Hello again! Sorry haven't updated in awhile. I've been busy with work and life. Anyway, as promised, here is my two-part series on my last summer trip to Scotland.
Scotland is a mysterious, enchanting, culturally rich, and breathtaking land to visit. I never imagined I would ever visit this place, but I was fortunate to travel there while I was staying in England. From London Kings Cross St. Pancreas Station, I took a train to Edinburgh. My roundtrip ticket cost £
64.50 (around $97). The trip took around 4 hours and it was pretty comfortable (e.g. free wifi, electronic sockets, soft seats, nice views). Since we left early, I took a nice nap on the way. During the train ride, I imagined Scotland to consist of only Braveheart lore, the Royal Mile, haggis, bagpipes, and whisky, but I soon realized that it was much more than that.
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| Train ticket to Scotland |
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| London King's Cross Station |
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| London King's Cross Station |
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| London King's Cross Station |
I arrived at Waverley Railway Station in Edinburgh which was right at the heart of this ancient and robust city.
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| Edinburgh Waverely Station |
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| Edinburgh Waverely Station |
After navigating through the station, I went up the stairs to the street level and climbed the steep stone steps through a "close" onto the famous "Royal Mile."
The Famous Royal Mile:
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| Entrance to the Royal Mile |
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| Steps to the Royal Mile |
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| Royal Mile |
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| Royal Mile |
It was amazing to finally walk the famous Edinburgh Royal Mile after seeing it on so many travel shows. This historic street cuts through the heart of the Old Town which is lined with cafes, pubs, restaurants, souvenir shops, and museums. When you walk down the cobblestone streets, you feel like you stepped back in time as pass by baroque style facades and imposing stone structures. It seemed quieter than most major cities I've seen which makes it more quaint and intriguing. The day I arrived it rained most of the day so I was only able to grab a snack at a pie shop and visit the famous St. Giles Cathedral.
St. Giles was built in the 1300s and has a living active congregation. It has survived through the centuries and was restored in the 19th century during area construction work. It served under the Reformist John Knox during the 16th Century. It's crown shaped steeple is an architectural marvel for its engineering and aesthetics.
St. Giles Cathedral (exterior and interior):
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| Stained glass windown |
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| Central nave |
The next day, I visited the famous Edinburgh Castle. The iconic castle overlooks the city upon a monolithic volcanic rock. It has been a royal castle from the 12th and continued until the 17th century. The castle is rich with history and has witnessed centuries of rule, sieges, and important events. If you plan on visiting it, I suggest you go early to beat the crowds and to fully enjoy it. The castle is huge and there are many sites and museums within it's walls so plan on spending a half day there. I was lucky that there was a special ceremony to celebrate Prince Philip (husband of Queen Elizabeth II). I witnessed a gun salute and marching band which was amazing despite the rainy weather that day.
Edinburgh Castle:
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| William Wallace (Braveheart) |
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| Robert The Bruce |
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| Gun Salute for Prince Philip |
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| Attendees of Prince Philip's Celebration |
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| Scottish Band |
After the castle, went to Deacon Brodie's tavern to finally try Haggis! So haggis is one of the famous traditional Scottish dishes. It is comprised of minced sheep heart, lungs, and liver that is stuffed with oats, onions, and spices which is then stuffed into a sheep stomach and is boiled for a few hours. It is usually accompanied by neeps (boiled turnips) and tatties (boiled potatoes). I've always seen this dish on various travel shows and I just had to try it! Surprisingly, it did not taste gamey at all..the blend of spices and oats gave it a delicious hearty and nutty flavor. I ordered the appetizer portion because I wanted to try it first, but I wish I had ordered the full portion because it was very tasty and delicious! I drank a traditional hard cider to wash it down. What a perfect meal in Scotland!
Haggis Meal Pictures:
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| Haggis, neeps, & tatties |
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| Haggis, neeps, & tatties |
After lunch I was craving something sweet so I tried the famous fried mars bar that is believed to be invented in Scotland.
Found this chip shop named "Clam Shell" which served the gooey treat.
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| Fried Mars Bar |
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Fried Mars Bar
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After lunch, strolled further down the Royal Mile to see other famous sites.
John Knox's House:
The Famous World's End Pub:
Scottish Parliament Building:
HolyroodHouse (Official Royal Residence of the Queen in Scotland):
Overall, Edinburgh was one of the most unique cities I've visited in the UK. It has preserved its culture and history through it's ancient buildings, scenic highlands, and warm hospitality. I was genuinely impressed with the the old world charm and hope to explore more cities in Northern Scotland.
Stay tuned for my next post on Glasgow which will wrap up my two-part series on Scotland!
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Cheers!!
