From several days ago (no internet access)

I love Scotland. I believe this is my fourth time in the country and it still amazes me. When we first arrived to Edinburgh from London, it was early in the morning so the city was calm, the weather was cool, and the hostel was super easy to find. We stayed at a place located on the Royal Mile, which means that we were right in the center of the Fringe Festival activities. Once the morning hours were over the streets were filled with travelers, street performers, vendors, and people handing out flyers to various shows and exhibits located throughout the city. Some streets were blocked off for the festival, which made it nice to walk around since the sidewalks were absolutely full of people.

Once Cassandra and I checked into our room and showered (we were several days overdue for them, and that’s not good) we walked to Calton Hill. I have driven by it before on a tour bus but I had never actually walked on it before that day. Unfortunately it was around noon so the sun was beating down on us as we were walking up the hill. We saw all the famous monuments that before I had only seen from afar, such as the round Stewart Memorial and the National Monument that was meant to resemble the Parthenon. Unfortunately the funding for this particular monument ran out so it is only a series of columns on one side with no roof or anything. I think the neatest thing about Calton Hill is the Hume Walk. It’s a paved path that is said to lead one on a trail David Hume would regularly take. As a Philosophy student I find that super exciting- and I enjoy being a dork.

After the hill we walked to the end of the Royal Mile that is opposite from the Edinburgh Castle. There is where Holyrood Palace is located (Holyrood meaning Holy Cross) and it is the official summer residence of the Queen. Cassandra and I both noticed that it has the potential to be really dark and drab, but I’m sure the floor where the Queen lives that visitors are not allowed inside is decorated in a way that is sure to lighten it up. At one point of our tour we walked into a room that is dedicated to Mary Queen of Scots, and in it is a lock of her hair among other things. Outside the palace is a huge garden and an abbey in ruins, which both were really nice to see, except unfortunately many of the flowers were wilted and there were tons of people outside that made it difficult to take in the serenity we were hoping for. I still liked the palace though…I wish I could have been born into a royal family sometimes just so that I could be lucky enough to stay in a place like that.

Our next step was to tour the Edinburgh Castle, but unfortunately it closes early during the Fringe because the Military Tattoo takes place outside its walls. The Tattoo is a big performance which includes military bands, an air show, fireworks, and ceremonial formations. I wasn’t too upset that we didn’t get to see the castle, since I had been in it three times before, but I was disappointed that I didn’t get to see Mons Meg. Mons Meg is a gorgeous cannon that had been restored a few years ago, and it’s my favorite thing on the castle rock. I’ve noticed though, as well as my sister I’m sure, that I get excited when I see other cannons as well. They’re not things I really think about when I don’t see them, but when I do see them something in me lights up and I get as close to them as I can. Maybe that’s weird I don’t know. We finished the night with a tour of a vault under a bridge that was once used for storage and eventually housing for people who were extremely poor. During the great fire in Edinburgh the residents were cooked alive under there, so there are several thoughts about the vaults being haunted because of it. I think it’s a very sad story to tell you the truth, especially since the people could not help but be that poor. Once the tour was done we went to the World’s End Pub with our hostel roommate Julie from Canada.

The next day we got a bus that took us into the Highlands. Cassandra has always had a thing for Loch Ness, so I wanted to make sure she got to see it. Along the way we stopped to see Hamish, the most famous (and absolutely adorable) highland cow. He really has become a celebrity in the area, and his photo is published in everything that has to do with the Highlands. We made other stops along the way and learned about the history of the Highlanders before getting on a boat at Loch Ness. The boat ride was fun, but we weren’t able to spot any Loch Ness Monster. Cassandra is thinking it’s because he would rather she come there alone instead of with a whole bunch of strangers… ;)

Today we are in Stirling, where an old castle exists that was one of the major military fortresses in the country and it’s also near where both William Wallace and Robert the Bruce did everything they could to defend the people and land. We had a good visit at the castle, but there were many restorations occurring so we were not able to go into places such as the main palace. It rained pretty much the whole time, but at this point we’re so used to being wet that we didn’t notice it as much. I like the rain much better than heat, but it is too bad all our photos are turning out dark and our hair is constantly funny-looking. But it’s true, Scotland wouldn’t be right without its mistiness everywhere.

We have one more day in Scotland, for tomorrow we’re taking a bus to Glasgow, and then we’ll be heading back to England! Maybe we’ll get a dry day at some point, but I won’t count on it.