york part deux

Every year, Rotary districts around the world gather at regional conferences to review the work they have done during the year, and reinvigorate members to humanitarian service. District 1020 hosted their conference in York, England (still not quite clear on why it was in England, think it was a space issue). Since I, A. had so much fun at the conference B. have a lot of work to do this week, I'll do "Top 10":

Top 10 Moments/Experiences from District Conference 

1. Gorgeous train ride down along the eastern coast of Scotland

2. The chance to explore such a pretty English city. When I visited York as a child with my family, I remember liking it a lot. 15 years later, the feeling was the same. I climbed a minster, visited an old abbey, walked through the narrow streets, and generally enjoyed revisiting the city. 

3. Getting dolled up for the Railway Museum banquet where we:

4. Saw Queen Elizabeth's original luxurious train quarters and

5. Danced the "Gay Gordon" with Rotarians (all donning kilts) 

Scholars with the dashing and handsome District Governor, Alastair Davies

6. The selection of fine whiskys at a post-banquet hotel party sponsored by club presidents

7. Getting up on stage at York's Theater Royal with the other scholars, to present a video (made by Robin) showing each of us doing something "Scottish"

8. Comment received from older woman after our stage presentation, "Nice legs. I recognize them from stage. Very American."

9. Friday's performance by "Scotcha", hailing from the Scottish Borders. There is no American equivalent of this band, and likely no Scottish equivalent. Serious brogues, kilts, penny whistles, rip roaring guitars, bagpipes, derogatory jokes about the English. It seemed the harder the audience laughed, the less our row of foreigners understood. 

 

10. Meeting and hanging out with so many great people (obvious, but true) and hearing about the inspiring projects that have happened or are in progress in this part of the world. DG Alastair's Address was particularly powerful, but I'd do a bad job summarizing so I won't try. 

GSE crew from South Africa (in blue), Evan in white

Across the borders

To York, England! For the 1020 District Conference. There is plenty to say about the weekend, but it is late, there is much to do in the morning, so I'll leave a few photos and write more soon:

(Scottish spelling of my name)

Me & the Minster

Daytrippers

Up on the roof

Fall is in full swing in Scotland. The only problem is the sun doesn't rise until after 8am! All the same, the weather has been great (beats the October snows in Connecticut that my parents have reported!) and last weekend Robin, Annie and I took advantage with a daytrip to Roslyn Chapel. It's only 7 miles southwest of the city, and the bus ride was classically pastoral, full of adorable sheep, cows, horses, falcons, magpies, hay bales, giant clouds, rolling green hills. Top of the double decker, front row. Best seat in the house. 

In fact, the ride was much like the one I am on now - though UK trains beat UK busses because of the free wi-fi, outlets and tables. The people next to me are drinking Carlsberg. The Scots handed out drams of whisky by the platform. An attendant comes around selling coffee, and then another picks up your trash, like on an airplane.  

The chapel itself, built in mid 15th century, is gorgeous - intricately carved from floor to ceiling, and with an undeniable air of mystery, DaVinci Code aside. There are over 100 "Green Man" carvings, which is the pagan counterpart to Mother Earth. There are loads of masonic and Knight's Templar symbols. There is a replica of the death mask of Robert the Bruce. There are carvings of plants found only in North America, and this was years before Columbus landed. Go figure. Also, something mysterious is buried downstairs. Maybe Jesus, maybe the Holy Grail, maybe Elvis, lots of other possibilities, we'll never know. Oh - and Tom Hanks and his DaVinci Code crew left a big dent in the wall during their stint filming on site. Nice job guys. 

We also found gorgeous hiking trails through Roslyn Glen, just outside the chapel grounds. We wandered about for a few hours, passing castle ruins, running into locals walking their dogs, and talking about Edinburgh, Halloween costumes, wedding bands (Annie's, in particular), shoes, Rotary presentations. We ended the day at a cafe and nearly missed the hourly bus back. 

This is why I will purchase a digital SLR

So my photos can compete with those taken by my friend Josh:

 

Pre-dinner cocktails at 99 Hanover, New Town 

Dinner @ The Witchery, Old Town 

Bookstore on Victoria Street

Asperatus Clouds???

Photos: Josh Montgomery 

Encounter on the Royal Mile

When I wrote about visiting Edinburgh Castle, I forgot to mention who we met on the way in. William Wallace (Bravehart!) himself! Couldn't resist the photo opp:

Photos: Josh Montgomery 

after hours

You know you've done something right when you knock on the doors of a local bar 2 hours after last call (make that 3:30 in the morning), and the bartender welcomes you with a smile and a hearty, "It's the Americans!" 

Edinburgh College of Art campus