I took a train ride to Edinburgh and the Castle Rock hostel. it is by far the best hostel I have been in. Many large relaxing lounges, a large bedroom area, and the shower facilities were great.
Immediately I liked the vibe in Edinburgh even though it is touristy. I participated in a pub crawl which is something I normally don’t do. It was pretty fun with competitions between groups and I met some great people.
I also ordered Haggis, neeps, and tatties which is traditional Scottish food. So what is it?
Haggis: A savory pudding made from a sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs (often referred to as “pluck”), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, and spices. it looks a bit like ground beef but has a really good taste and is spiced well. Traditionally, it was boiled in a sheep’s stomach, but today it is usually cooked in an artificial casing.
Neeps: The Scottish term for mashed rutabaga or swede, a root vegetable similar to a turnip. It is typically boiled and mashed with butter, pepper, and sometimes nutmeg.
Tatties: The Scottish term for mashed potatoes. They are also prepared with butter and seasoned for serving.
I also walked to Calton Hill to see the views of the city and look at some of the art installations in the buildings there.
After the Isle of Skye tour, I came back to Edinburgh for a few more days. The National gallery and the National museum are free. The National Gallery has some amazing art from Scottish painters and others from around the world including many French impressionists artists. There was a person leading a discussion on the meanings of parts of the painting.
The National museum had many exhibits from all over the world. The most interesting was the body of Dolly, the cloned sheep. She had been preserved and was on display.
I walked along Victoria Street with all the amazing colorful stores.
I then visited Greyfriars cemetery which is said to be haunted. The first thing you see is Greyfriars Bobby. He was the Skye terrier of John Gray, a philosopher and writer. When he died, his dog guarded his grave for 14 years. The owner of the local pub right outside the cemetery gate, made him a house and bed and made sur he was fed until he died. He is. It buried with his master because of cemetery rules but is nearby.
other graves to note is this one that is said to be haunted by a poltergeist.
This is the grave of Thomas Riddle. I did not research about him, but all I could think of was Harry Potter. Some other pictures I took.
The Covenanter prison was located here. They were held in horrible conditions until they all died and were buried here.
Edinburgh castle was pretty good to tour though they do not show you all the parts of the castle or take pictures. They showed the crown jewels though no photos were allowed. I learned about the history and how they dealt with prisoners.
The views from the cannon holes are impressive.
As the house of the Stewart’s and pretty fierce Scottish fighters, this castle seeming to rise straight out of volcanic rock is truly formidable.
I also walked to one of the waterway paths. It was a beautiful walk. Edinburgh is an incredible city.
Gallows existed in the city on this spot and hangings continued until 1760. One woman, Maggie, convicted of hiding a pregnancy and killing a child was hanged but survived. They decided not to try it again and she was thought to be a witch. The condemned were taken to The Last Drop bar for a drink before being hanged.
