and miles to go before I sleep...: expensive

Following Paris, my plan was to get to Edinburgh, Scotland around 7pm have a nice shower at the hostel I had booked for the evening and be ready for my tour around Scotland by 9am. Obviously, with all the luck I have, this didn't happen... In fact, what did happen, was far far far off from the original plan. So this is how the disaster began. I get to the train station a few hours ahead ready to make a reservation for my train, after waiting in line for about an hour I get to the front and am told that my train is fully reserved, I can't get any discounts and if I want to buy a ticket it'll cost me 245€... So to that I obviously said fuck you and left. I then checked flights, since most within europe slash the uk are quite cheap... I was wrong. These flights were about the same price and did not include luggage. So back into the line I go. This time I get a very weak English speaker and it almost turns into a match. Basically she just kept telling me to go upstairs and I had no clue as to why or what I was supposed to do up there. I go up anyways and finally find someone who not only understands English but also realizes that a 245€ train ticket is ridiculous for a student... So he finds me one for 109€. Still fucking expensive, but it was my only option to get me to edinburgh in time to meet my travel group. So off I go to find my train from no other place but Disneyland Paris! In all honesty I wanted to say fuck this and just go hang out with Mickey Mouse for a while haha.

Onto the train I go and of course I have the cutest little blonde girl in front of me named Imogene, and to top it off she had an English accent. Of course, I then loved this train getting my spirits picked up by this little girl telling me everything about her life and how awesome Disneyland was. This train was a few hours, drawn out longer by stops due to maintenance. I of course start to freak out that I'm not going to make my connection and as a result will miss meeting my tour. Round turns Imogene's parents who seem to be more concerned than I am about myself missing this connection. They immediately start looking up train schedules for me! At this point all I can think of is how amazing the U.K is. These people have no clue who I am besides the fact that I've been chatting with their 3 year old all day, and yet they are trying their hardest to make sure I get to where I need to be. After talking with the train master and figuring out my plans, this family then reapproaches me to make sure all is well. After reassuring them that I am fine and thanking them excessively for all their help, they then tell me that if worst had come to worst they were going to bring me with them to their house (since it was halfway between London and Edinburgh) let me stay there and catch me a train in the morning. I could not believe that a perfect stranger was about to let me stay with them.... There is no way in hell this would ever happen in Canada. People sit with headphones in and try their hardest to ignore all that is happening around them. If anyone is frantic at all we just assume that they're crazy or they'll figure out their problems on their own. At this point I realize, if all else fails ... I'm moving to the u.k!

Anyways, I make my connection train and am over joyed... I then run into another amazing older gentleman who informs me that I don't have to transfer and that our train makes an unofficial stop off in edinburgh where I can get off. I immediately go crazy and explain to him how much I love the u.k. And how everyone is so friendly. Of course, this man was right.. So off I get at edinburgh station.... At 4am. I walk to the hostel that I'm supposed to meet my group (not the one I was supposed to stay in that night...that got canceled and still charged on my card... My life right?). I am so happy that I've made it and get to take a shower and just relax until my group comes.

So the tour begins and it is a 5 day Skye and highlands tour with a company called Macbackpackers! Anyone hoping to travel please please go on this trip. There are so many beautiful places to be seen and gorgeous mountains all over. To top it all off we had an unbelievable tour guide who told stories like nobodies business! He was so great at his job, knew exactly where to go, all the great spots and was so knowledgable about everything in Scotland. This mans name was Richard. So if you go on this trip I suggest you ask for him, you won't regret it for a single second.

You didn't think that was it did you!? It's me were talking about, and that means there has to be disaster lurking somewhere close by. So... Our bus broke down twice and we were getting the end effects of a hurricane that had just happened right before we left, meaning everyday was excessive wind and rain. Bonus is, this didn't stop us from doing anything! We went on hikes, saw waterfalls, claimed mountains and everything. It was absolutely gorgeous. Yes, we got completely soaked and loads of wind burn, but it was totally worth every second of it.

Following the tour I stayed in edinburgh for a few extra days. This was my way of saving money by not going to London, as well as a nice way to relax after a long eventful 5 days.

Guess what?!?!

Were finally caught up! Now don't let me get behind... Message me everyday to remind me that I need to write.

I just wrote this on my train to London, so keep an eye out for more stories about what I am about to experience while in the lovely, friendly, stunning, but expensive London, England!

Xoxox

The highland cows (or as they call them coos)

Alright, so this post obviously needed to be on its own... I mean it's Oktoberfest... There's too much to write! To start things off let's start from the base... And by the base I mean the camp... And by camp I mean teepee!

For both la tomatina and Oktoberfest, we decided to do it with a travel group called stoke travel! What this company does is ensures you have a place to stay, sleep, a way to get into the event and a lot of beer in your hand at all times. Generally we are in a teepee for basically one person, but they squeeze two, however, for Oktoberfest we got this unreal teepee that is supposed to house 8. Thank god there were only 6 of us, we had so much more room to crash. Now, one thing you should know about this company is their slogan. This slogan claims that "if it wasn't for booze, we'd all be virgins." With this said, it's clear that the name of their game is to get you as annihilated as possible at any hour of the day. Unlimited drinking for everyone and beer served with breakfast, lunch and dinner became our daily routine.... this is just at the camp site.

Day one Oktoberfest!

