Welcome to On•the•Move Musings: a weekly-update-series where I reflect on my time exploring the globe; a place to record all the little details from travel that, despite being so special, my pigeon brain could likely forget; a space to show gratitude for where life’s daydreams have taken me; a few moments to stop and write during the chaos of long term travel. I’ll be posting every Friday to share some good vibes and wanderlust before we head into the weekend!
Musings
Hello from Edinburgh, Scotland! I didn’t have anything written for the blog and kind of figured I wouldn’t get to it this week… but then I had lunch at The Elephant House and was inspired to keep my writing commitment. The Elephant House considers itself “the birthplace of Harry Potter” because it’s a cafe where JK Rowling spent lots of time writing over cakes and coffee. I believe Edinburgh in general was a big source of inspiration for the books, and I can’t wait to explore more in-depth over the next 5 days. For example, a whiskey bar right across the street from the cafe is called McGonagall’s, and there’s a street here that supposedly looks like Diagon Alley!
Triumphs
Anyone who knows me knows I’m not good with directions and navigating ha. On this trip, I’ve really been trying to improve my skills and rely on my phone less. Each city I’ve gone to I’ve known the area around my accommodation quite well. It’s a small victory but feels really good!
Another triumph: crossing two things off my bucket list within a week!
Currently Reading
I just finished a book called Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe. It’s about The Troubles (goes back to the 1960s and brings you up to the present day), and it was fascinating. I like how in the title he has to point out that it’s a true story because as I was reading, it seemed like the events and people involved were so insane it couldn’t have all really happened. I highly recommend this one especially if you’re a fan of (Irish/religious conflict) history.
I picked it up because I plan on visiting Belfast during this trip, probably next after Edinburgh. One of the main things to do in Belfast is take a tour with a local guide who will show you the political murals resulting from The Troubles that are still all over the city. I wanted to have a deeper understanding of the conflict (it was never classified as a war even though the IRA saw it as one) before seeing Northern Ireland in person.
What’s Next
I’m in Edinburgh for the next 5 days. Tomorrow is Burns Night in Scotland, a night where they celebrate the poet Robert Burns and his contribution to Scottish culture. You might know him as the man who wrote Auld Lang Syne. After that, I don’t have anything planned for the last 8 days of my trip. I think I will do Belfast and London (again–considering all I did there was see musicals haha), but I’m open to suggestions so please send them my way!
Words
“Life is both dangerous and fleeting, and thus there is no point in denying yourself pleasure or adventure while you are here.”
City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert