My journey began from London King's Cross on Wednesday morning, where I completely forgot that Harry Potter had been there and accidentally found Platform 9 and 3 quarters! I couldn't really get near it as there was a biq queue for photos but it was still pretty awesome to see it.
The train ride up was lovely! The scenery really was something- from rolling dales with sheep to cliff faces and sparkling sea!
Hilary and Sophie surprised me (more like gave me a heart attack) at the train station, and we walked back to Sophie's house which would be my crash pad for the next few days. We went out for dinner that night at Tuk Tuk which did authentic Indian street food. It was so yummy, After that, Sophie and Hilary went to help at their Buddies (for the incoming international students and of which Blythe is the president) meet and greet. Naturally, I decided to help out too since I was there, but in reality all I really did was hold some papers and tell people to move on... We took Sophie's buddies to Revs but after a pint they decided to go clubbing and we went to the pub. I also tried chips and gravy for the first time that night and I have to say that it wasn't as terrible as I imagined although I am still very much a salt n vinegar kinda gal.
The next day was sightseeing time! Sophie took me to the top of the David Hume Tower at the uni, a tower which I have heard many tales about from Joe and Niamh, so it was a must-see. The view of the city was pretty decent up there too, apart from the mistiness.
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| Misty view of the castle |
The sightseeing continued and we walked down the Royal Mile, stopping at St. Giles cathedral and an incredible fudge shop.
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| St. Giles Cathedral |
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| I'm still chuckling |
We walked to the end of the Royal Mile, where we went inside the Scottish Parliament building. It was quite something to be there amidst all the referendum talk. People from the BBC were interviewing people outside and they came over to us too, but we didn't speak to them. The atmosphere in Edinburgh was pretty intense, with Yes supporters on the Meadows everyday and stickers or posters in nearly every window we went past.
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| The Scottish Parliament and the crags in the back |
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| The Debate Room |
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| Holyrood - where the Queen stays |
We still had some time to kill before dinner so we walked up Calton Hill. It was actually really warm and sunny, but still the view was obscured by the weather! I also got very grumpy when I realised I couldn't climb up on the monument because I was wearing a skirt. Grumpy indeed.
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| Eerie |
Dinner was at Hilary and Blythe's place, where we all made pizza. It turned out more like bread with a LOT of cheese on, but was still bloody good. Sophie, Hilary and I then got changed and headed out with her Snowsports Society group. The room they had set aside for Snow Soc was horrendously hot and sticky and just awful, so we escaped outside. Joe made an appearance then with a couple of his friends from home (one of them I had already briefly met in Paris). We spent the rest of the night playing drinking games and, after being told to go inside, ridiculous dancing and Sophie playing DJ...
I met Joe and his friends for a full English in the morning which hit the spot wonderfully, to sort ourselves out for the day, and Sophie joined us afterwards. We went up to the roof of the National Museum of Scotland for some air and pictures.
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| Museum roof |
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| Excellent advertising |
Joe went to a meeting so Sophie and I went for a wander in the Grassmarket, stopping for coffee and cake at Hula, where Hilary met us. I bought a new purple shirt in Armstrongs (biggest vintage shop in Britain or something) and then dragged them into Mr. Wood's Fossils where, as they put it, I bought some 'rocks'. We walked around the Greyfriars graveyard (here I go again). Greyfriars is quite legendary as back in the 19th Century, a man was buried here and his faithful dog Bobby guarded his grave for the next 14 years until he died himself. Bobby has a little statue outside the pub, named Greyfriars Bobby, and is buried at the entrance of the graveyard.
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| Grassmarket |
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| Bobby! |
Sophie and I went to the chippy for dinner, and then we all went out to a bar for one of their friend's birthdays. That was a good laugh and after that we went to a place called Cav, which, quite frankly, made me feel fucking ancient. It was full of freshers. Joe then dragged us to the dreaded Hive, which I have heard too many stories about. It was absolutely rank. I mean, one of the rooms literally smelt of semen. I rest my case.
Saturday was a little more leisurely. I met up with Niamh for an hour which was lovely! We had coffee and croissants on the Links and had a good old natter. I've missed Niamh and hopefully I'll back in Edinburgh for a few days at Christmas. It was so good to see everyone again.
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| Ma Berlin gals |
Not long after noodles with Hilary and Sophie, they were getting me on my train and saying goodbye! It went far too fast, as these trips always do and as a lovely memento of the trip, I have caught some flu thing. I'm blaming Hive.
Peace
xxx
