Getting Around...

Livin' in most places, except LA, public transportation is the main mode of transportation. This is the case for Edinburgh. They are currently working on putting a tram system in, but for now buses work. Being the "cool kid" that I am, I have a bus pass. Really, it takes me where I need to go. Ian and I live right on a main bus route. The bus stop is less than a block from our house. The bus line we live on runs 24 hours a day...though after midnight, my cool kid bus pass doesn't work anymore...I found that out this hard way this past weekend.

Really though, buses will take me anywhere I need to go (I know I already said this). The only problem is, you can't really buy a ton of stuff and schlep back onto the bus with it...sometimes a car is just more convenient. For instance, Ian and I went to Ikea yesterday...the bus trip took about an hour (we probably went 10 miles...I never said buses were fast!) We bought a decent amount of stuff...but not more than we could carry! It sucks not being able to push a cart straight from the store to your car. No, for us bus riders, we must carry everything. Think about what a strain this puts on your normal life. Like most of you, once a week (or sometimes even less) I would take my car to the grocery store...I would load up on all sorts of goodies, then drive home. Well, now I walk half a mile to the grocery store...and really it is 1/4 the size of the ones in the states. I have to make sure I don't buy more than I can carry. Then, I have the privilege of carrying everything half a mile back home. Things start getting really heavy!

Here is my take on all this hard work...now that I have to do all this "manual" labor, the gym is no longer necessary. I get plenty of cardio in thru my daily walks and the shopping I do...then carry home...does a good job of toning those muscles! But, we will see how long I can avoid the gym, eating all this good fried food!