After we said goodbye to our new friends at Edinburgh Waverly station, we made the very short walk to where we’re staying at the Balmoral Hotel. It’s a landmark hotel, and here’s an amusing little fact about the place: it has a clock tower that’s kept two minutes fast to encourage its guests to be on time to catch their train. Isn’t that considerate?
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| Home sweet punctual home. For two days anyway. |
We checked in very quickly, and everyone was very nice and courteous. And I’m not just saying that because we got upgraded to an executive suite without even asking. The room is huge with high ceilings so it feels even bigger, and we were welcomed with French peaches and a nice welcome note.
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| Is X Factor on yet? |
After dropping off our things, we decided to head east to Holyroodhouse Palace. Initial first impression of Edinburgh: it’s much more dramatic than London. There are views of the mountains with all these crags, and Old Town isn’t flat, which makes for some amazing scenes just looking down the street. All the streets are still cobbled. There are a lot fewer people here than in London, and the general air is just a lot less hurried. Is it bad if I say that I love it more than London? It’s definitely got an air of history tinged with a bit of melancholy.
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| Our first sunset in Edinburgh. |
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| Looking East down Royal Mile. |
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| A Close off the Royal Mile. Narrow and steep. |
On our way to Holyroodhouse, we passed by John Knox’s House and this really breathtaking cemetery. J was a bit leery of hanging out in a cemetery, the big chicken, but it’s incredibly old and amazingly beautiful. Even though it’s smack dab in the middle of the city, it had this really peaceful air about it. We also passed by Scottish Parliament, a building that was supposed to cost 40 mil, but ended up a 500 mil fiasco. The building is weird and different and kind of cool. J says it’s freaking funky. I guess it’s Edinburgh’s version of the Gherkin.
We finally made it to Holyroodhouse, and it was around 20 pounds for the two of us. It’s pretty cheap if you compare it to London’s sightseeing prices, and even better since it included a free audio tour. They allow photography outside of the palace, but it’s a no-no once you’re indoors.
I was in awe while in the chambers of Mary, Queen of Scots. I’ve read so much about her that she’s almost become a fictional character to me, and it was surreal standing in the rooms where she lived. The interior was pretty interesting, but it was the Abbey that truly impressed. It’s in ruins, and we got to really appreciate the place since it was practically deserted. There’s this feeling of peace and solitude that you can’t really get in most tourist spots since you’re jostling for space with the other tourists. I can’t emphasize enough how much being there with so few people changed the feel of the place. And it made it that much easier to get some pictures in.
We ended the visit with a stroll around the well-manicured garden, and we exited to the gift shop where we bought a Christmas ornament in the shape of a bear wearing the regalia of a Scottish guard. Its something that J and I like to do – buy Christmas ornaments from the different places that we visit. I love Christmas and traveling, so it’s the perfect match. At the end of the day today, I would say I really, really love Edinburgh. I hope I feel the same after tomorrow.
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| Coming to a Christmas near you... |
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