Glorious Edinburgh - Day 1

 Since I barely managed to post while on vacation, I'm just going to hop around through my memories--starting with Edinburgh. 

After a less-than-fabulous time in Inverness (which is in northern Scotland), we took a lovely train ride down to Edinburgh, watching the landscape change from the crags of the wild, gorse-covered highlands to the lush and jewel-green verdure of the south. Elowen loves trains and was very excited to be on one--she kept exclaiming "I on a train!" (After days of hopefully asking, "I go on train?")



The train station was delightfully close to our hotel--about a third of a mile--but unfortunately somebody cut me off while I was walking and I kicked my suitcase trying not to fall on him. At first I was like "meh just a stub!" and then by nighttime I could barely walk and was convinced the fat, crooked appendage was broken. It wasn't, but it did hurt for most of the end of the trip. 

However, because I am strong like a bull, I just put on my tennis shoes and limped my 13k steps a day with determination.

Anyway, we stayed in the Courtyard, so no pictures of it--it was serviceable and close to the sites, which was good enough considering how much cheaper it was than the Marriott Luxury Collection next door. Since the family we were traveling with wanted to rest and shower and that's not how I roll, Taylor, Elowen, and I set off to explore the city. 


 I was immediately struck with regret that we only had two days, because Edinburgh is just phenomenal--dripping with literary history and looking like the Victorian-era London of my imagination (interestingly, London does not look like that for me). 




Our first stop was Greyfriars Bobby, as I hadn't eaten in about seventeen hours and was about to start chewing on the stroller. Greyfriars Bobby is a historic pub named after a little Skye terrier who guarded his master's grave for 14 years until his own death; he was then buried with his master in the kirkyard next door. Now, people bring sticks to leave on his grave (cue tears). 




I didn't expect much out of the food, but it was delicious! I had a chicken and portobello pie with truffle, covered in savory gravy, as well as mash and some fried halloumi (fried halloumi is all over Scotland and let me tell you, I am all about it. Especially with sweet chili dipping sauce). 


Once fortified, we continued our walk around the city, taking in the somber beauty of Greyfriars Kirkyard (if you're a Harry Potter fan, JK Rowling apparently got Tom Riddle's name there) and then winding down colorful Victoria Street (the alleged inspiration for Diagon Alley, but of course interesting in its own historic right). 




On the way back to the hotel to get ready for dinner, we stopped at a Chandon popup garden, where Elowen discovered (and was a big fan of) swinging chairs. 




I did not take any pictures of dinner, as we ate at shellfish place for Taylor and thus I had steak and disappointment. (The steak was good, but I really wanted another pie. Elowen had a good time, though, and the ladies at the table next to us fed her apple slices from their cheeseboard.)





 

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