I decided to take a ferry to Cairnryan, Scotland, and from there get a bus that takes me to a train station to get on a train that would land me in Edinburgh. Getting to the ferry was the hardest part, it was 6 miles out of town, and I wasn't about to walk it so I took a taxi. After I got the taxi it was simple from there. I walked in the port asked for a ticket and £30 later I had everything I needed. I was worried the ferry would make me sea sick or get boring, or that I would just run into so many problems I would have trouble today, but that didn't happen at all. The ferry was huge, like a cruise ship, and it had a spa, a movie theater, multiple bars, restaurants and even cabins. While waiting to board the ferry I ran into a group of young guys and started talking to them, we played a little guessing game, basically me guessing what a ton of athletic men were doing taking a ferry from Belfast to Scotland, to eventually end up in Canada. Between their accents and my confusion, I failed pretty miserably, going from hokey players to lumberjacks to firefighters. They were in the British army and had lots of travel ahead of them. When we boarded the ferry we went our separate ways, me going to the movie theater, which I found from wondering. About 15 minutes later B (who's name I can't pronounce, he's from the Caribbean, and told me to call him B) showed up and started talking to me. After maybe 30 minutes of sitting in the theater we left to find the rest of the guys. We met back up and they kept me entertained the rest of the ferry ride. They taught me that the British do in fact like Americans, the phrase bagged (which I'm not sure I really get), to not talk to anyone at a bus station,that they may know the Filipino man from the pub, and so so so much more. They told me Liverpool is a must, as well as Cornwall and Hastings but not Plymouth. York is pretty, and Newcastle is fun if you like to go out. They even offered to talk to their Sargent and get me a ride to Oxford, though I turned it down since I already had my ticket.
Arriving in Scotland my first impression was what I thought it would be, wet, rainy, cold and huge green rolling hills. It is gorgeous but so not worth the wet and cold, definitely a place to visit and not live. Getting on the bus and driving made me realize how small the roads really are here, they are barely more than what we consider one lane. When the bus got to the train station, I found out that something had happened and no trains were running from Ayr for the next two days, so I boarded another buss that took me to the next train station about 30 minutes away where I boarded a train heading for Glasgow. In Glasgow I got off and found my train for Edinburgh. It stopped 4 times before ending in Edinburgh, but it really wasn't long of a ride. It wasn't too much of a trip, especially considering how far it was. My hostel is located directly across from the train station, so it made it easy to find, or as easy as something in a huge city can be.
I've learned to enjoy the travel days just as much as the days I spend in the cities. I actually have met tons of extremely nice, interesting people, as well as seen parts of the country side. I can't say I loved Scotland from the train window, but Edienburgh is lovely and I can see myself falling in love. Between meeting such great kind people, and having such ease of travels I'm wondering why I didn't take this trip much sooner. Needless to say, I'm in love with the UK and the people. I promis ill add more detail when I have time, I'm in a coffee shop and on the run.
Much love,
Kenzie xxoo
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