Glenco Hike, Scotland, September 16, 2012 I went hiking with all the international students this past weekend up in Glenco! Definitely one of the most beautiful places I have ever hiked. The hike was intense, it was muddy and there was a pretty steep trek up to the path. The whole hike was very great and we went to “The Lost Valley” where we went up a steep path that was both rocky and pretty hard to hike. I love tough hikes and it was one of my favorites. You had to make sure to stop and take pictures and look around. But I would absolutely do it again.
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Scotland: Inverness
Inverness, Scotland, September 8&9, 2012
Inverness is definitely a beautiful city. I found it to be more upper class and Hampton-like than anywhere else. We stayed in a B&B overnight, and it was the nicest place we stayed, it was less hotel-like and more designed with a homey woodsy feel. We walked around the town at night and we saw a Mcdonald’s with Gaelic written on it. I thought that was so cool!
Scotland: Lochness
Loch Ness, Scotland, September 8th, 2012
Loch Ness is the largest loch in Scotland being over 23 miles long. Again just beautiful.
Scotland: Glenco
Glenco, Scotland, September 8, 2012
Glenco is a beautiful part of the highlands. In Scotland they have a “free to roam” policy, where you can hike anywhere, you just have to be kind to where you go! This part is popular for hiking and I think the pictures speak from themselves with how beautiful it is!
Scotland: Edinburg
Edinburgh, Scotland September 7, 2012
We took a really easy train early to Edinburgh (pronounced borough). It is definitely the “pretty sister” to Glasgow! We went into the castle (paid to go in), it was so worth it! So much history, and everything was very comprehensive! The views were amazing, and you can go in a bunch of buildings! It still functions as part of their military, and it is where they hold military tattoos, some for the queen who stays there!
The streets were definitely aimed at tourism, but that is fine. You can find plenty of places to buy wool and nice jewelry just outside the castle. I had a delicious salmon sandwich on italian bread! We walked around for the rest of the day and went back to the Edinburg City Hotel and ate dinner. We had haggis fritters to start! I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone! We stayed in because we had to get up early for our two day tour!
Scotland: Glasgow
Byres Road and the Botanical Gardens, September 5, 2012
So this is where my flat is around! It’s absolutely beautiful! It is a little far from main campus, but I took the subway and it is totally manageable! Took a tour of the art school this morning, but unfortunately no pictures! Will have more pics up of that area sometime tho! Went walking through Byres Road and walked into the gardens with my parents, didn’t have too much time, but still saw some. It was BEAUTIFUL! The weather has been amazing, which is such a tease because I know its going to rain most of the time, but all day it has been clear skies! So hopefully I will get some pics up of Edinburg, which is where I am heading with the rents tomorrow! So far Scotland is agreeing with my mother!
Pictures coming soon!
The first day of traveling was INSANE! 6 hour flight to London, four hour lay-over, then hour flight to Glasgow and another hour to the hotel! Today was the first full day, and I have to say I love my FLAT and Byres Rd! It’s beautiful! I will upload some pics later! Don’t have the greatest internet access but hopefully once I get my phone and everything settled I will have some! Enjoy the pics to come!
Leaving Today!
In just a few hours I will be in the car on the way to a plane, and some 12 hours after that I will be in GLASGOW! This day has been a long time coming, and I can’t do anything else but be excited and nervous and happy that everything so far has gone right! So off I go with a fully charged camera and soon will be traveling Scotland, then attending classes real soon! I’ll be posting some amazing pics soon!
New York: Montaulk
Montaulk, New York, August 18-20, 2010
As I said not all of these have will be in order. These are pictures from two summers ago when I went on a family vacation to Montaulk. We went every summer when we were little, and have gone about every other year since I was 14. This is the very tip of Long Island, past The Hamptons. Its not as rich out there, more firefighter families actually. Its beautiful, the water is so clean, the town has never changed and I love it. Fudge’n’Stuff has been there since I was five. Sometimes you can even catch some great surfers! Not to mention the amazing food at Gosmen’s Dock!
New York: The MET
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rooftop Garden, NYC, August 22, 2012
The MET is absolutely my favorite place in the city. You have to go a few times to see everything, and this time, because I go for special exhibits I saw Cloud City, by Tomas Saraceno. It was an incredible sensory experience, half the time you were unsure of your step, or how high up you were. It messed with your knowing that you were ok, and the feeling that you were falling right through the floor. The floor and planes of the structure were glass and plexy, which were both below you and to the side of you. It was amazing to walk through and have such an experience! Even my Mom enjoyed it and she is terrified of heights!
