Edinburgh 2023

This is a big part of the group that took the same flight as me and Natalie

I'm baaaaaack and Melia is with me. So is Allie for a day. 

I flew from SLC to Amsterdam, then Amsterdam to Edinburgh on Sunday, May 7, arriving midday on May 8. We dropped bags at the hotel and walked around Edinburgh. 

Mel used her flight benefits to come to Europe. Since she hadn't used them before, Allie went with her. They went to Amsterdam to spend a couple of days with their dad, then they came to Edinburgh. Allie slept in my room, just like last year. I'm so glad Allie could come. Edinburgh is such a great city.  We ate dinner at Dishoom with Maile, our TA, Allie, Mel, me, Natalie, and Emily Burdette (a friend of Mel's from the upholstery shop and a foods TA). 

The sad thing was that Mel felt sick the day we arrived and the next couple of days. In fact, she missed the trip to Lochcarron mill. She'd been looking forward to going there and seeing all the tartans. One of the iconic clothing items she made in her youth was a plaid baby doll dress. She made it later in her high school days. She wanted to get some fabric to make yet another dress. It didn't work out for her. 

Our first day as a group included a walking tour with Stuart Usher, followed by time at Edinburgh Castle. I had wanted to see the Writer's Museum and that was a part of our tour this time. Stuart is an old Scottish man who has been leading walking tours for years. This is the 3rd time our group has used him. Natalie and I both noticed a cognitive decline since last year. Poor guy. He would "get lost" in his "script." It was still a great tour. Allie was even able to go on the tour since Dawna and Craig weren't there. 

The next day we went to Lochcarron and Hawico. I got the same fun tour guide who has a very thick accent. His name is Keith. They were so warm and welcoming. It was fun to come back the very next year. Guides and companies remembered us and were so happy to have us back. Everywhere we went, guides mentioned how great our students were last year. We know this year's group wouldn't disappoint. Lochcarron had really improved their reception area and even had fun decor in the bathroom - a wall mural about weaving and warp and weft. I didn't buy anything. I already have my Hunter tartan.

We had our driver take us to Hawico, a company that sells sweaters and other knitwear made from lambswool and cashmere and cotton. They have a manufacturing space that we got to see in small groups. We got to see a machine that unravels items when they are improperly knit. Rather than just throw the garment out, they unravel it and use the yarn again. They have machines that knit a sweater in a single process. It was so cool. I bought a cute light blue cardigan that was in their clearance section. 

Early on in the trip, we got a report from Thomas, a participant and my TA, that one of his roommates was out after curfew. He reached out not to tattle, but out of concern for this young man's safety. We gave the students a stern warning the next day that they were NOT to be out alone and they were always to be back in the hotel for curfew. We hoped that would take care of things. I won't lie...I was concerned because this student had bruises on his neck the morning after breaking curfew. UGH. 

We tried something new this year...we had class time. Once in each city, we set aside time to meet together and talk about what the students were seeing and what connections they were making between their readings, course materials, projects, and the appointments. We often met at the same park where we met last year. It is so crazy to be back in the same spots, seeing the same familiar sights. A new spot we went to was Holyrood House. It's at the opposite end of the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle and is currently used by the royal family. Natalie and I went with a few students and we really enjoyed our time there. We'll take the whole group there next time. 

Natalie and I invited the older FCS majors to join us for dinner at Howie's. We had a great time and enjoyed the food. We all had haggis. I tried a "casserole," which was like a traditional thick stew. It had a meat that I hadn't had before, but I don't remember what it was. Maybe it was elk or deer? I don't remember, but it was good. 

A new appointment for me was a visit to Araminta Campbell. She is a small business owner. Her company makes specialty, handcrafted woven scarves, wraps, etc. Her business is run in an old castle outside of Edinburgh. It was such an idyllic location. We got a tour and saw very old looms that were made by George Wood. It can take up to a week to set up the yarns on a loom to make a wrap. Many of her pieces are made from Scottish alpaca and the colors are inspired by the Scottish landscapes. I fell in love with the location, the vibe, and the work they do. I almost bought a scarf, but I don't wear bigger scarves. I love small cotton scarves, but a bigger wool scarf is a lot for my frame. The students got to spend time asking Araminta questions about her business. Mel loved the sheep outside of her building. Mel wants to see sheep and frolic in fields. 

Natalie is determined to find the best sticky toffee pudding in the UK. We tried some at Howie's and expected it to be fantastic since it's a traditional Scottish restaurant. It was good, but didn't blow us away. We also tried it at a couple of pubs. The worst one was at a place called Biddy Mulligan's. We did not get rained on in a significant way. We got a bit of sprinkles, but nothing bad. Weather was chilly-ish, but fine. I wore sweaters and my jacket, but was very comfortable. 

We also took the students to Verdant Works and to the V&A. We paid extra for the students to be able to see the special Tartan exhibit that was on display at the V&A. It was FANTASTIC. Wow, we learned about Tartans, saw them being made, then saw this exhibit. Edinburgh proved to be absolutely fantastic. It was the perfect way to start the trip. 

The students are so engaged in our appointments. They ask great questions and are so polite and grateful. We've had no issues with dress and grooming. Grateful! It's also so great to have Melia along. I'm so proud of that girl. She applied to 5 scholarships and got 4 of them. She got about $10,000 and didn't have to pay anything for study abroad. Good work, girlie. I love my kids. 

Fun memories: 

One of our bus drivers played great music while we were traveling. Turns out he used to be a DJ and the music he played were his mixes. It was pretty great. 

We walked and walked and walked. I didn't mind. I really like walking. 

I bought 14 scarves to gift to family and friends. Natalie had the great idea to ship stuff from Edinburgh to her house, where her sister also lives. Thomas, Michaela, Maile, and Mel also added stuff to our package. We spent $90 each to ship 7 kilograms home. It was the best decision we could have made. I did not want to carry 14 scarves all over Europe. 

At the SLC airport, ready to go. Mel and a couple of other students are already in Europe. Other students are on other flights. 

The whole group, except Melia. She was resting in the hotel this day. The huge tartan painted on the building is new and so cute. 

Natalie, Maile (our TA), and I taking crazy picture in the mirrors by Edinburgh Castle

We hiked up to this viewpoint. It was beautiful. We really wanted to sit on a bench, but a couple was there. We just awkwardly stood near them until they decided it was time for them to leave, then we took the bench for a bit. 

Most of the group at the V&A

Look at Edinburgh at night. Amazing!

Yarns at Lochcarron

Finished tartans at Lochcarron

Me and my girls on the steps of the Scottish Museum. Mel wasn't feeling too great. 

Me and Mel at Araminta Campbell's work space.

26 people leaving the Ibis Styles St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh

The end of our walking tour with Stuart Usher - Cami hadn't joined us yet

I love this picture of my girls. Always together. Not afraid to hold hands. Allie is in uniform, because she's heading back on a flight. 

Funny story...Natalie, Maile, and I took pictures here. Natalie and Maile got cute jumping pictures. I tried and I fell and am just lucky I didn't sprain my ankle. I think I'm too old for jumping off of platforms. 

Hunter

Inside the White Hart Inn, a very old pub

Sticky Toffee Pudding from White Hart was good

Natalie and I shared a sandwich and sticky toffee pudding. We share food a lot.

I love a good sandwich. I had to try this place and it didn't disappoint

Passing sheep on the way to Lochcarron in Selkirk

These women inspect every inch of the tartans for any irregularities, then they fix them. It's amazing. 

The jute industry was worldwide. Notice the covered wagon in the western United States. Canvas for covered wagons often included jute. 

Old loom

Looms started to be mechanized

This was a wedding dress from the 1700's on display at the Tartan exhibit at the V&A

Me and my foods TAs, Thomas, Michaela, Emily, and Maile

I read a book about the expeditions to Antarctica. Many of those ships were constructed in Dundee

Each step of this staircase was made of a different marble

Walked through this beautiful cemetery in Edinburgh

Look at this beautiful space!

Araminta Campbell

George Wood, engineer and craftsman who made looms

A George Wood loom and one of the weavers

A piece made by Araminta when she was in college

Tools of the trade

There are many, many fields of these yellow flowers. This is rapeseed, from which canola oil is made. 

Holyrood House

The gardens at Holyrood House were exquisite

I get to celebrate my Scottish roots everywhere

Biddy Mulligans

The worst Sticky Toffee Pudding

Cleaned up and ready to check out

I wonder what Allie and I are thinking about what Stuart is saying...

The foods crew with cold drinks

The group at Verdant Works, a historic jute mill that is now an educational site

Me, Maile, and Natalie on the coast at Dundee, after getting avocado toast that I'd been dreaming about since last year. 

I was calling to confirm bus pick up for tomorrow. Maile, Mel, me, and Natalie

The FCS dinner at Howies. Maile, Sierra, Emily, Michaela, Natalie and me