This last Friday, I got up at 2:50AM to catch a bus and flight to Edinburgh, Scotland... BEST WEEKEND EVER!!! I started walking to the bus station when all of the drunk people were still walking home. This made for a great start of the trip; there is nothing like having a young man sing opera to you from a street corner.
I have been sick since our trip to Killarney a couple weeks back and did not have a fun flight to Scotland even though the scenery was beautiful and the flight was only one hour. The bus into the town proper was fun. We rode a double-decker bus through the birthplace of Harry Potter and it was wonderful.
The hostel is perfectly located, smack in between the Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle. We shared a larger room with a couple different groups of girls and were delighted to find the warmest showers in town right down the hall. The kitchen and "family room" of the hostel was quite an experience with 60 or so other guests and an industrial gas stove. Too much fun.
We found out late in the trip that a cafe that we were told was the 'birthplace of Harry Potter,' to remain nameless, was an impostor. We found the original cafe on Sunday, but I will never forget the fake reputation that cafe proclaims. J.K. Rowling did write at many places and she may have here so I won't be too enraged. I do possess some pictures with this cafe that strengthen their fake reputation.
After the 'Harry Potter' (FAKE) cafe and a spot of lunch, we then walked down to the Holyrood Palace where the Queen stays when she is in town. There were many scenic places for fotos on the way down that overlooked the valley to new town that were spectacular. The Holyrood Palace (pronounced Holly-rude) was gorgeous and surrounded by the volcanic mountain and the new Parliament building that looking like bamboo is glued to the sides. We took advantage of the FREE audio guides and learned about assassinations, jealousy, and paintings that were very ugly. The palace has a church attached to it that has fallen into disrepair. It is now beautiful ruins with graves attached to the still functioning and upkept palace. the gardens were closed down for the winter which stunk.
To save a little money, we picked up some groceries and then went for an EPIC nap before cooking dinner and heading to the UNDERGROUND CITY TOUR (I am awesome at spotting pamphlets!).
The doppelganger of Doctor Who turned out to be our tour guide for one of the best parts of the trip. The tour was more based in the history of the town and the huge problems Edinburgh had with sewage, population control, living quarters, and the people in charge of the city. Long story short, no one lived outside the city walls built to keep out the English (not at all effective and kept the Scots in rather then the English out) and there were too many people than the city could hold so the people dug tunnels into the valley side under the buildings and etc. The sewage from above leaked into this living space which cut the life expectancy of a healthy adult male to 16 months.
Those living under the city tried to fix the sewage problem by putting straw down which only led to fires nearly on the hour. City and underground fires killed many people and have led to myths and urban legends that held true and are continuing as new tunnels are discovered and excavated. On the way out, we stood in front of a wall where a ceiling arch was evident. We were told that the city and nation have been nervous about exploring these tunnels because of the threat of terrorists and etc. We were told by 'Doctor Who' that they were given permission the day prior to open that specific vault. VERY COOL stuff. For this tour, we met outside St. Giles Cathedral and walked through specific areas and alleys and etc. to get the history of the town and to get to the tunnels. The tour company is owned by a rugby player whose name I forget at the moment. A great end to our first day.
The next day, we headed out early to a market at the bottom of the hill where the castle sits and had some of the best hot chocolate EVER. We walked around and bought fresh scones, porridge, and stared at still moving shrimp and babies on leashes disguised as a monkey. Then we headed back up the hill to the castle. We were beat up the stairs by a little french boy with a lot of energy.
The admission was worth every penny. Inside, I sat on a cannon, went through the Scottish War Museum, the Dragoon Museum, saw the oldest building in Edinburgh (a very old and very small chapel), the Royal jewels and quarters within the castle, saw a cannon shot off at 1pm, locked my friends in the castles dungeon, and had a great view.
After lunch, we went to the Scotch Whisky Experience (yes, that is the correct spelling) next to Edinburgh Castle. We enjoyed a ride in a barrel which gave us some info of the process of making whisky and then had a personal tasting and information session. Then we got to enter the late master blender's personal collection room. VERY COOL. We got to keep our glasses too!
Again, we headed back to make dinner and take a quick nap before crashing a pub crawl which one of our friends was attending with a friend from her home who was studying in Edinburgh. The live music was great (nothing like Galway, but what can you expect?) and the mix of people was definitely interesting. We met a German who was pushing seven feet tall and a neighbor boy to the Duluth Cleary's. My friend pointed out a guy who was from Minnesota. Naturally, I introduced myself to find out that this guy knew the Duluth Clearys well as he lived just down the road!
We had a great time and went to around six or so bars (including one called Frankenstein) before ending at a four level club called Espionage. The music was okay but the guys in costumes (one from Thundercats I might add) were slightly disturbing, so we left for hamburgers and the hostel.
Sunday, our last free day, we started off with the National Museum of Scotland which was a treat. I would have even paid admission if they required it! the museum was slightly disorganized and confusing but chock full of old and interesting stuff. I quite enjoyed the display of artifacts from Roman occupation, Dolly the sheep (who had been stuffed!), and the 'famous Scots' display. The viewing deck was closed which stunk, but we were definitely impressed.
THEN we went to the REAL birthplace of Harry Potter!!! The cafe was cute and the perfect place for J. K. to write about my husband Ron and his friends. Out of the rear windows, you can see both the Edinburgh Castle and a private school that had four towers... Very cool. The cafe was very active and concerned with Elephant rights too... interesting. wizards and elephants.
After not purchasing things at the HP cafe, we began our hunt for the traditional Scottish breakfast which led us to around six different places. I was starving as I had not eaten breakfast. My sour mood did not help and nearly triggered a violent reaction from me when a table of foreign men thought it would be funny to pretend to steal from my friend who was asking a question from the bar tender. Needless to say, I did not let them get away with this.
We did find a great place that did serve Scottish breakfast and were satisfied with our haggis. It really isn't bad. Other than the texture, I actually liked it. I would compare it to a heartier, and more gravy based cornbeef hash.
I spent the rest of the day with some of the girls in New Town on the other side of the valley at the Sir Walter Scott Monument, the National Gallery, and walking the shopping area.
We had an early bus this morning for our 8:25 AM flight back to Ireland, but the doubledecker made up for it again. Edinburgh 2010 was definitely a success!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment