Day Three: Wednesday October 16th

With our free morning I decided to go to the Scottish Parliament! I really love British politics having studied it years back in a Comparative Government and Politics class. In that we class we discussed, of course, the difference between England and Scotland and how their governments vary. Of all the countries we had studied in that course, I did some of my best work in the British politics section, and so I was really wanting to visit the Parliament here in Scotland. One thing everyone notes about the building is that it is very modern. Some people hate it, and some people love it. Unfortunately I have to say that it is not my favorite building in the world, especially for a Parliament facility. I personally prefer older architecture that is more intricate and grandiose. That is not to say that the building is ugly but it sort of sticks out in the city of Edinburgh as being “different” from everything else. For example across the street from it there is the Palace of Holyrood. Despite the architecture I was still very happy to have visited. I got to see the debating chamber which was very large and modern, and I picked up a couple pamphlets on the Scottish Parliament and how it functions. 

After our free morning, we all met up and ate lunch at the Elephant House Cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote part of Harry Potter, and then we set off on a scavenger hunt of Edinburgh. My group was me, Taylor and Cecilia. We ran about the city like mad women, but it was also really fun. We were forced to talk to locals and explore the city. One man even walked us to where we needed to go when we asked for directions. Although the scavenger hunt was fun, it was also exhausting! But I found it a great way to experience the city. I was fascinated by the the smallest print books in the National Library.

For the evening, we met at the Filmhouse Cafe and then went to the Royal Lyceum Theater to see a new play written by Ian Rankin and Mark Thomson called “Dark Road.” I must admit that I loved it. It started off one way and then changed completely. I never really knew what to expect! It was definitely a thriller but also had a clear message at the end: “You never realize what you have until it’s gone.” The play fit into the subject of our travel as well because plays are also a form of story telling. Looking at the play from this point of view, the story was well told or “acted.” The actors had to use many of the techniques we learned in the workshop as well. The way they spoke, how they pronounced their words, etc...we all a part of the story. Overall the play captured the audiences attention which is important when telling any story.