For my second installment of my trip to Scotland, I decided to overload you with images of Edinburgh. Sarah and I spent our first and last nights in Scotland in this beautiful city. When we arrived, it felt as though we had stepped back in time. It was around 12:00 am and all the building were lit in such an intriguing manor that it made me already want to begin exploring.
When we arrived in Edinburgh after our journey through the Highlands {these posts are not in chronological order}, we had all formed such a close knit group that we did not want to part ways just yet. The group at this point consisted of myself, Sarah, Ali, Matthea, Susie, and Michael. We met up for Mexican food and beer and spent our last night together sipping and laughing the evening away. All while devouring our chocolate covered peanuts. Don’t even get me started..
The streets of Edinburgh are the definition of charming {like the rest of the UK as I’ve described thus far}. But honestly, I can’t come up with another fitting word. Charming.
It’s the easiest place to set yourself back in time and imagine a lifestyle so different from your own.
The second morning in Edinburgh, Sarah and I found a cafe with free wifi, gluten free, and vegan options. This has become the standard guidelines to our cafe hunts. We ordered a couple coffees, some yogurt and granola, and a few pieces of toast. After quite some time {unnoticed by us} the waitress came over to apologize about the wait and offer us a coffee on the house! We didn’t oppose to this. Especially since the wait time had gone unnoticed by the two of us Chatty Cathy’s. We waited a bit longer but eventually the meal arrived and was by far worth the wait.
When we went to pay, we were told all four coffees were taken care of and our breakfast rounded out to about 5 pounds each. Add a little sunshine and our morning couldn’t have started any better!
Myself, Ali, and Sarah decided we should probably take a tour of the castle on the hill, visible by all of Edinburgh. We paid our dues and started touring. The highlight of the castle, for me, was the dungeons and prisons. As disturbing as it was to walk through the former hammocks of prior prisoners, it instilled a feelings of empathy for these human beings and human beings in general. Any time I can experience a feeling that, I take note and immediately bookmark it in my mind.
^ view of our hostel from the castle, it only took us about ten minutes to get anywhere in the downtown area {Castle Rock Hostel, highly reccommended}
^ rawr
The three of us then walked across town and climbed up Calton Hill where we were rewarded with views of the city skyline and Edinburgh castle. We were granted a bit of a cloudy day {but no rain so no complaining!} but could imagine how stunning the shots would be on a clear afternoon.
^ are we in Athens or…
^ the street housing our favorite cafe!
^ Edinburgh Waverley train station
Sarah left that evening so I was on my own for the rest of the afternoon and the next morning. I decided to continue on exploring and found the REAL {or at least the inspiration for} Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter series. This was the setting J.K. Rowling imagined the alley to possess.
^ the inspiration for diagon alley! very hard to capture the essence of it in a picture as it does not carry much magnificence on its own, but standing in the middle of the street gives you a definite feel of witchcraft and wizardry
^ if you are ever in Edinburgh and on a budget, please please please check out Castle Rock Hostel! the prices were ideal, the shower pressure was high, and the hospitality was incredible. i looked forward to coming back after our trip through the highlands at less desirable hostels..
^ our journey through the highlands! we made it all the way up to the top!
Keep a look out for my final installment on Scotland coming soon! It includes a night of traditional Scottish dancing, searching for Nessie {the Loch Ness Monster}, and almost falling off the cliffs of Scotland… twice.