After leaving the Isle of Islay the same way we got there (ferry and bus), we are quickly disenchanted with our airbnb in Glasgow, the apartment itself and the location in the city—in fact, with the city itself. We make a snap decision to abandon it (our host graciously reimbursed us) and spend a few days in Edinburgh instead. That was the best decision we could have made. It’s only an hour’s train ride away, and the city is so much more worth a visit.
The location of our Edinburgh accommodation is close to the Haymarket train station and within walking distance of the old city centre. The closest main road is lined with shops and restaurants, and after shopping for the basics at co-op (water, breakfast) and having lunch (another outstanding pizza) there, we walk toward the old city centre. We don’t have to walk for long before we see amazing old buildings, and then the sight of the old Edinburgh castle on top of a rock plateau gets us truly excited. We don’t tire of taking photos from different angles as we end up circling the castle on our first trek through the city. It’s difficult to choose just a few of them for this blog.
Intriguingly, we see stairs going up on our left and stairs going down on our right, and we cannot decide which ones to explore first, so we just keep going straight. The road is cobble-stoned, and every corner and intersection has something new to offer. We end up in the pedestrian zone, and of course there are several specialty whisky shops where we stop, browse and chat with the staff and some other whisky enthusiasts. It’s obvious that Edinburgh is a tourist magnet, and nowhere can that be seen more clearly than here in the old town with its souvenir shops, flashy whisky shops (we find a few for the serious fans), and restaurants. Well, and the hordes of tourists from all around the world. The city is clean and kept well, a much needed positive change from Glasgow.
The churches here are all impressive, and one cannot take photos and get engaged with each and every one, so I focus on St. Giles Cathedral in the centre of the old town with its spire over an open copula that could have been a bell tower, but I don’t see any bells in the void. We don’t go inside as it’s already past eight, but the architecture from the outside is magnificent in itself. A street musician plays cheesy tunes as we explore a courtyard of what looks like an administrative building, of course with a statue in its centre.
We walk along Princes Street on our way back, intrigued by a dark gothic tower that seems to have no purpose from afar and turns out to be the Scott Monument, housing a statue of Sir Walter Scott, the famous poet. The Scots are clearly quite proud of him to build such a lavish and extravagant monument for him.
Shortly past Scott, a park emerges on the left, reminding of a landscaped riverbed or mote far down behind an iron wrought fence. Soon we see the castle again, and we veer down into the park where sculptures line the wide paths, and lots of people hang out on the grass, still at this hour. A fountain draws me in, and I circle it with my camera while my friend jokes about us being “like the Japanese” taking photos of everything rather than enjoying it in real time. The reference dates us… nowadays it’s not a phenomenon limited to “the Japanese,” it’s all of us living through the screen. We laugh, and I take a deep breath of fresh city-park-air and put my phone down, for a moment.
Out feet are hurting by now, and dusk is setting in. After a long day, we walk home and on the way marvel at the skies and the sunset and this magical city.
Seeing it in the glorious sunshine certainly paints such a pretty picture thanks for sharing, regarding the photograph comment which is very understandable the photos help jog the memory for when when you get older like me & need a little prompt every now & then on the old memory banks 🙂 or simply wish to tell the story for someone who has not had the pleasure of your blessed experience, keep it up.
Lovely! 💕 I hope to visit there one day!