The rooftop itself was a great view of the NYC skyline, and the food and drinks were great! The weather was perfect, and combined with some awesome art, and some great exhibitions in the MET it was a great day!
New York: The Museum of Natural History
Museum of Natural History, August 17, 2012
I love this museum. It is also one of the best know museums in New York. The great thing is that is it a “suggested donation” meaning that you can give them what you wish for general admission. I think we gave about 6 dollars a person. The thing that is tough is that the exhibits that change during the years are extra money. But, if you have never been there before, the general admission can take all day to get through. The extra stuff is really if you want to see them (which they are pretty cool, or you have been there before). But if you are touring New York, this is a must see for yourself and kids.
New York: Bear Mt.
Bear Mountain, NY August 14, 2012
Bear Mountain is an amazing place to visit in New York and time of year. In the summer you have tons of tourists going to the pool, and in the fall you have TONS of people going to the Oktoberfest (which I personally recommend)! Get there early because it can get packed! It is beautiful in the winter when the lake freezes over, and now that the inn is open I would love to visit on a snowy afternoon. This summer afternoon, we hiked down to the Hudson River to look at the Bear Mountain Bridge, just past the zoo.
New York: Bear Mt.
Perkin’s Memorial Drive, August 14, 2012
Right before Bear Mountain is Perkin’s Memorial, which is a very old lookout in Rockland County NY. There’s a ton of history here, and it is a great place to take family and have a picnic. You can take some great pictures too. If I had a bigger lens I would be able to show you that you can see the city from the top :)
New York: Little Italy
Little Italy, NY August 13, 2012
After Times Square we took my cousins downtown to Little Italy, on Mulberry and Mott. This is one of the most authentic and traditional New York places I think you can go. Great Italian food, deserts and drinks! We went to Sals Pizzeria across from the famous Ferrarra’s, knows for their pastries. All the food anywhere is amazing. Aminci II is my favorite place to eat. You can also buy great purses and I love NY gear!
New York: Times Square
Times Square, NYC August 13, 2012
After the Circle Line, we walked into Times Square, and the Times Square Museum. I love all the bright lights, and tourists do too! You can meet everyone from locals, to tourists, to people to walk around half naked for their job! Do the people a favor, if you take a picture with them, give them a dollar. You can get some of the best food in the biggest restaurants and some of the coolest clothing in the flagship stores. The Times Square Museum is one of the coolest places I had never been to before. It has the history of the square, as well as pieces of confetti that people write their wishes on and get pinned to a board to be put in the next new years ever ball! So all of these wishes, and maybe yours will fall out of the sky on January 1st 2013.
New York: Circle Line
Circle Line, NYC August 13, 2012
We took my family from Oklahoma to the Circle Line touring boat in NYC. It is on Pier 83 and 42d street. Even being a New Yorker you absolutely love the views! It was great to bring the family and they give you a thorough overview of the entire city!
New York: West Point
West Point, NY August 1, 2012
I work tennis camp for a few weeks a year at West Point Military Academy, New York. I Absolutely love it here. (No I am not a cadet, just a camp counselor). I get to wake up every morning to these beautiful views, and teach tennis for three weeks a year. It’s great. If you ever have the chance to tour, go its incredible.
Places I Visited this Summer
Albany, NY
Stony Point, NY
Bear Mountain, NY
Perkins Memorial Drive, NY
West Point, NY
NYC, NY (Times Square, Saint Marks Place, Museum of Natural History, Circle Line, Little Italy, 9/11 Memorial)
Washington D.C
Jones Beach, NY
Washington D.C: Memorials
Washington DC. July 29, 2012, Touring
Here is D.C the morning after the SPJ awards. We went touring to see all the monuments. We only had about 2.5 hours so we didn’t get to see everything but we saw a ton of monuments. This area in D.C is called the “National Mall” which can be confusing. Almost all the memorials are places in a way that you can walk through them and see them all. You have seen most of them in movies, but in person they are just phenomenal.
Washington DC: The Society of Professional Journalism Awards
Washington DC, The Society of Professional Journalism Awards, July 20, 2012
I went down to Washington to accept an award with my fellow Radio Rookies, because our combined documentary, “Our 9/11” won best documentary, from SPJ. It was my first time in DC and I was surprised by the amount of traffic outside the city but not in it. The streets had plenty of room and the cabs didn’t need to drive fast! We stayed in a hostel that night and toured the next morning (which will be a post of its own!)