the path actually ended! We ended up having to climb up some rocks with our bare hands to get up to where we were supposed to be. At the time it was scary and funny at the same time. I wish we would have gotten a video of all of us trying to climb up there because I know it would have been funny.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2076835&l=d449d&id=48003742
Here are the long awaited pictures of the guys from Norway. They look really intimidating at first but they are all really nice guys. They said that the avg. age of everyone in the group was 19-20 so they are all right around our age. In Norway you are required to serve 1 year in the military. One of the trumpeters is actually leaving on Wednesday because his one year is up. He said he will be returning to Norway to finish school. Chris (one of the trumpet players) said that most of the people go to school for a couple of years take a break do their one year then go back to school. I'll put more up when I get a chance to make a facebook album.
Friday, August 1, 2008
First Tattoo Performance
Last night we had our first did our first Tattoo performance in front of 10,000 people! Suprisingly I was not at all nervous which suprised me because I always got so nervous when I played in front of anyone. I think it was the fact that there were so many people that I knew that there was no way that they were judging me. Someone put it well today when they said that everyone in that crowd wants us to succeed no one wants us to fail. I can hardly explain how awesome the show was last night.
Since the Golden Eagles are the first ones to go after the massed pipes and drums, the flutes and drums stand up behind the draw bridge inside the castle. It is so cool to see all everyone in the beginning before the whole show starts. To start off the show the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines start out the show, when they are done they shoot off the cannons on the castle, it is so loud but so amazing at the same time. Then the massed pipe and drums take off and walk through the castle gates. Then it’s time to wait until it is our turn to go.
When we went on last night words cannot describe how amazing it was. The crowd was fantastic and so excited for us. They clapped so loud after the songs that we couldn’t hear the drum majors start us into the next song. That was kind of unnerving at times but it was so cool that the crowd was that loud. During one of the song we have a section where we all put down our instruments and dance, it was so exciting to see the crowd get so into what we were doing I laughed through the entire thing because I was so happy that they liked us that much. When we got to America the Beautiful, I have a small solo during the middle of the song, and last night was the first night that I was so proud to play that during the show. I don’t know how many people could really hear me but I didn’t care because I was there and playing a solo. When we marched off to Stars and Stripes forever, the crowd clapped so loud while we were marching off it just filled me so happy that people from Scotland and Great Britain would cheer for us even though we are from America and it seems like fewer and fewer countries like us. It seems like music brings everyone together, no matter where you are from, or what you believe, music is the one thing that ties everything together.
Since the Golden Eagles are the first ones to go after the massed pipes and drums, the flutes and drums stand up behind the draw bridge inside the castle. It is so cool to see all everyone in the beginning before the whole show starts. To start off the show the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines start out the show, when they are done they shoot off the cannons on the castle, it is so loud but so amazing at the same time. Then the massed pipe and drums take off and walk through the castle gates. Then it’s time to wait until it is our turn to go.
When we went on last night words cannot describe how amazing it was. The crowd was fantastic and so excited for us. They clapped so loud after the songs that we couldn’t hear the drum majors start us into the next song. That was kind of unnerving at times but it was so cool that the crowd was that loud. During one of the song we have a section where we all put down our instruments and dance, it was so exciting to see the crowd get so into what we were doing I laughed through the entire thing because I was so happy that they liked us that much. When we got to America the Beautiful, I have a small solo during the middle of the song, and last night was the first night that I was so proud to play that during the show. I don’t know how many people could really hear me but I didn’t care because I was there and playing a solo. When we marched off to Stars and Stripes forever, the crowd clapped so loud while we were marching off it just filled me so happy that people from Scotland and Great Britain would cheer for us even though we are from America and it seems like fewer and fewer countries like us. It seems like music brings everyone together, no matter where you are from, or what you believe, music is the one thing that ties everything together.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Scotland!!
So far practices for the Ediburgh Military Tattoo have been AMAZING!! My favorite act by far is the Kings Guard from Norway, they are so awesome. Every one in the group from Norway is serving a madatory 1 year in the military. They do a rifle show that is so awesome, it amazes me how precise everything is. I have taken ton's of video of the show but I can't put it online until much later once the dvd of the show is released. So I'll put up some pictures so that you can get a small taste of the show.