This day was a little mellow. It's point was basically to prepare us for what was to come. We left for the beer tents at around 11 and were in shock with how many people were at this event. Kids in their 20s, parents, children, grandparents and even infants, all dressed up and ready to celebrate one of their countries biggest... Holidays?... It should be a world wide holiday! I actually saw a man drinking a beer while feeding his infant child who was strapped to his chest... pure class at this event.

As you walk around the streets you are literally bombarded with the amount of people, rides, AMAZING smells, food, and who can forget BEER tents! There is literally some form of beer drinking something every other shop, majority of which hold thousands of people and an insane amount of beer mugs. Incase you haven't seen an advertisement for Oktoberfest, it is literally a requirement for these servers to be able to hold at least 5 litre beer glasses in one hand! I literally need two hands just to hold mine up!

After dodging all the amazing smells we finally found 1 tent that for some amazing reason had no line and still space to stand and drink. Essentially what happens at these things is 1. You enter the tent (this can take no time at all, or all day depending on the beer tent)' 2. Grab a giant beer 3. Attempt to get your ass on a bench 4. Find something small to eat that's cheap aka pretzels 5. Try not to puke 6. Attempt to make it home... This one usually doesn't work so well. So, we got into the tent got ourselves a beer and got too excited, I think we downed it in like 3 minutes! So we grabbed another one and coincidently found a seat at the same time! I grabbed a pretzel that was the size of my face and we were ready to get the party started! Problem was, the boys found out there was a football aka soccer game going on and we might be able to find a scalper to get tickets. Second beers were finished and out the door we were. We ended up following a crowd of drunken football fans in our attempt to get to the stadium. After reaching the stadium we were slapped with the sad reality that scalpels were selling for about 100€... We were hoping for 20€. As a result, we head back to our camp for some unlimited drinking, only to realize we should prob call it quits early to make it into Oktoberfest early the next day.

Day 2... The biggest wreck

Ok first... Don't judge me, it was Oktoberfest... I blame their excessively big beers and their stupidly high percentage.

It is officially the last day of Oktoberfest! Apparently at the end of the night on this day they do some fancy thing... I don't know what it is but basically it's a big party. We didn't think we'd last that long so we didn't pay too much attention to the details. We arrived at our tent at around 11 (this time there's only 4 of us) so we immediately squeeze our way into the first table we see leaving. Beer are grabbed and introductions are made. Apparently the men beside us were all about 50 and were getting as buckled as we were.

Beer 1 comes around and we have learned... Grab that pretzel ASAP and get something in our bodies to absorb alcohol. Pretzel is grabbed and my friends and I split it 4 ways... Our first mistake. Beer two comes one of our friends realizes he isn't feeling too well and heads home. Wih it being our last day and the last official day of Oktoberfest, the decision is made that we should do the table chugs. End of beer 2 is chugged on the table, round 3 on its way. Now, just to let you know, I have a go pro on my wrist this whole time... I decide it's smart to record myself after every beer to see how stupid I get.. Worst idea ever... Do not do this! Plus I'm pretty sure after beer 2 I forgot to keep filming until beer 4. Yes, I said it, beer 4. Now for those of you yelling pussy at your screen right now.. These aren't just beers... They're litres and they're a minimum of 6 percent (god knows what mine was but I was a disaster).

Anyways, back to beer 2. I see a guy passing with a kcco shirt on .. Don't know it go to the site right now (www.thechive.com), your life will forever be changed. Obviously after a big kcco cheers fest he joins our table along with his buddy. These guys are around 30 and are army men! Woo woo! At this point we realize we should maybe eat a little more. When a menu is opened at these restaurants, jaws automatically drop. I'm talking French fries and ketchup at 5€ jaw dropping style. However, this doesn't stop my friend and I. We've had our eye on a pork knee since yesterday and that is getting in our mouth ASAP. So for the low cost of 20€, the pork knee is ordered. This is split between the two of us and is probably the size of my fist in terms of food that can actually be consumed. Clearly, not enough food in us to keep drinking, does that stop us... NO! Third round is ordered, and then forth. At this point I don't know my name.

Apparently I fell asleep at the table (only reason we know is my friend took a picture)... I'm a sleepy drunk sorry :s after this it just started to rain with disasters.

I went to the bathroom and was supposed to meet my friend outside, apparently I never ended up going to meet him so he went on a hunt to find me. Now it was either in the bathroom, while leaving the tent after the bathroom or at some point in between my friend trying to find me and the bathroom .. But basically I puked. In my hand... I clearly finished puking somewhere (I think it was outside, because I then wiped my hand on my sweater ... From this point on known as my puke bucket) ... Sorry for the details, but that's life.

My friend finds me! I'm in some other tent eating.. I don't know what but that's my second favourite thing to do while drunk. Then the suggestion comes out. Let's go on a ride!! So off we go to this ride that is almost like psyclone from wonderland but better. We're on these 2 seater things and basically there's 8 seats on each claw. If you kick your legs on this ride you can basically flip your two seater over. Being 4 liters deep this has become the best idea in the word! So we literally go on the ride twice, both times the ride conductor man takes my "puke bucket" and puts it on the side for me to collect later... My life!

That is the end of crazy drinking for me... At leat until Ireland!

I'm sorry for the little delay, but set least this ones a long one... I'll try to get better at posting about my travels. Some days just aren't as interesting as others!

Keep an eye out for more crazy euro trip fun!

Xoxo