Side Note: I actually wrote this 11/11, but the weekend has been so busy! More (and probably better planned) posts coming soon.

I am now writing from my hostel in Edinburgh. I am DEAD tired. Why you may ask? Well….GARRY.

Garry is the 50 y.o. drunken man in my room. If I was also trying to have a crazy Friday night and in the mood to stay up super late, I would not have minded. Garry may have even been entertaining. However, I needed to get up early for the conference, so I was not amused. If you don’t want to read my rant on Garry, just skip the next paragraph.

He clobbered around the room from 10pm-1am, constantly saying “nighty-night”, and “fuckity fuck. buggity buck” (Garry is basically a poet). He then fell into someone else’s bed and started snoring horrendously. Honestly, I am jealous of the guy’s bed he stole. That guy actually got moved to another room. Garry also has this weird cough. He lets out a mini cough every 15 seconds. So small. Like just to re-announce his existence? Then, as I am up this morning getting ready

AT 0700AM…….

FOR CHRIST’S SAKE (said in hearty Scottish accent)…

Garry is already up and in the lounge!

I try to eat breakfast and drink my coffee, and he just keeps coughing and trying to small-talk with me. I usually love small talk, but I have zero social battery for this man.

Anyways, despite losing out on a couple hours of sleep, I had a pretty incredible time at the World Extreme Medicine conference today! I am excited for 2 more days of learning, and I pray I will sleep and have more energy for some chit-chatting with people tomorrow (I mostly just hid in the corner with coffee(s) in hand).

I was also dead tired when I arrived this past Thursday, spending most of the day laying in bed. However, I had some pretty cool adventures that evening and the next day.

Thursday night: Open Mic and Fish and Chips

After I finally dragged myself out of bed, I found an event nearby for an open-mic where anyone who performed got a free drink! I love open mics, although I really miss Brian and Lacey playing with me. I also wish I could play some of the original songs we wrote, but alas, I am not there (YET) with my guitar playing. I am VERY aware my performance was 3/10, but it was fun, and I got a free drink, so that’s a win. I also got to listen to an incredible older Scottish man belting away. I even found a friend from the hostel that night who came along with me. On our way home we stopped at a chipper (aka fast food), and I got some really hot fish and chips with salt and vinegar. I have been CRAVING chips with salt and vinegar since the day I left Ireland when I was 16. I FINALLY got them. They were SOO GOOD.

Friday: Hiking, Castles, Whiskey

I woke up pretty early Friday and headed out on this hike called Arthur’s Seat. It is really cool that this whole park/hiking area is in Edinburgh. I walked there, stopping for a coffee and roll on the way, and was back within a few hours. Turns out I went to a pretty subpar (but classic) fast-food place called Greggs for my coffee, but at least it was filling and cheap.

Though my breakfast was very average, the city of Edinburgh is not! It is really cool to walk the cobble roads with a giant a castle in view. After my morning hike, I paid to go walk around the castle on a self-guided audio tour. The castle has such a rich history, being used as a home for royalty, military boarding, a fortress, and for housing prisoners (including American prisoners in the War of Independence). At 1:00 everyday, they fire a gun. It used to help keep sailor’s clocks in check.

After my tour, I meandered around a little, popping into some thrift shops. I found a nice belt to wear to my conference. After a quick change and food at my hostel, I went over to a Whisky & Folklore tasting.

Then, I grabbed a frozen pizza and settled in at the hostel for the rest of the evening… until I met my new friend…GARRY.