Edinburgh, Scotland (5.25.07)
The last two holiday weekends i kept saying that I would go somewhere, but lack of planning left me in Bristol both times. So when i knew we had another 3 day weekend at the end of May, I was determined to go away for the weekend. thought of going to Paris or Barcelona at first, but then looked at Edinburgh. Seemed like a cool place, and when I was looking at the Edinburgh info site, I saw that Pixar's 20 Years of Animation Exhibition was going on at the National Scotish Museum. If that isn't a sign from God, then I don't know what is. Booked my flight and 4 nights at a youth hostel (should be interesting- staying in an 8 bed female dorm). Packed up my stuff Thursday night, luckily Alex leaned me his duffle bag for the trip, all my bags/suitcases are too big. The one bummer was that my flight left so early on Friday that the bus to the airport wouldn't leave early enough to get me there in time for checking in, etc., so i had to take a cab. Cost 18 pounds :oP oh well, lesson learned. Cab came and got me at Sublime at 4:30am (ugh) which meant I was up at 3:30am. and of course I didnt get to bed until about 11:30ish so I got about 3 hours of sleep.
At Bristol Airport I checked in fairly quick and had about an hour to kill. Wandered about the shops. Flight started boarding, got on, and right after take off i was fast asleep. In Edinburgh I collected my bag and then found an info desk to collect this 3-day Edinburgh pass I bought online. Gets you into places for free, free public transport, discounts at restaurants and shops. the lady behind the counter was really nice and informative. I caught the airport bus (free) and got off at the city center, checked my map and found my hostel on Cockburn street (okay, you all can stop laughing now). Along the street were a ton of cute shops that I knew I would check out later. Almost walked right past the hostel, it just has a single doorway squished between a cafe and shop, and their sign was also quite small. I checked in, but it was too early to go to my dorm (about 9am). I left my bag at the reception and went to catch a tour bus that the lady at the airport recommend I take. Figured it would be a good way to get a tour of the city and it's points of interest.
The tour was cool, helped me determine where things were and whether or not I wanted to visit that particular spot again. We went down Princes Street where one side has a huge park along it, the other side a bunch of shops. Then turned the corner and went around the Edinburgh Castle, went down High Street (the Royal Mile), passed the Nationak Scotish Museum where the Pixar Exhibit is (woo!), then down to the new Parliament building which is the funkiest, ugliest building design for a goverment type building. An hour later the tour is over and I still have about an hour until I can go to my dorm, so I stroll down Princes Street as the shops have at least openned by now.
didn't really feel like going into the shops though, so I made a turn and decided to check out Calton Hill, we passed it on the tour bus. Walked up to the top and got the most amazing view of the city. On my way back I passed a cemetary which I walked through, then crossed the North Bridge and found some cool stores which I checked out, then it was finally okay for me to enter my dorm. In the room I found 2 girls already there, and could see there was 1 more in the bunk below my top bed. Put the sheets on my bed, unloaded my stuff and had to take care of some admin things. I found out the 3 day pass has to be used in 3 consecutive days, and I had already booked a train ticket on Sunday (day 3) to go check out this little city called Linlithgow outside of Edinburgh. Went to the train station to check on the cost of changing the ticket and basically it would cost more than the ticket is worth (was only 4 quid) so at this point I am thinking i will just miss the train and if I decide to rebook later i will.
Went from the train station to the Royal Mile, mainly in search of food, and also to visit the Castle. Got a sandwich to go, and walked up towards the Castle. Did the guided tour, which was cool. Was quite chilly up there at times and even started raining a little. When we got to the top/main center of the tower, we arrived just in time to see the changing of the guards who were positioned in front of this one building. And apparently the guards are not always at the Castle, but for this week and weekend they are, so that was pretty fortunate to get to see them there. After the tour we were free to roam the castle and it's many building. Saw the Royal Jewels, banquetting hall, checked out the cannons, but eventually was getting tired and them to top it off my batteries in my camera start dying. I took it as a sign to bugger off.
