The Gap Year Project: St.Andrews!

This morning I got up at my leisure and after breakfast I headed up to the bus stop to catch the 11:21 bus towards St.Andrews. There was an old man waiting too, and he started to tell me that he was going to St.Andrews to go boot shopping. Or at least that is what I thought he was saying... until he said he wanted to buy boots about ghosts. Then I realized he was going book shopping...not boot shopping. The way he said it made it very hard to understand. This is the second time that I have not understood someone because of a heavy accent. But anyway, it was really funny to see how cheerful he was about his "booook" shopping.

The bus stop, where I met my new pal. :P

The bus worked it's way through Pittweem and Anstruther before cutting up into the country side. About a half an hour of whizzing by emerald fields and old stone farm buildings and then the ocean became visible again. During the first 20 minutes of the ride, my water bottle was leaking into my lap, so it looked like I had peed myself. Luckily I noticed it before we arrived so it had time to dry. Real smooth...

As we approached, the town of St.Andrews cropped up. Right away I could see the spires of the university and cathedral, rising high about the rest of the town. I was flooded with excitement. I had applied to the university, I had looked at pictures and examined the area on Google maps. And here I was...only minutes away from actually being there.

Then the bus pulled into the station and I got off and found my way to Market Street; the "main drag" if you will. It is littered will all sorts of shops, ranging from Starbucks to fancy restaurants, to golf stores. Lots and lots of golf shops.

I walked all the way down to the end of Market Street, deciding to explore/sight see before any shopping. The coolest thing about today was how well I blended in to my surroundings. I had on my backpack and headphones my in, just like almost every other student in the town. It was so awesome...so I just pretended to walk with purpose and the effect was complete. Other tourists and students alike couldn't tell I was a visitor and I had no idea where I was going... it was brilliant.

Anyway, I found myself at the St.Andrews Cathedral. Photo time.

I wandered around there for quite some time before finding my way to the castle and harbor.

St.Andrews castle.

Down to the harbor.

Love the color of the water.

I sat on the beach and had my- yup, you guessed it- nutella sandwich. Then I looped around, following a road that I do not know the name of until I came back to the town center. From there I went past the castle again and down the Scores. This street is lined with all sorts of buildings from the university. Each one architecturally cooler than the next.

Coolest college town ever... ruined castle in view all the time.

At the end of the Scores, the sidewalk was suddenly mobbed with golfers. The old course was just ahead as well at the golfing museum. So I got out of there as quickly as I could. It's not that I don't like golf... I am Switzerland. Couldn't care one way or the other..but it was too crowded, so I continued on my walk about. I then went down North Street, where the main campus of the university it located. It is so pretty. The buildings are gorgeous... and it is such a great size. And they have a street called Butts Wynd on campus... Amazing.

Also, did you know that the university is the third oldest in the English speaking world? And that they were the first to allow women to study in the UK. Very cool.

hahaha...I almost tripped a whole group when I stopped to get this picture. I just had to...

Then after walking down North street and all the university stuff, I did a bit of shopping on North Street. I had to consciously think about stopping myself from grinning as I walked around the streets. It felt so amazing to be there, it was all I wanted to do. I then went into a book store and the university store. And a coffee place. I have an addiction I think...

"Unusual items purchased for cash" umm...okay...haha

Some fancy latte thing!

Some dorms.

This is my "oh snap now I really want to go to University of St.Andrews" face.

View through bus window to St.Andrews.

When I got back to the cottage, I was totally buzzing. I don't know if it was the coffee (probably) or the excitement of my time in St.Andrews, but I felt awesome. I was so proud of myself. Mostly because, for the first time, as I roamed the streets around the university, I wanted to go to college. I actually felt excited at the prospect. I realize this may sounds silly... but for so long, the idea of college scared me more than anything else. But not so much anymore. So I was absolutely brimming with self confidence and pride on my walk to the cottage.

Anyway, I then went for a quick walk along the beach before coming inside and making dinner. Here come the photos: