Getting to Know Edinburgh

After running around the Highlands, we got up the next morning and took a train to Pitlochry to meet family friends. We ended up sitting with this woman from Australia who is living out of her backpack. We had a really interesting conversation. In Pitlochry, we had a lovely time walking around the farm, and we got back to the train station in time for our train, but we didn't get on because the train said Glasgow! There was apparently a transfer in Perth. So we spent an hour at the train station and ended up talking to a mother and daughter from the US for the hour and for the two hours on the train. So that was really nice.

When got back to Edinburgh, we met up with a girl from the US who is studying for 4 years here. For dinner we met with some friends of cousins, which was also really nice. My mom and grandfather set up meeting with contacts in Scotland so I would know some people, which makes me feel a lot more comfortable moving here.

The next day we got up early to explore again! We got up early to climb Arthur's Seat. It turned out to be almost an hour walk from where we were staying to the base of the mountain, and then it took an hour to go all the way up and down.

The view from Arthur's Seat is amazing, but every time you go up higher the view gets even better.

Finally we got to the tippity top!

And the way down was even more beautiful! It's crazy that this is all right in the middle of Edinburgh.

At the bottom there is a nice pond with a bunch of swans.

Then we went right by the Palace of the Holyroodhouse.

And right across from the Palace is the controversial Scottish Parliament Building. 

Then we went through a cemetery on the way to Calton Hill.

Below is a very famous view of the city from Calton Hill. 

Then we walked to Princes Street.

Then we went to the Grassmarket for lunch.

After all that walking, I felt like I really knew where everything is in Edinburgh and I really love it here!