To Experience the Ancient & Modern beauty of this wonderful city .
Disadvantages:
Only if you are disabled or in a wheelchair .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Almost all my life have I lived in the South of England, so a journey to Edinburgh was to become a great experience. I had been planning to book myself into a days training course with Tony Stockwell, a well known psychic & medium of television fame, and well respected by many.
Not many classes are available throughout the year, so when this one came up, based in Edinburgh, I booked a ticket straight away. I am actually living in Cornwall, so when I found a cheap flight from Newquay to Edinburgh, I paid for the ticket there and then.
The flight only took one hour. I had booked a 5 day return. This way I was able to travell the day before, rise early to give me plenty of time to walk up the hill, one of the seven hills that this Capital has been built on.
The flight was interesting, thanks to the clear skies and small aircraft, we took the route up the North coast, and in minutes we were passing over our house and garden and the farm where we lived. It flew really low, and we could pin point all the beaches and bays, farms and cliffs, recognising everything we were skimming over.
We were soon landing at the airport, and walked quickly onto the street where buses wer waiting to drive us into the centre. When I say centre, well thats the surprise, no back streets here for the buses to hide, no long walk into the shops. Oposite the bus station was the train station, burried underground and really not obvious, but so handy. Off the bus and down the steps.
On the otherside of the pavement where you disembark are the gardens, and wow, in maytime they are really spectacular. The blossoms on the trees, newly opened leaves, shiny green and bulbs and flowers everywhere, This park is way below the street level, so there are many slopes and steps down into this other world of natural beauty. There are plenty of seets around the grass lawns, a water fountain in the centre and rtees so tall and dignefied that their branches almost formed a beautifully pattened canopy making the park into a dreamland.
While above the streets on three sides of this huge park are busy with buses and packed with shoppers. Along the full length of the park are the wonderful departmental stores and fashion houses where you could spend the whole day window shopping or even using your card to your hearts content. I found in Edinburgh, like London the population was of mixed cultures and nationalities. The fashions worn by the smart about town residents and visitors was unique and classy. My eyes tranfixed to the designer garments passing by. I love fashion and design and here I was in my element. These wonderful visions of fashion elite competing, but not quite winning, with the gardens below.
I hadn't found a cheap hotel on line, so I first visited the tourist information office situated between the buses and the park. I chose a local hotel, regretting this later, but it was definately a learning experience. and turned out to be as expensive as a cheap hotel.
Finding myself by now quite tired I booked into the hosel and retired to the room, shared with about six others. That was o.k. I was only going to sleep there after all. I chose a bottom bunk, had some refreshments and took to the town. I loved this place so much, drinking in the sites with pleasure. Not able to take photos yet as there was a mist all around. This mist gave the old town the characteristic look of drawings I had seen of this wonderful city.
My feet took me slowley up hill along the Royal Mile, cobbled paved ancient streets that climbed its way up to the castle at the top.
Continuing down this Royal Mile I discovered many little ancient shops tucked away either side of this cobbled road. They were selling gifts and little Scottish treasures as souvenirs for visitors to buy. There were many shops here selling proudly their Scottish Kilts in a variety of colours in tartans for every clan. As I reached the bottom of the hill I picked one of the many little bars and cafes, restaurants and take-a-ways and decided it was time for a meal before returning to the Hostel.
Being really tired now after my travelling and sight seeing, I returned to Cockburn street where the Hostel was sited and joined a group in the lounge. Naturally all visitors were younger than myself but after a few minutes a few wandered over for a chat, intrigued that I had chosen this place to stay. We had some interesting conversations before I retired for the night. I settled on the bottom bunk, and drifted off quickly, others preferred later nights than I. Waking in the morning to the voices of students laughing and singing as they made their way to the kitchen and up and down the stairs. I must have overslept I told myself. Into the kitchen and made myself breakfast and a hot cup of tea. By now the hostel had gone quite. I crept down stairs and asked at reception what the time was, (I had left my watch back in Cornwall) The answer confused me. Two-thirty he said. Did I feel silly, they were all coming in from their respective night clubs and were going to bed. I crept even more quietly back up again. Slipped into my bunk among snoring, whispering and other strange sounds, and fell asleep again, but not so quickly. This time I noticed how uncomfortable the bunk was.
I hadn't been asleep long when I was once again awoken, this time to the rhythmic rocking of the bunk, not quite sure in my sleepy state what was happening, but soon realising that the movement was coming from the upper bunk. After a few seconds of this I once again arose to make a cup of tea and retire to the lounge and settle in peace and quiet on the sofa. Me? old fashioned?, Not really, just tired.
When I did finally awake I had a quick shower and retreated to the streets for breakfast. This was welcome and I started my plan to find the exact location of the University of Edinburgh. Everyone was most helpful and sent me onwards, this way and that. Finally I found some-one that really did know, they took me part of the way then pointed me in the right direction. Up another hill, there are seven in Edinburgh, this time the right one. Past large high rise blocks of apartments and on until I reached the top, where the buildings ceased and was replaced with grass and natural surroundings then into view a wonderful mountain, before me stood a large modern building of the university and it shone in all its glory nestling in front of the mountains glowing purple with the heather.
