I was there too!!!!

If you’ve read the blog lately, you might think that Tracy’s the only person who’s done anything over the last week and a half, while I dropped of the face of the planet, but my parents actually kept me so busy and entertained that I just haven’t had the opportunity to see a computer for quite some time. While I had to go an entire week without saying the word “fuck” or drinking more than a pint a day (it’s possible I lost 10 pounds while hanging out with my parents, who knew that beer was bad for you?), I actually had a phenomenal time in Scotland with the folks.

We started out at the heart of Edinburgh- a former client, Kathleen, contacted her brother living in Edinburgh, and he offered his flat for our use, in Advocate’s Close at the heart of the Royal Mile:


Within 2 minutes of arriving, we met our first bagpiper (he's clearly thrilled about the photo op):


Lee, my client's brother, arranged for the most amazing 3-day tour of the highlands. We started out at a whirlwind tour of castles, our first stop being the Blackness Castle, where my father got to experience the closest thing to childhood since we dragged him to Disneyland as children:


We also stopped at Stirling Castle:


And Doune Castle, which, if you're a Monty Python fan, you may recognize:


It was the scene of many a "Search for the Holy Grail" scene, including the famous French Soldier scene. I of course got into the spirit (horrifying some French photographers standing near us, waiting to take some artsy-fartsy photos of the turrets):


And even my mom and dad couldn't help but channel some inner Monty Python:


The next day, we sought out Nessie by trekking up to Loch Ness. On the way, we saw some of the most spectacular sights, including a stop to view Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK:


At Loch Ness, we did a tour of Urquehart Castle, which apparently was blown up by its last known inhabitants so that no one else would take it:


And had the best Scottish meal ever at Moulin Hotel, where we all threatened to eat all of each other's meals, they were that good (dad with venison, me with lamb, and my mom with steak pie, which I believe she enjoyed 5 nights in a row while we were in Scotland):


We really lucked out with the most spectacularly sunny, beautiful weather the entire week, so took advantage by taking our third day out in the highlands to get truly off of the beaten track. We drove to Loch Awe:


And even saw a "heeland coo" (highland cow, the hairiest beast on the planet!- insert your own dirty joke here) on the way:


Then decided to break from our designated path and turn on to a single track road, which ended up being a real highlight for all of us. The views were spectacular the entire way:


And we ended near Loch Avich as the sun was setting:


After my parents left, Tracy and I spent a few more days at her aunt and uncle's (that's where the posts about our inevitable wedding ceremony occurred) near Dumfries before spending the final night in Edinburgh back at Lee's flat. He joined up with us, Graham and El for some drinks...which turned into many more drinks, which did lead me to try to use his house keys to break into the door NEXT to his apartment 3 hours before we had to be up for our flight, but we made it safely somehow to Ireland, where we met up with Lisa, Laura, Ann, Amy and Lauren.

We're all now in Dublin, of course doing our best to behave as perfect angels and not at all living up to the stereotype of Loud Americans (HAHAHAHAHA) before we head out to explore the south and west of Ireland. We've already taken a million photographs (involving tiger imitations, topless Irish men, the Guinness brewery, Jesus, nameless Egyptians with Irish accents, anger at boring Italian man, Lisa and Laura refusing to stoop to our level, looking like tourists, and actually being massive tourist tools in horse-drawn carriages) but all of those will likely have to wait until we return to New York.

The trip is nearing its -God, I can't believe I'm saying this...wait while I cry for a minute...

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nearing its end...

so I'm pretty sure Tracy and I will not be spending any time over the next week sitting at internet cafes, unless we do the very last day after everyone else has left.

Most likely, though, this means that the next time we post, it will be to update on Ireland, but we will physically be back in New York by that point. We'll fly back on the 1st of April, and we hope everyone who can make it will be at Slainte Saturday night (the same location we had our farewell party) in New York.

Can't wait to see you all in person and see what you've all been up to...you've heard all our stories, so we'll just sit silently in the corner and catch up on your stories.

Thanks for reading, and hope you're all ready to buy us pints, because we're offially poor as shit! Know anyone who wants to offer us jobs?

-Posted by Katie