When I got back to the room the girl in the bunk below me was there, along with another new girl. the one under me is Shannon from Denver, CO., and the other is Henny from Australia but has been living in London for the past 4 years. We all got on realyl well, chatted away, and made our dinners at the hostel and ate in the common room together. Then we decided to go on the Witchery Ghost and Gouls walking tour that evening. it was a very funny tour. the main guide was quite comical and his companion had the task of dressing in all sorts of costumes and scaring us at times. At one point I got called up to join them because I was accused of being a begar (long side story...) so they had to cut off my hand. I was funny, i totally screamed at the wrong time and wasn't holding the fake bloody hand very well. At the end of the tour us girls went and had a pint, did more chatting and exchanged contact info since Henny was going to be leaving the next morning. So far a pretty good start to my weekend.
At Bristol Airport I checked in fairly quick and had about an hour to kill. Wandered about the shops. Flight started boarding, got on, and right after take off i was fast asleep. In Edinburgh I collected my bag and then found an info desk to collect this 3-day Edinburgh pass I bought online. Gets you into places for free, free public transport, discounts at restaurants and shops. the lady behind the counter was really nice and informative. I caught the airport bus (free) and got off at the city center, checked my map and found my hostel on Cockburn street (okay, you all can stop laughing now). Along the street were a ton of cute shops that I knew I would check out later. Almost walked right past the hostel, it just has a single doorway squished between a cafe and shop, and their sign was also quite small. I checked in, but it was too early to go to my dorm (about 9am). I left my bag at the reception and went to catch a tour bus that the lady at the airport recommend I take. Figured it would be a good way to get a tour of the city and it's points of interest.
The tour was cool, helped me determine where things were and whether or not I wanted to visit that particular spot again. We went down Princes Street where one side has a huge park along it, the other side a bunch of shops. Then turned the corner and went around the Edinburgh Castle, went down High Street (the Royal Mile), passed the Nationak Scotish Museum where the Pixar Exhibit is (woo!), then down to the new Parliament building which is the funkiest, ugliest building design for a goverment type building. An hour later the tour is over and I still have about an hour until I can go to my dorm, so I stroll down Princes Street as the shops have at least openned by now.
didn't really feel like going into the shops though, so I made a turn and decided to check out Calton Hill, we passed it on the tour bus. Walked up to the top and got the most amazing view of the city. On my way back I passed a cemetary which I walked through, then crossed the North Bridge and found some cool stores which I checked out, then it was finally okay for me to enter my dorm. In the room I found 2 girls already there, and could see there was 1 more in the bunk below my top bed. Put the sheets on my bed, unloaded my stuff and had to take care of some admin things. I found out the 3 day pass has to be used in 3 consecutive days, and I had already booked a train ticket on Sunday (day 3) to go check out this little city called Linlithgow outside of Edinburgh. Went to the train station to check on the cost of changing the ticket and basically it would cost more than the ticket is worth (was only 4 quid) so at this point I am thinking i will just miss the train and if I decide to rebook later i will.
Went from the train station to the Royal Mile, mainly in search of food, and also to visit the Castle. Got a sandwich to go, and walked up towards the Castle. Did the guided tour, which was cool. Was quite chilly up there at times and even started raining a little. When we got to the top/main center of the tower, we arrived just in time to see the changing of the guards who were positioned in front of this one building. And apparently the guards are not always at the Castle, but for this week and weekend they are, so that was pretty fortunate to get to see them there. After the tour we were free to roam the castle and it's many building. Saw the Royal Jewels, banquetting hall, checked out the cannons, but eventually was getting tired and them to top it off my batteries in my camera start dying. I took it as a sign to bugger off.
When I got back to the room the girl in the bunk below me was there, along with another new girl. the one under me is Shannon from Denver, CO., and the other is Henny from Australia but has been living in London for the past 4 years. We all got on realyl well, chatted away, and made our dinners at the hostel and ate in the common room together. Then we decided to go on the Witchery Ghost and Gouls walking tour that evening. it was a very funny tour. the main guide was quite comical and his companion had the task of dressing in all sorts of costumes and scaring us at times. At one point I got called up to join them because I was accused of being a begar (long side story...) so they had to cut off my hand. I was funny, i totally screamed at the wrong time and wasn't holding the fake bloody hand very well. At the end of the tour us girls went and had a pint, did more chatting and exchanged contact info since Henny was going to be leaving the next morning. So far a pretty good start to my weekend.
posted by Triana @ 10:13 AM
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