Here is the final Eurotrip post on Edinburgh and London. I like to do things in chronological order so with this out of the way, I can begin my posts on South Africa. Today we went into one of the townships to see what one of the volunteer opportunities would be like, and then I walked around campus trying to figure out the most confusing registration process in the world. Without further ado, here is my final post on Europe:
I got into Edinburgh around 9:30 but didn't leave the airport until 10 since I had to use pamphlets to find a bus that would take me into the city. I looked at a map of Edinburgh before I left the airport and tried to memorize the way to Abby's. With all the study abroad packing and preparing, I forgot to plan my transportation. When I got there, I found a map in the main train station and found what I thought was Abby's street on the map. Turn's out there's a St. John's St and St. John's Hill and I mixed the two up. Long story short, I didn't get to Abby's until 12 and wandered around her neighborhood with 2 bags and a backpack before I found it. I probably should have just gotten a taxi but after my walk through her neighborhood I got to know the area pretty well and by the time I left Edinburgh, I knew how to get around most of the city center.
The next day I woke up at 1:30pm, pretty much sleeping off the last week of barely sleeping. I headed to the info center and picked up a map and tips on what to do. I headed towards the Queen's Palace but it ended up being closed by the time I got there around 3:30pm so I went into Parliament across the street (which I had originally thought was an apartment building from the architecture). I caught the last tour of the building which was beautiful. I wish I could have taken pictures of the inside but we couldn't take any on the tour. The building opened in 2002 (after reinstating Scottish Parliament in 1999) and is built around the house where the original person responsible for getting rid of the Spanish parliament a few centuries before lived. It fit into the modern building well and now serves as offices.
After the tour, I had about an hour or so before dinner with Abby's flatmates so I climbed up Colton Hill. By the time I got there it was pretty dark but the monument and tower were lit up and it had wonderful views of the city. I got Chicken & Leek Pie which is like chicken pot pie but the pie part was just on top of the liquidy chicken part (it was still delicious and began my streak of great dinners that has yet to end). Afterwards, I went on one of Edinburgh's cemetery tours. It was a gimmick but I thought it might be fun nonetheless. It turned out to basically be a street performance with a lot of history thrown in (some true, some not so true).
Sunday I went to Craigmiller Castle, just a bus ride outside the city. It offered a beautiful view of Edinburgh and Arthur's Seat and had lots of cool inner rooms. I became a master here at the 10 second timer camera shot (even in two places at once). The castle took up most the day and I headed back to meet Abby who was finally coming back from her homestay.
We reunited at an internet cafe where I attempted to video chat unsuccessfully with my family for the first time since I got there. Then, we went to dinner at a restaurant on the royal mile and ate a traditional scottish meal for Burn's Night called Haggis, which was absolutely delicious. After dinner, we went to a pub to meet some of Abby's friends from her program (Arcadia). A bagpiper came in since it was Burn's Night and played for 5 minutes and then left. We headed back to Abby's somewhat early since we had a big day ahead of us.
In the morning we set off to climb Arthur's Seat before our trip to Sterling. On our way we grabbed breakfast at the Queen's Palace Cafe (somehow I don't think that's where she eats when she's in town) and then walked to the path up the mountain. It was quite a hike and we weren't entirely sure we were actually hiking to Arthur's seat as there were a few hills. It took us about an hour and a half but we made it to the top of Arthur's seat with a breathtaking view of the surroundings. After about 15 minutes at the top, we began our descent as we wanted to make it to Sterling in time to see the castle. It took us much less time to get down and we caught a cab at the bottom so we could make the bus which left only every hour. We got there just as it was leaving but ended up catching a train which ran every half hour and was much nicer anyways (and still cheap).
After an hour long train ride, we found our way into Sterling's town center and had lunch at a sandwich place. As we were eating, Abby spotted a friend from camp just walking by. We all walked up the road to the enormous Sterling Castle. It was already almost 4 and it closed at 5, so we didn't get to fully experience the castle. We still managed to learn a few things from a quick tour and see about half the castle. It was the largest castle in Scotland, so I'd say that half was pretty good. We took the train back and found dinner on Rose Street at a pub, not as good as last night's dinner but still very hearty. We went back to Abby's to plan out the rest of the night, but ended up chilling there while I planned my day in London.
I left at 6:30 to catch the same bus I'd taken from the airport before (this time I knew the quickest way there). The plane was uneventful, and after stowing my bags I headed over to the meeting spot I had setup for people who wanted to go into London. I found another CIEE student, Maria, who happened to be from Chicago waiting there and after waiting for a bit to see if anyone else came, went off on the tube to London. We got off at Buckingham Palace and took the obligatory picture in front of the gates. The place was incredible and it's mind boggling how one family can live in such a massive structure. I was a little disappointed that the guards were so far away, since every time you see people trying to make them laugh in the movies they're right at the gate.
We walked through St. James Park where there were many odd looking birds and arrived on the other side at the Imperial War Museum. This is the bunker where Churchill and his cabinet conducted World War II. It was incredible not only to learn about it but to actually be in the place the events took place. We ended up spending over two hours there and then emerged to find our way to Westminster. We passed by Westminster Abbey but did not pay the extra fee to go inside. Then, we walked by Westminster (Parliament) and right by Big Ben. It turns out only British citizens can get a tour of Big Ben and only after writing to their member of Parliament.
Across the bridge, was the London Eye which though I'm sure would have offered a great view of the city (being the tallest ferris wheel in the world), it was too expensive and the lines were way too long. We hopped on the subway from their and rode to Tower Bridge, where the Tower of London (a castle housing the crown jewels is located). This castle looked even bigger than Sterling Castle in Scotland and I only wish we had had time to go inside. Instead, we walked to the Tower Bridge where we paid to go up to the pedestrian walkways and see the exhibit on the bridge. It was well worth it for the views alone, and was much cheaper than the London Eye would have been. After the bridge exhibit, it was time to go.
At the gate, we met many CIEE students (and some other UCT students) and waited in the long line to get onto the plane. Though Maria had thought that South African Airlines was supposed to be nice, it was far from it and to make matters worse the flight was completely booked. The highlight of the trip was when I was looking through my pictures and adding captions, the woman I was sitting next to was trying to figure out what I was doing. I explained it to her, but she still didn't understand and with all seriousness asked in a hushed voice, "are you a spy?"
You are probably the first person in the history of the world to describe haggis as absolutely delicious. :)
ReplyDeleteWas that a statue of a man at the top of the mountain of was that you perched on the base?