Edinburgh, Scotland - #1
Hooked on Scotland for Life
Hi there! It’s good to see you here.
This photo is exactly where I am now—an uphill climb to see as much of the world as possible. Yet, some places capture me instantly when I arrive. Edinburgh, the city and its people, is one of those. While I tend to write short posts with photos, this one is a longer read with even more pictures and will be in several parts.
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My daughter and I decided to visit Scotland. I knew I needed a month but only had a week because of our schedules. At first, our plans involved a rental car and too many stops until I realized I only wanted to see Edinburgh on this first trip. Thanks to my daughter, we enjoyed our trip, and I hope to return to a different location in Scotland at least every other year.
The city exceeded my expectations. Why? I felt immediately at home. If you’ve read my other posts, you know that a city’s vibes either make it for me or not. I have no idea why I feel the energy in things, people, and places, but I do. Edinburgh, for me, is calm and reassuring. Not so in London (as I will discuss in a later post), where we’d just left. There, I feel discombobulated. My brain hears English being spoken but doesn’t feel at home. I anticipated the same thing in Scotland, but thankfully, it didn’t happen.
Arrival - Edinburgh Waverley Train Station
We took the train from London into Edinburgh Waverley, in the city's heart. The station is magnificent, and I was too excited to take a photo, so I’ve linked you to Google Images for the interior of the station.
Looking at the bus routes and with tips from our apartment host, we decided to walk to our apartment. I’m glad we did. Here are some scenes along the way.
Where We Stayed - Marchmont near The Meadows
Our Airbnb had a lot of light, even on a somewhat gloomy day like the one above. Our flat had two bedrooms and two baths, with windows in both bedrooms, a necessity for us both. We had a pleasant morning visitor every day who watched us eat breakfast. The apartment was stocked with things to eat related to Scotland, a nice touch.
Our hosts at the apartment we rented in Marchmont were fabulous, providing transportation tips and suggestions for food, even meeting with us to have a beer and a chat and answer all my questions. (I cannot get Scottish citizenship because of UK rules. They don’t like older adults, it seems.)
The Meadows
The Meadows is a large park near the University of Edinburgh. The paths through the garden were the easiest way to reach most places we decided to see daily. Edinburgh has a decent enough bus service, but we used our feet to take it slow and see the city center on this first trip.
We were in the city the week after Fringe, the year of a garbage workers’ strike, and our Airbnb hosts were apologetic about the city's look. Having frequented New York City, I was surprised at how clean this city was, even amid a garbage strike. All the people, whether tourists or residents, kept the garbage in the taped-off areas with signage, and the rest of the city was kept clean.
Arthur’s Seat
Our landlord insisted we could not visit Edinburgh without a trip to Holyrood Park and a hike up to Arthur’s Seat. Up to the challenge (well, my daughter more than me), we set out for the hike up the hill the next day. It was worth it for the scenery alone.
The Palace and The Castle
If you’ve never been to Edinburgh, the main downtown area with tourist attractions is easy to wander. We began at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and walked up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle, stopping in shops after lunch in a small cafe, then visiting one of the cathedrals.
Even with the level of tourists at the end of the Fringe, it was a pleasant walk without the usual hassle of packed streets and impatient tourists. Maybe Edinburgh calms others, not just me.
You can head to the next Edinburgh post (in a week) to wander through the neighborhoods with me or to the Home Page in Substack to find other places I’ve been here.
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