Portobello, Leith and The L Word

So I had a really fun weekend here in Edinburgh (it's the first weekend I'd been here in over 3 weeks). Most of the people from my program were traveling, so the few of us that were still here decided to go around and explore new parts of the city.

On Thursday we observed our first debate in the Parliament. And I will just say...my MSP is BALLER. She went after the Health Minister so hard (over an issue involving survivors of sexual abuse), and it was awesome. It was a good day to be in Parliament since the budget had just passed the night before, and the Scottish National Party was all excited and Labour was really pissed. Oh, politics. On Thursday night I went to this house party hosted by a friend of a friend. It was fun, but the most memorable part was the cab ride back - I had my first experience with a Edinburgh taxi driver, and people are so right when they say you cannot understand a word the drivers are saying. Seriously, it was the thickest accent...he might as well have been speaking Czech.

On Friday night I had my first "George Street Experience." George Street is where all the snazzy clubs are, and because I am morally opposed to cover charges and don't like to wait on line, I resorted to mooching off my friend's friend's friend (no exaggeration). It was a good time.


Saturday I hiked up to Arthur's Seat the hardcore way, but I got tired in the middle and just kind of walked around the hills (see picture). Then on Sunday we went to Portobello (the little sea town in Edinburgh where the beach is...see picture), and to Leith. Leith is...gross. It's depressing, there's all these Dominos Pizza places and while we were waiting for the bus, this woman was rushing to get her kid's stroller folded up in time to catch the bus, and she asked me to PICK UP HER CHILD AND PUT HER ON THE BUS (well, really she asked Justine but Justine froze and I had to step in). Ok, not that I'm unsympathetic to a mother in distress, but that is WAY too trusting. I could have totally stolen her child! Anyway, the fish and chips was good in the Ocean Terminal in Leith, but it started to get really foggy (thank god, I was worried it was going to say sunny!) so I couldn't really take pictures.

But clearly, the most important event of this weekend was...SUNDAY NIGHT: THE EPISODE OF THE L WORD. HOLY CRAP. Bette and Tina. I have no words. Actually, I have plenty of words, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, so call me and we'll talk about it.
xoxo Pam