(copy and paste this link to see some pictures)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2076544&l=47c6c&id=48003742
I haven't really been able to do much exploring around town because we have been practicing so much. We have our first performance tonight infront of 10,000 people!! We have a dress rehersal before hand and then we have the actual performance. I'm really excited to get the show started, I know that time is going to fly by once the show actually starts but it's going to be so awesome. We did a run through last night after dark and the lighting that they do during the show is fabulous. I really don't know how to describe how amazing it is.
(copy and paste this link to see some pictures)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2076544&l=47c6c&id=48003742
I haven't really been able to do much exploring around town because we have been practicing so much. We have our first performance tonight infront of 10,000 people!! We have a dress rehersal before hand and then we have the actual performance. I'm really excited to get the show started, I know that time is going to fly by once the show actually starts but it's going to be so awesome. We did a run through last night after dark and the lighting that they do during the show is fabulous. I really don't know how to describe how amazing it is.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
York!
So I've been offline for a couple of days becuase we could not connnect to the internet at the dorms that we were staying at in York. We don't have great internet connection in Scotland I am now sitting at a cafe using WIFI pretty far away from the dorms. Hopefully though in the next couple of days we will be able to find somewhere else closer to the dorms with internet access.
The past couple of days have been alot of fun. When we went to York yesterday we spent most of the time in the York Minster this AMAZING church right in the center or York. We toured the whole church (tower, catacombs, and main level). The views from the top of the church were priceless you could see the entire city. You only had to climb up 275 stairs in a VERY small spiral staircase. It was so small that they had to time when everyone went up and down becuase there wasn't enough room for you to pass anyone on the stairs! We then went down into the catacombs of the church where they found the remains of the foundation of the church from the time of the ROMANS! There was a base of a column that was from the 4th century. I still find it hard to wrap my head around the concept of how old these remains really were. The rest of the the church was fantastic as well, amazing stained glass and floors.
Today we left York and traveled to Edinburgh!! It was a long windy trip through the English countryside but it was also very beautiful! I am very glad to be moved into the flat since we will be here for almost 30 days without having to move at all!! We haven't really done a whole lot except for unpacking and finding somewhere to use the internet since we cannot connect to it in the dorms. I will try to up date as often as I can with pictures and so forth! Tomorrow we are taking our pictures for our miliatry id badges that will get us on and off of the Redford Calvary Barracks and in and out of the Edinburgh castle..yes I said castle, I'm SO excited!
The past couple of days have been alot of fun. When we went to York yesterday we spent most of the time in the York Minster this AMAZING church right in the center or York. We toured the whole church (tower, catacombs, and main level). The views from the top of the church were priceless you could see the entire city. You only had to climb up 275 stairs in a VERY small spiral staircase. It was so small that they had to time when everyone went up and down becuase there wasn't enough room for you to pass anyone on the stairs! We then went down into the catacombs of the church where they found the remains of the foundation of the church from the time of the ROMANS! There was a base of a column that was from the 4th century. I still find it hard to wrap my head around the concept of how old these remains really were. The rest of the the church was fantastic as well, amazing stained glass and floors.
Today we left York and traveled to Edinburgh!! It was a long windy trip through the English countryside but it was also very beautiful! I am very glad to be moved into the flat since we will be here for almost 30 days without having to move at all!! We haven't really done a whole lot except for unpacking and finding somewhere to use the internet since we cannot connect to it in the dorms. I will try to up date as often as I can with pictures and so forth! Tomorrow we are taking our pictures for our miliatry id badges that will get us on and off of the Redford Calvary Barracks and in and out of the Edinburgh castle..yes I said castle, I'm SO excited!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Plane trip and first day in London!!
We left Cape Girardeau at 11pm on Monday the 21st after a 7hr bus ride we arrived in Chicago at 7pm. Our flight took off at 10pm and we arrived in London at 11:30 am on the 22nd. We then took a 3 hr tour of the main points of London, while this barely scratched the surface, it did take us to the main points aroud town.
We then went to our hotel and were able to go out on our own. We bought a one day pass for the tube and were on our way. We went to Kingscross station, where they re-created the Harry Potter scene from platform 9 3/4, we went to Abbey road to re-create the famous Beatles cover, and then we went to Baker street home to Sherlock Holmes and of course we had to take a picture inside of a red telephone booth!
We then went to our hotel and were able to go out on our own. We bought a one day pass for the tube and were on our way. We went to Kingscross station, where they re-created the Harry Potter scene from platform 9 3/4, we went to Abbey road to re-create the famous Beatles cover, and then we went to Baker street home to Sherlock Holmes and of course we had to take a picture inside of a red telephone booth!
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