Next Stop:My Study Abroad Journey

In

Scotla

nd!

EdinburghTraveling to Scotland has always been a dream of mine. It was finally achieved when I was accepted into the ISEP Exchange Program and studied at Edinburgh Napier University during Fall 2011.

I lived next door to one of the best pubs in Edinburgh, The Golf Tavern. My flat overlooked the Meadows golf course, and I was only a short walk away from Princes Street. Edinburgh shines at

Christmas. In Princes Street Gardens, a carnival was set up for the whole month of December.The weather was always

changing. One minute it would be cloudy and rainy, and the next the sun would come out.

The HighlandsA Scottish friend of mine was generous enough to take me across the Highlands and visit other areas of the country.

Stirling became one of my favorite towns. From Stirling Castle, you could see the Wallace Monument.

From Stirling, some friends and I made it over to Doune Castle, the castle featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. We were even given coconuts to play with as we explored the grounds.

ItalySince I had relatives in Italy, I traveled to the village of Mezzocorona in the northeastern region. There, my cousins took me to the valley where my grandmother was born.

While in Italy, I also experienced their Apple Festival….

…gelato….

…and the Juliet House in Verona.

LondonOne weekend, my flatmate and I took the train down to London. It was cloudy the entire time we were there, but we enjoyed exploring the sights.

While I was there, I mastered the Underground…

…as well as the infamous double-decker buses…

…and traveled by foot to see Buckingham Palace. Sadly, I did not spy any royal guards.

Where to next?

Picture Credit1. Flickr.com / Travels / Ashley Baxter2. Flickr.com / Popping the Cherry of My American Passport / sedatfirat3. Flickr.com / Passport Page with Stamps / theredquest.com