Arthur's Seat

Tip top of Edinburgh (Arthur's Seat summit)

After yesterday's excursions, I felt accomplished with my trip to Edinburgh. I had successfully crossed off everything I had planned. However I still had another day left in the city. Last night I was frustrated because I felt like if I didn't have any sort of agenda, I would be bored during my last full day here. I turned to "tourist-y" websites online and all of them seemed to agree that one's trip to Edinburgh would not be complete without a hike up to Arthur's seat. So I thought, "Meh, sure. Ok, I guess I'll give into these other tourists who think they're travel experts." I decided if I had just one plan, I'd be good. So I became set on climbing Arthur's seat the next morning.

After my breakfast, I set off back to Holyroodhouse which lies next to Holyrood Park (and Arthur's seat). And then...I started walking. Soon everything that surrounded me was hill, and Edinburgh lay below. Yesterday at Calton Hill I was able to get a pretty good view of the city and I felt pretty satisfied with the many aerial type views I've had in the last few days. I was mainly hesitant to climb Arthur's Seat because I thought it was just going to be another view of the same thing. But I was happily surprised to be wrong.

There's a reason this is talked about on "tourist-y" websites: it's amazing. It's such a beautiful, pleasant, and natural place, but yet, in the busy city. I think I also enjoyed myself so much because I've missed the "green" and nature that lacks from living amongst the busy city streets.

The farther I traveled up, the more cold it got (duh) and the ground became more and more covered with ice/snow. I got kinda nervous because my tennis shoes did not have the sort of traction that hiking boots do (and being prone to falling didn't help). But I kept climbing, stopping to take lots of pictures. I'll finish this post with pictures of the journey. Besides describing the cold and the fact that I was wearing two pairs of wool socks, I think the journey is best shown by the pictures I took:

After just beginning the walk

Um, yes this was taken using self timer...

What lay behind me

What lay in front of me

I've reached more snow! (Almost there)

Gorgeous! Just as I was approaching the summit.

After hiking back down and walking around the rest of the park.

Looking at where I was earlier

Hill, Harry, Holyrood

Top of Calton Hill

Unfinished monument at Calton Hill

This morning after my hearty breakfast, I hiked up Calton Hill and got a look of the city from a different direction than yesterday at the castle (plus, I could see the castle in my view). When I arrived, I was probably only one of about five people up there, and the sun had not fully risen. So it was a treat to get to watch the sun rise and I felt like I was in on some kind of secret because hardly anyone else was up there to see it with me. I walked around the whole hill, taking pictures of every direction. I could see clearly Holyrood Palace and Arthur's Seat (which I opted not to climb today).

The Elephant Cafe: "Birthplace of Harry Potter"

I stayed on the hill for about two hours until my stomach started growling. Then I headed back towards the city center and stopped for a bite to eat at The Elephant House. This is the cafe that JK Rowling would come to and write Harry Potter. Outside the windows is a great view of the castle on top of the hill and it's not hard to imagine that it provided a great influence as she wrote about Hogwarts. I kind of "nerded out" because I thought it was so neat to see where the books began.

Next I walked the opposite direction down the Royal Mile and toured the Palace of the Holyroodhouse, which is the Queen's summer residence.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Aftter walking around Holyrood, I made my way to Prince Street and did some shopping. They have a three story Primark and I had to leave because I was overwhelmed! As I was walking along Prince Street, it started to rain...and then it started to snow. The high today was about 33, and the type of weather that makes your nostrils practically freeze together. I had to stop in a coffee shop for some hot chocolate and a pastry so that I could thaw out. Once I noticed the people outside put away their umbrellas, I went back into the cold and headed straight for the Christmas Market down the street where I got a bratwurst and sauerkraut for dinner. It's only 7 pm right now, but it's been dark for the last three hours. And in that time I've come back to the hotel to warm up again after dinner.

Castles & Christmas Bagpipes

Yesterday morning I did that thing where I turn off my alarm without committing myself to getting out of bed. When I actually woke up it was 9:15 and I was supposed to catch the 9:37 train. I've never shoved things in a suitcase faster. Luckily I had packed the majority of my things the night before. Then I raced with my suitcase behind me for the station and made it at 9:36. The train was delayed ten minutes, so I was allowed some time to get a pastry and a drink and then sit on the bench and catch my breath. Luckily that was my only travel drama of the day, and last night I arrived successfully to Edinburgh!

Bundled for the wind at Edinburgh Castle

This morning I had toast, eggs, sausage, porridge, and tea at my bed and breakfast and then made my way to the Royal Mile. I started by walking towards the castle and was waiting for something to remind me of my time here 10 years ago. Then it hit me, literally, the wind. Walking up in front of the castle I got the image of my brother almost flying backwards because the wind was so strong. And I was then reminded why it was so windy when I got to the top of the castle and looked out over Edinburgh towards the coast. Such a purty sight!

A German Christmas Market

I wandered around the castle, saw the Honours and the "Stone of Destiny," decided I'd need to do more planning if I were to steal them, and then moseyed my way back along the Royal Mile.

From high up, and down below, the city is beautiful. And it's even more beautiful being here during the Christmas season. I found myself later wandering around a Christmas market. I got mulled cider to warm my hands and insides and listened to the variety of music playing: Christmas music, bagpipes, and bagpipes playing Christmas music.

Ice-skaters

After a day of walking I stopped for some dinner and the TV in the restaurant was playing the news. It was just announced that Kate Middleton is pregnant! Meanwhile Harry is still single and...so am I. Tomorrow I'll go to Holyrood Palace and see if any of the royal family is there so we can fix this situation.

Cupcakes and Mulled Cider

I've got the bag packed for Edinburgh! Now I'm just double checking my train times and that I've got my wallet. I leave for the train station tomorrow morning and should get to Scotland in the late afternoon. Then it's five days of searching for a strapping Scottish lad (but probably just eating shortbread and whiskey), and then it's back to Oxford for a night before leaving for the US on Friday.

Henry!

I spent the majority of the day cleaning the apartment. I'm not sure how, but every single dish managed to get dirty this last week. I also cleaned out the fridge. The only thing left is some butter, jelly, and bread. To get rid of food, and avoid buying new food, I ended up feeling like quite the HOBO yesterday...I had a can of beans for lunch, that's how bad it was. And now I'm planning to make several pb&j sandwiches to take with me on the train. I can't help thinking how proud my father would be of my savvy traveling.

Mulled Cider (with an orange)

I also did a lot of vacuuming today. I'm posting a picture of Henry, the vacuum. If I had known this little guy was in the closet, I would have done some more cleaning this semester. And I didn't make up the name "Henry." All the Brits know who he is...To me though, this is hilarious!

I did still manage to get out into town today. I went to the Covered Market (one of my favorite places) and got some lunch. Then as I was walking around I looked, as usual, in the cake shop. When I saw they had a special on cupcakes I couldn't resist passing that up.

Later I had dinner with Cam, Adrie, and our friend Maggie at Byron's Burger. Then we stopped at The Chequers for some drinks. I got a mulled cider to warm me up from walking in the bitter cold. It was so warm and so tasty!

Tomorrow I'll be in Scotland!