 |
| Shooting from Edinburgh Castle at One o'clock |
Scotland was beautiful! I definitely could have studied
abroad here and been very happy. I stayed right in downtown Edinburgh. Since
getting there so early in the morning I was able to explore the quaint city for
a bit before heading to Edinburgh Castle. Every other shop was selling kilts,
cashmere, lambs wool and rugby shirts; I was in my element. I almost bought
everything I saw. And with the reduced prices in the off-season, it was hard to
resist.
 |
| Edinburgh Castle |
Edinburgh Castle was very cool and I learned a lot of
Scotland’s history through the many military museums and exhibitions I walked
through. Their history involved a lot more compliance with the English. There
were a couple of rebellions here and there but for the most part, almost all
the exhibits I saw were about the Scottish fighting for the Brits and the
Scottish pride they felt for their contributions to the English’s wars. It was
very interesting and so different from the attitudes towards the Brits I felt
from the Irish. Anyways, there has been a royal castle here since the 12
th
century has always been an important fortress for the Kingdom of Scotland. I walked
through the room where King James I, son of Mary Queen of Scots, was born in
1566.
I was told that I also had to visit the Elephant House Café,
where J.K. Rowling wrote most of the Harry Potter books. I enjoyed an Elephant
House shortbread and fresh tea there before moving on to Calton Hill, where I
saw the National Monument, the Nelson Monument (climbed all 170 steps up the
tower!) and the Dugald Stewart Monument. On the way I passed the Scottish
Parliament as well as the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where the Queen of England
occasionally resides.
I can’t put
into words the beauty of Edinburgh and all the views I saw. I took a billion
pictures and I wish I could share them all with you here …but I will when I get
home, so get ready!!
 |
| Waverly Station with Edinburgh Castle in the background from Calton Hill |
Today I took a much needed sleep in. I felt I hadn’t slept
in weeks – probably because I hadn’t. I was, however, hiking up King Arthur’s
Seat by eleven and experienced the spectacular views it had to offer the whole
way up. Daddy, you would be dying in Scotland with your camera. I don’t think
you would ever move your eye from the viewfinder. The way the sun played on the
cliffs and the city below with the ocean and more islands in the background… ah
I can’t put it into words, other than I want to go back and go hiking
throughout all of Scotland. There also happened to be a half marathon going on
today, where racers were running outside my hotel door and the finish was just
below the hike’s starting point. It was fun to experience that as well but it
made me a little nostalgic missing racing and all.
 |
| The Palace of Holyrood, where the Queen resides on her visits |
 |
| King Arthur's Seat from Calton Hill |
 |
...but Copenhagen welcomes me back
with a beautiful sunset |
 |
| I love Edinburgh and this is how I left it, |
I’m now in the Edinburgh Airport, without wireless, so I
will have to post all of these when I get back to Copenhagen tonight. Then back
to classes at 8:30 tomorrow morning! Whoof…. It’s been a long and tiring two
weeks, but absolutely amazing and totally worth it. Talk to you back in the
Cope!
Scotland was beautiful! I definitely could have studied
abroad here and been very happy. I stayed right in downtown Edinburgh. Since
getting there so early in the morning I was able to explore the quaint city for
a bit before heading to Edinburgh Castle. Every other shop was selling kilts,
cashmere, lambs wool and rugby shirts; I was in my element. I almost bought
everything I saw. And with the reduced prices in the off-season, it was hard to
resist. 
Edinburgh Castle was very cool and I learned a lot of
Scotland’s history through the many military museums and exhibitions I walked
through. Their history involved a lot more compliance with the English. There
were a couple of rebellions here and there but for the most part, almost all
the exhibits I saw were about the Scottish fighting for the Brits and the
Scottish pride they felt for their contributions to the English’s wars. It was
very interesting and so different from the attitudes towards the Brits I felt
from the Irish. Anyways, there has been a royal castle here since the 12th
century has always been an important fortress for the Kingdom of Scotland. I walked
through the room where King James I, son of Mary Queen of Scots, was born in
1566. 
I was told that I also had to visit the Elephant House Café,
where J.K. Rowling wrote most of the Harry Potter books. I enjoyed an Elephant
House shortbread and fresh tea there before moving on to Calton Hill, where I
saw the National Monument, the Nelson Monument (climbed all 170 steps up the
tower!) and the Dugald Stewart Monument. On the way I passed the Scottish
Parliament as well as the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where the Queen of England
occasionally resides. I can’t put
into words the beauty of Edinburgh and all the views I saw. I took a billion
pictures and I wish I could share them all with you here …but I will when I get
home, so get ready!! 
Today I took a much needed sleep in. I felt I hadn’t slept
in weeks – probably because I hadn’t. I was, however, hiking up King Arthur’s
Seat by eleven and experienced the spectacular views it had to offer the whole
way up. Daddy, you would be dying in Scotland with your camera. I don’t think
you would ever move your eye from the viewfinder. The way the sun played on the
cliffs and the city below with the ocean and more islands in the background… ah
I can’t put it into words, other than I want to go back and go hiking
throughout all of Scotland. There also happened to be a half marathon going on
today, where racers were running outside my hotel door and the finish was just
below the hike’s starting point. It was fun to experience that as well but it
made me a little nostalgic missing racing and all.
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