Eating to Survive, Drinking to Experience

Traveling alone is quite a unique experience. It makes you put yourself out there, go a bit outside your comfort level. But the advantages of doing so are so much more rewarding than one can imagine. Let me give an example-

A few nights ago, just minutes after getting back to my hostel after a long day of walking and a three hour hike in the rain, a new traveller came into my room and three minutes after I said "hello", I was on my way with her to visit her Swiss friends in another hostel for a home-cooked meal. Over our meal of some sort of hot, gooey rice stuff with little chopped vegetables, they told me stories of traveling together around the UK, and the strange people they met. Lisa, the girl from my Hostel is originally from Slovakia, but has lived in the US and Mexico for the last few years. The Swiss girls, Yvonne and Stefanie, are sisters finishing up an 18 day trip around the UK before going back for school. After dinner we had drinks in town and talked about everything from living in Switzerland, religious views around the world, to economics (yeah I know, what!?) and it was fascinating. To think I almost didn't say Hi.

Similarly, the night before that I had met a group of German friends in the common room of the hostel, by saying Hello. Within seconds they too had invited me to go to a bar with them to meet up with one of their childhood friends that lives in Edinburgh. The bar we went to was originally the first bank of Edinburgh, and the old vault is still proudly shown in the back room where we were having drinks and talking about Germany, America, and Scotland. They had been watching the MTV show Jersey Shore when I met them in the hostel, so I had to make sure to represent Americans a bit better.

After having drinks with the Swiss girls and Lisa, I met up with the German group again in a club on the other side of town. The details of the night aren't too important, just know the night ended with those drunken "NO! YOUUUU guys are awesome" and exchanges of names and contact info. And yes, for those wondering, we did talk about the German past and yes, I did eventually tell them I was Jewish, and no, it was not awkward. (I pictured my brother asking me those kind of questions, so there you go Mike). And again, it was fascinating. I've always been told how straight edged and boring Germans were, but these group of friends could not have disproved that misconception more. I could write an entire entry on conversations like that, and I'm sure I will soon. Just know one thing- the past is the past, and never let stereotypes stop you from getting to know someone.

Speaking of stereotypes, I also met a group of Irish college students on holiday last night, and yes, we went drinking. And YES, THEY CAN DRINK. I feel like these little entries don't give justice to the experiences these groups of travelers and vacationers have given me, it almost feels like a shame to mention it all without thorough descriptions of the nights, but it would just take to long, and like I said, I don't really like to write. Sorry, I guess you will have to talk to me when I eventually make it home if you want to know those stories. Here is what I will do: I will sum up the night in a series of single words or small phrases, in chronological order of the night, and you can let your imagination do what you want with them -

Jagger-bombs, shots, dancing, sweat, shots, hugs, yelling, cheers, dancing, sweat, shots, beer, bike races, ID problem, sneaking into bar, shots, getting caught, car dent, police, hassle, poor police work, handcuffs, no handcuffs, new bar, shots, beer, dancing, losing people, home.

No I was never the one in trouble, and everything worked out. Relax mom.

Just know we had a lot of crack...

Which is an irish word meaning fun, actually spelled 'craic', but they were saying it all night/morning at breakfast and its pronounced like crack, so now you know why I would laugh when they said it all night.

I've been writing too long. Sorry its been a while, but its been a crazy few days. On a train back to London now, we'll see where I decide to go tomorrow.

Oh jeez, I forgot to mention going to the Highlands. Hey I went to the Highlands yesterday, northern Scotland, to Inverness and of course, Loch Ness. Turns out I was wrong, there isn't a single Loch Ness Monster. There are actually about eighteen.

Picture to be added shortly.

- Matt

Location:Edinburgh, Scotland