I took this trip to Scotland as a side trip from London, quite at the last minute, without much of a plan. We took the famous sleeper train, The Caledonian Sleeper from London to Edinburgh. We left London at around 12 midnight, dozed off in our berths, and was so surprised at how the landscape outside our windows have changed overnight: from London’s concrete jungle to green grass fields and herds of sheep. We are in a place far from the city.
I had a wonderful experience with The Caledonian Sleeper. We booked a two-berth compartment. They have free soap, free earmuffs, breakfast consisting of a cookie and a coffee and a small towel. Thoughtful.
We arrived in Edinburgh around 7 am, and most of the shops are closed, so we walked and headed to the Princes St Gardens. This is a beautiful and peaceful garden and we sat on one of its many benches, admiring the backdrop of Edinburgh castle. This is a great place for people watching and strolling. It has a famous floral clock by the stairs, which happens to be world’s oldest. It was a perfect start of to our visit. (Except I would really want a coffee too)
Nearby, it is very hard to miss the Scott monument, a gothic structure built in honour of English author Sir Walter Scott, who wrote Ivanhoe (among other works I do not know). 🙂
After that, (and after having my coffee), we booked a hop in hop off bus our around Edinburgh through the tourist information center. We started at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and you could hear the stories starring Mary Queen of Scots, which was quite the drama. Inside the Holyroodhouse, her husband murdered her secretary, Riccio out of jealousy.
She was the cousin of Elizabeth I of England (Yes, the film starring Cate Blanchett), and was eventually beheaded for treason against the her. Stories say that after she was beheaded, her executioner unknowingly was holding her wig for the crowd to see so her head fell off. I find the story between the cousins Elizabeth and Mary sad, because they could have been great friends and they could have had each other’s backs.
I bought a book on the palace because I wanted to read more of the history. But I found more information on wikipedia. 🙂 After that, we went to eat lunch at the pub called The Doctor’s. Our bus guide kindly joked, when you want to go out with friends and have a good night you can tell your wife/ mother “I feel sick, I’m going to the Doctor’s” and there is no lie in that. *wink *wink.
There is also a famous dog in Edinburgh known as the Greyfriars Bobby. (He is so famous he even has a pub! Haha) What is his story? Legend has it that he was the dog who could not be moved from the graveyard of his owner after he died. The story of immense loyalty touched the hearts of the people! (Reminds me of Hachiko) He was honored by being buried near his master’s grave. One thing that tourists do is rubbing the nose of Greyfriar’s bobby for good luck. The locals were concerned at the damage it had done to the nose (now shiny gold), and pleaded we stop it. The truth is, if it weren’t for the petition to stop rubbing bobby’s nose, I wouldnt have known about the rubbing at all. And so, I take my chance at the pretend rubbing.
After that, we went to the Edinburgh Castle. This does inspire me of a Harry Potter movie. I did not do enough research, but then I found out, that J.K. Rowling actually wrote Harry Potter in the city of Edinburgh. In fact, there is coffee shop here, (which I found hard to find maybe I was too jet lagged), The Elephant House, that is known to be “the birth place of Harry Potter” (which is actually not true, but JK Rowling did spend lots of time writing there. Inside the Edinburgh castle, marveled at the walls, looked at the scottish crown jewels, the pet cemetery. There is also a portion of the castle, the war memorial, I found the poetry blood-boiling level touching.
After the castle, we walked along The Royal Mile. The royal mile is a main cobblestone street in the old town. It has shops, restaurants and pubs. We passed by the scotch whisky experience, St Giles Cathedral and then along the shops in the Royal Mile. I bought two water color posters of the Royal Mile. During august, the Edinburgh International Festival is held, so the street was extra interesting. I was so amused at the cosplayers, one even dressed up as Stephen Hawkings. He was on a wheelchair and the world’s most famous sheep, Dolly, was with him. I would almost believe it. 🙂 But the winner was the scottish bagpiper, now which tourist wouldnt want a picture taken with a man on a skirt?
After that, we took the regular train back to London. My seatmate was singing Torn by Natalie Imbruglia, and I slept to the sound of her voice. What a day.
My truth is, a day trip does not do justice to what Edinburgh can offer. There are still places to explore. And just a little bit more, maybe I could have understood the words under that thick Scottish tongue.
Xxxx, Gayle
When she gets lost 