This past weekend, I took a much needed break from the stresses of the election and end of term paper writing. I met my roommate from back home and one of my besties, Emily (Dublin) in Edinburgh. I traveled there by bus because it was the cheapest way to go, but it was also the longest way to go. If you can imagine, Exeter is in the very bottom lefthand part of England, with Edinburgh being up north about 14 hours away by bus. It was quite the trip and I'm thankful I have no problem sleeping on buses. It was a wonderful weekend. Edinburgh is a big city with a small town feel. Old town Edinburgh, where Emily and I spent most of our time, looks no different than I imagine it would have 200 years ago. As a certified nerd, getting to explore a city dripping with history, was an unforgettable experience. We visited museums, churches, castles, and fun tourist shops. My favorite part of the trip was hiking Arthur's seat. For anyone that knows me, outdoorsy stuff like hiking isn't really my strong suit, but I trusted Emily and gave it a shot. It was breathtaking. As soon as we hiked back down, I was missing it already. Those cliffs and the view of the city from them are magical.
While in Scotland I took the opportunity to look up some of my family history. My middle name is Magee, which comes from my grandmother on my father's side. Settle in for a little history lesson folks. In Scotland there are about 20-30 clans from all over the country. They all of chieftains and continue to meet and carry on family history to this day. Each clan has a respective tartan print that they wear. So the Magee's were never a standalone clan, but Clan Mackay and Clan McDonald both lay claim to the sept of Magee/Mcgee/Mcghie. The research I did suggested that Clan Mackay had more of a legitimate claim, but that could be entirely wrong as I am no expert. Anyway, it was a ton of fun doing some family research even if it turn out to be completely incorrect.
Other than the hike, I also really enjoyed the Museum of Scotland. It had extensive exhibits on animals, space, feats of engineering, and scientific discovery. While we were there the museum had a special exhibit on Scotland throughout history. I was essentially able to see the narrative of Scotland from medieval times to today, which was fascinating because there were lots of huge swords involved. I also continued my dream of seeing the seat of government of every new place I visit. I was able to check the Scottish Parliament building of my list.
Its hard to believe that my time at Exeter is almost up. In about four weeks I'll be on my way home back to Wilmington. I've met the greatest people who've become incredible friends and have made my time in England greater than I could have possibly imagined. However, I don't want to get too mushy or dwell on the fact that I'll have to say goodbye soon! This weekend I am going to Geneva, Switzerland with my flatmate Madeleine, so be sure to check in on my upcoming adventures.
Cheers until next time!
While in Scotland I took the opportunity to look up some of my family history. My middle name is Magee, which comes from my grandmother on my father's side. Settle in for a little history lesson folks. In Scotland there are about 20-30 clans from all over the country. They all of chieftains and continue to meet and carry on family history to this day. Each clan has a respective tartan print that they wear. So the Magee's were never a standalone clan, but Clan Mackay and Clan McDonald both lay claim to the sept of Magee/Mcgee/Mcghie. The research I did suggested that Clan Mackay had more of a legitimate claim, but that could be entirely wrong as I am no expert. Anyway, it was a ton of fun doing some family research even if it turn out to be completely incorrect.
Other than the hike, I also really enjoyed the Museum of Scotland. It had extensive exhibits on animals, space, feats of engineering, and scientific discovery. While we were there the museum had a special exhibit on Scotland throughout history. I was essentially able to see the narrative of Scotland from medieval times to today, which was fascinating because there were lots of huge swords involved. I also continued my dream of seeing the seat of government of every new place I visit. I was able to check the Scottish Parliament building of my list.
Its hard to believe that my time at Exeter is almost up. In about four weeks I'll be on my way home back to Wilmington. I've met the greatest people who've become incredible friends and have made my time in England greater than I could have possibly imagined. However, I don't want to get too mushy or dwell on the fact that I'll have to say goodbye soon! This weekend I am going to Geneva, Switzerland with my flatmate Madeleine, so be sure to check in on my upcoming adventures.
Cheers until next time!