"...And This Is Our Government?"

What do you have when a bunch of drunk Scots get together in the Highlands?

This.

This weekend I went to Inverness, capital of the Highlands, for the annual SNP Conference. It was good times when all you had to do was yell "independence!" or "Scotland!" to get everyone cheering.  Then there was some good awkward clapping to the beat for far too long when they would play this treasure of a song:

All in all, it was a fascinating weekend. I learned a ton about Scotland and its political values and why Scotland really should become independent (they have a ton of resources and get almost nothing back, to name one thing). But most of all, I learned that karaoke nights with the SNP are great fun.

 

This guy, a Member of Scottish Parliament
(MSP), dressed up in an Elvis costume for his
performance. It was perfect.

This guy, another MSP, did a hilarious screaming rendition of
 Should I Stay or Should I Go, complete with ridiculous
old-school dance moves. He got a standing O.

Both of these guys work on my floor. I will never look at them the same way again. PARLIAMENT ROCKS.

On a whim, I sang R-E-S-P-E-C-T by Aretha Franklin in honor of the interns. I think it worked, because a staffer who previously tried (and failed) to make me bring him food promised to bring me ice cream next week. Look who's doing the slave labor now! WIN.

And to end the night on an interesting note, I got hit on by a drunk guy who thought my outfit made me look like a Nazi. Then he told me it looked good on me. I'm not sure whether I should be more worried that I looked like a Nazi or that he found that attractive. He really knows how to win a girl over.

Most importantly, though, I got a foot-long tube of digestives for a pound, which in case you're unaware, is an AWESOME deal. Good weekend.

Roman Holiday meets Angels & Demons meets Ben-Hur

I was in Italy for the last week, and I felt like I was in a movie. 3 movies, to be specific.

Movie #1: Roman Holiday
If you're unfamiliar with this movie, it's a classic film starring Audrey Hepburn as a princess who runs away for a day, meets Gregory Peck, and has a spectacular Roman Holiday. As my name is only 3 letters different from hers, and as I was in Rome, I naturally couldn't help comparing my experience with this movie. While there was no Gregory Peck, there was a second Audrey, my roommate, which for all the boys out there is even better, am I right?

I didn't run from the cops, swim in the river, or get a really short haircut, but I did eat tons of gelato,  see the Spanish Steps, and put my hand in the Mouth of Truth.

This photo from the movie brings us to our next movie.

In the background of this photo is the Castle Sant'Angelo, which features prominently in:

Movie #2: Angels and Demons

If you've seen Angels and Demons, you probably recognize this building from the seriously epic shots they did with it. That's right, I went there.

I also saw the Pantheon, which Robert Langdon mistakes for the first part of the Illuminati trail.

On top of that, I went to the Vatican-- saw the Sistine Chapel, statues castrated by popes, St. Peter's Square, the works.

Oh, who's that in the background?

Oh yeah, the Pope. NBD.

Movie #3: Ben-Hur

Ben-Hur is one of the great epic films of Charlton Heston, which is about a Jew in the Roman Empire. In it there's a seriously awesome chariot race, one of those scenes that makes me lament that they just don't make movies like this anymore. If you want to watch it:

I naturally thought of this scene when I saw the Circus Maximus.

Conclusion: My Roman Holiday was totally better than Audrey Hepburn's, not only because I saw WAY more than she did, but I also got to hang out with a real Roman who taught me an Italian card game on the train. WIN.

Insert Bagpipe Music Here

So you know how in Braveheart (edited, of course!) there are all sorts of awesome Highlands shots? Well, last time I watched that movie, I got really excited. And do you know why? BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE.

BAM. HIGHLANDS.

I'm officially obsessed. The Highlands are absolutely gorgeous.

So here's how it went down.
8am, meet outside of Haggis Adventures, the tour group we used. (They're fun and cheap-- I'd recommend using them if you're ever in Scotland.)


This is our tour bus. Need I say more?

First stop: Hamish, the Hairy Coo.

He's just a big, hairy cow of a breed indigenous to Scotland.

Next stop, Glencoe, which I've heard from multiple sources may be the most beautiful part of Scotland.

This is the way in.



This is purple heather, like from that Rod Stewart song.

It was absolutely breathtaking. No place quite like it.

For the next hour or so of our trip, I saw 3 rainbows. Because Scotland is magical.

1,

2,

3.

This last was taken at our next stop, Loch Ness.
I saw the monster, but unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of him. Which is really too bad, because I would be loaded right now if I had.
But, I did see get pictures of a canal in action! Which is about as rare as the Loch Ness Monster.



The Caledonian Canal.

But here are some Loch Ness pictures I did get:

Scotland has the coolest clouds EVER.

     
<><><><><><><><><> 

<><><><><><><><><> 

Utah shout-out!



This is where the Loch Ness Monster tried to escape.

On our way back from Loch Ness, we stopped at a couple notable little sight, such as this one:


Too good to pass up.

But really, it was a nice little memorial.

And lastly, here are a few epic shots from our travels home.

Sideways rain over purple heather. SERIOUSLY so Scottish.



And a sneak shot of a man in a kilt.

 All in all, a very good day.