I was seeing London for a month, but totally cheating on her. I couldn’t resist the Sloandog Millionaire challenge in Wales, and Paris was peacocking across the pond. Then, I found out that Jim and Shauna Finn were going to Edinburgh, Scotland and once again, I was leaving London for another city.
Remote Year Heleri told me that “Edinburgh is a magical, fairy tale little city.” The art and architecture is medieval & charming and the sound of bagpipes mixed with seagulls is omnipresent.
Did you know that Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn, since the late 1300s? They believed that the unicorn was the natural enemy of the lion, and had the strength to defeat lions, and even elephants. The Scots love myths, legends and lore!
Also, did you know that much of the Harry Potter books were written by JK Rowling in Edinburgh? Jim and Shauna are huge fans and visited the Elephant Cafe.
Edinburgh is a coastal city with a maritime climate. Grey skies are par for the course. (Get it, golf reference? ~Golf was invented in Scotland)
But, the cloudy grey backdrop compliments the faded stone buildings that are covered by a layer of bright green moss.
One of the first things we did when we arrived, was wander up to Calton Hill, which is the headquarters of the Scottish Government, and features several impressive monuments and structures that shine bright in front of the gorgeous cityscape backdrop. Another amazing photo spot.
We also hiked Sir Arthur’s Seat, the main mountain near the city center that provides panoramic views of the entire city. (Including Calton Hill)
This is a short hike (~45-60 mins to the peak), and a must-do for any tourist. It's a pretty easy hike, with only a little rockiness near the top.
Shauna and Jim
We timed our hike to culminate with sunset at the peak, but the fog and rain rolled in and killed my photo game. Or, it made the photos more ominous and therefore better? Still a sweet trek.
David McLaughlin, loungin' at the top.
David McLaughlin, peakin'. The other people were trying to get out of my photo opp...I told them not to worry, but they insisted on trying to duck.
A Little Fairy Tale City, Edinburgh - Part 2 features the National Gallery of Scotland, Greyfriars Kirkland Cemetary and the famous Edinburgh Castle. Stay tuned...
If you'd like to see my favorite snaps from the trip, check them out on Facebook.