This really is a lovely building, inside modern uncluttered and very comfortable. Cool and spacious. The outside landscaped with lawns, gardens and huge old trees. We were welcomed with steaming hot coffee and an assortment of Danish Pastries. There must have been nearly forty of us there and we were greeted by Tony Stockwell as we entered the conference room. I had a wonderful day learning much more than I had ever anticipated. Making friends with the others on the course also. The lunch was terrific and served with all the modern trimmings. Several of us walked back down into the town at the end of the day, and had supper in one of the restaurants along the Royal Mile. Forgetting all about the Hostel I booked into a B & B nearby.
I returned that evening to the Hostel to collect the clothes that I had there after deciding to book into a B & B. Unfortunately my clothes were no-where to be seen. They had vanished, someone had moved them to another bed, and that was that. I had loved my new denim skirt. But the rest didn't matter two much, they have made some-one happy no doubt.
After a much needed rest in comfort, I fell asleep dreaming of some sightseeing the following day. The gardens called me. The sun was shining the wind had dropped and the warmth in the air made so much difference to the look of the town. Once again the park with all its beauty called me and I headed there to this time walk around. At the back of the park the land rose steeply. This was the start of the Old Town, very, very old town, and another way up through these grey looking buildings and back onto the Royal mile. This time I decided to buy a ticket to go sightseeing around the castle. It was magnificent. It soared above the city in all its ancient glory. So very old, with a huge cannon in its entrance. Reaching the top, you can look through the parapets around the castle you can see right over the city across to the sea. Don't get to near the edge though if you are afraid of heights. There was a loan piper standing next to a canon facing through the parapet, playing some wonderful music. It all felt so real, as though I had been transported back in history. The sun shone down and the day had become really hot. My camera came out. The rest of the day was spent getting to know the locals. Mixing with the many visitors, and taking some wonderful photos, and still not having the time to see it all.
The following morning I awoke really early, refreshed and happy to start my morning in the park, before returning to the airport. It was a beautiful day, the sun highlighting everything around with a soft glow. Edinburgh is gorgeous. I wandered around taking photographs enough to fill an album, down the steps to the railway station underground, where I sat with a coffee watching the people go by. Time to go. The bus to the airport was waiting above. I got on it and was soon queuing to board…..Except, I was almost a whole hour too late. My flight was already almost touching down in Newquay. What had I done. The magic of Scotland had lulled me to stay one more day… Only one flight a day, of course. My partner had not yet left home for the airport. He would meet me tomorrow. The price of transferring the air ticket was £35.00 I had just enough. But what about tonight. I would just have to sleep in the airport, to catch the flight the following day. I wasn't prepared though to stay there all day.
So another return bus ticket of £5 and once more I found myself back in the gardens that I loved so much. Another nice day, so I will investigate the Royal Mile once more. I walked up the hill again to the castle. There was a stall there selling porridge with Whiskey on it. well why not it was lovely and warm and the taste was deliciously scrummy.
(The Royal Mile starts at the Castle and goes right down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse )
As I sat eating my porridge I looked around the Esplanade, and noticed a very tall ancient building opposite. Intrigued I walked over. Why hadn't I noticed it before.? It was called the Camera Obscura. Photographs, what a way to finish my stay. Have I said that I love photography? I went in to find out what is was all about. Camera Obscura.!!! Strange place.. I bought a ticket. We were directed up to the top of the building where we came out onto a parapet surrounding a dome, built onto the top of the tower. The views all round were staggering. Such height, not a place for the feint hearted. We were then ushered inside the dome, and the light was lowered. The table in the middle was circular and concave. A light shone down from the top of the dome. A camera had been placed here 150 years ago, and was still working to astound the people around the table. As we looked down the pictures of the streets below were revealed. You could actually see people walking in and around the castle, the square and the streets beyond. All pictured in this concave circle. The camera rotated 360 degrees. And we could see the full scene below from every angle. Our guide in the dome with us then tapped on the table with a card. She had touched a woman on the head, amazingly the woman actually looked up to the tower wondering what on earth! Don't believe it? neither did I until I tested it later, standing in the street looking up, and I felt drawn to the dome as the other woman did. I shall leave you to decide later, when you too visit Edinburgh. We were five floors up in the building. On the way down we were enticed into other rooms on each floor. Every room had photographic examples of trickery, optical illusions and wonderful things to bemuse the mind.
At the end of what had been my best day ever I bussed back to the airport to settle down for the night. My flight was at 10.am the following day. I bought supper and a hot coffee, wandering around looking for a place to put my head. The airport is modern and clean, comfortable and the staff are very friendly, gradually the remaining people dispersed and I wandered to the top end of the lounge area, to find a kiosk made from a large van, the staff were just tidying up for the night, I had a final cup of coffee, then noticed the sign above. " Cornish Pasties, fresh from Cornwall this morning." I had their last one and sat on the sofas provided. They were the comfiest seat in the whole of the airport. What luck, another comfy nights sleep.
I caught the flight back to Newquay on schedule and arrived in the rain, promising to go back to Edinburgh as soon as I could. And so should you.
Thank you for reading this with me. I hope you enjoyed the experience enough to visit Scotland yourself one day. And have as much fun as I did.
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