Bella Scipione

Jan 10 2024

Here is part-two to our high school Europe reunion. (Part one: Copenhagen Christmas and Berlin Blues)

I headed back to London and spent 36 hours preparing for the second leg of my two-week trip. Nick flew in on the 30th, sleeping on my super comfortable floor, with his camping mattress and cozy blanket provided by British Airways. Of course, I insisted on sharing my bed, but given our epic 6-month relationship from when we were 16 years old, we didn’t want to make things ‘too awkward’. Caitlyn and Matthew arrived on the 31st after being in Amsterdam and we all rang in the New Year in London at Thirst Bar Soho, dancing and walking around the streets of Central London.

On New Year’s day the four of us moved from one hotel to another, me, still in my hair, makeup, and dress from the night before. We walked around a park nearby, listening to music, and acting as if we were in some sort of coming of age film. To be fair, hanging out with your three best friends and blasting Kings of Leon on your portable speaker on a sunny New Year’s day in London, will definitely have you feeling some type of way. We met up with Maddy and Ava for one last dinner in London before saying our goodbyes and heading to Edinburgh and Dublin.

I underestimated how long it would take me to get from my place in East London to the train station the next morning. With our train leaving at 10:00 am, I sprinted to the end of the train, stepping on (full of sweat), at exactly 9:59 am. I obnoxiously made my way from carriage K to carriage A to sit with Matthew and Caitlyn for our 4-hour trip up to Edinburgh. Despite Matthew’s numerous sleep spasms, smacking me at random points throughout the journey, I was still able to enjoy the unreal views of the UK’s Northern countryside.

We spent the next day in Edinburgh with Nick’s friend, Jack of Glasgow, serving as our lovely tour guide, navigating us around the surprisingly hilly city. I lived out my Game of Thrones dreams, walking around the Edinburgh Castle and imagining life as it was in the 11th century. We finished our sight seeing with a swing ride at the mini amusement park and pints at a local pub. As much fun as the swing was, and although it was originally my idea, I discovered I do in fact have a fear of heights.

We said goodbye and thank you to Jack and went out for a Wednesday night in the city of Edinburgh. Caitlyn, Nick, Matthew and I ventured into multiple different clubs, embracing Edinburgh’s ‘interesting’ nightlife. Maybe it’s because it was a Wednesday night, or maybe it’s because we ended up at the 18-year old university club, but I don’t know how particularly high I would rank Edinburgh nightlife. But, of course, we enjoyed every single minute dancing around the room like nobody was watching and laughing at the drama of the teens around us.

The four of us headed for Dublin the next day, making the final stop of our two-week adventure. Dublin was definitely the peak of the trip for me, I think because it started to click how f***ing special these three friends are to me. When I am with each of them, I feel whole and loved for who I am. Every morning was gifted with endless laughs and boosts of serotonin that make you feel like you’re on a high.

Matthew, Nick, and I rented a car for the day on Friday and went on a mini road trip down the South of Dublin. We off-roaded through the countryside, making stops at some of the most incredible views. The drive was a bit sketchy, with thin one-way dirt roads, but Nick did a good job at honking on every turn, making our presence known by potential oncoming traffic. He says it’s something he learned in Vietnam, and although Matthew made a comment with every honk, I fully supported Nick and his right hand palm against the wheel. The photos below are 100% accredited to Matthew and his insane phone camera.

That night was our final night all together, as Matthew was headed back to the States the next morning. Naturally, we all partied extra hard wandering around the streets of Dublin, bouncing from one bar to another. The night is a bit of blur but we ultimately ended up at a bar called Nolita’s where a live saxophone and drum player played classic EDM songs. Nick Irish goodbye’d (literally), only to have an insane night of his own, role playing as a therapist and eating his french fries at Johnny Rockets. Somebody stole my nice winter coat (my AirPods included), and it was our sign it was probably time for bed.

We all woke up the next day quite unwell, saying a sad goodbye to Matthew. Nick, Caitlyn, and I spent the rest of the trip enjoying each other’s company, reminiscing on all of the chaos. We scuffed down some Nando’s for lunch and walked to a nearby bookstore, each picking up a new book to start off our year. Nick also picked up a mini version of Cards Against Humanity, so we went back to my hostel and sat for a couple hours laughing, playing, and drinking some coffee to help revive us.

A nice Italian dinner was followed by a stop at the infamous Temple Bar Pub. The pub had to be one of the coolest pubs I have ever been to, with live Irish music and pints of Guinness in almost every person’s hand. I am proud to say that I did in fact hop on the Guinness train, but can’t promise you will see me with the harp marked pint anytime soon. What was supposed to be one drink, turned into three or four, and it was another late night on the town for Caitlyn and I. Nick Irish goodbye’d, again, but we thankfully saw him the next morning before he headed back to New York.

Despite our horrible headaches and tired bodies, Caitlyn and I decided it would be fun to book a Jameson cocktail making class at the Jameson Whiskey Distillery. My love for bartending came alive during the class, and I showed off my shaking and mixing skills. Three cocktails later, however, I bursted out in hives all over my face and body. Either I was allergic to something in one of the drinks, or my body had simply had enough alcohol, I rushed to the pharmacy for some Claritin to help clear up my symptoms. The Claritin did its job within minutes and I started feeling back to normal.

Caitlyn had met a Deutsch guy the night before and was keen on seeing him again before we both took off the next morning. Of course, I’m an awesome wing woman and agreed to entertain the boy’s friend. We played a few games of pool, horribly I might add, and called it a night. I hugged Caitlyn one final goodbye and made my walk back to the hostel.

My final day in Dublin was a solo one, exploring more of the city before catching my quick 1-hour flight back to London. My mom’s side of the family has some Irish ancestry, with family from Wexford. There is even a bar called “Sinnott’s”, my mom’s maiden surname and Grandpa’s family name. I obviously had to make a stop and take a photo, copying my aunt from when she had studied abroad in Ireland years ago. I reflected on the trip and impulsively found myself at a tattoo shop close by. I haven’t had a tattoo since my trip to Australia, so I took it as a good excuse to permanently commemorate the most amazing last two weeks.

The short Winter days in London make me miss and appreciate the sun more than anything. The tattoo depicts both the sun and the moon and lies right below my lotus flower. While I have wanted the sun and moon on me for quite some time, I find a deeper meaning to it today. The sun and moon operate equally as opposing forces, representing that different powers exist within all of us, and there is peace within that truth. For me, these two forces act as friends to one another. While the sun acts as masculine energy, and the moon feminine, they complement each other providing strength and power. I will now think of every friendship I hold dear to me when I look down to my right arm. Herman Hesse beautifully states, “We are sun and moon, dear friend; we are sea and land. It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is: each the other’s opposite and complement”.

I am blown away every day by the people in my life. I know that I preach and express my gratitude over and over, but just when I think I have run out of words to describe how much the people in my life mean to me, they continue to amaze me. Matthew, Caitlyn, and Nick thank you for loving me, challenging me, and complementing me. Our friendship holds an extra special place in my heart (and now arm) forever and I cannot imagine a better way to end and begin a new year. It’s truly a beautiful thing watching your loved ones grow and flourish right in front of your eyes, living out our wildest dreams and continuing to become the best versions of ourselves. Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer. I love you with all my heart and soul!!!

xoxo ’til next time,

Bella x