Scotland

So the Scotland trip didn´t go exactly as planned but it still turned out well. I was absolutely devasted on Tuesday evening after a phone call from my family saying that due to obscene weather conditions in England, mainly excessive snow and a salt shortage, they wouldn´t be able to make the treacherous drive to Edinburgh to meet J and I. I cried, I yelled, then I accepted it. So J and I prepared for a romantic getaway in freezing cold Scotland! We arrived finally on Thursday evening, to intense cold. I know I am from Chicago but really, I am just a huge wuss and can´t handle cold weather at all. We caught a bus to the center of town, the Airlink 100, quite easy really. We then walked to our B and B, called ´Broughton House´. Super cute, family owned, 6 room bed and breakfast, on 37 broughton place. We settled into our tiny but clean and charming room. PERKS were that it had one of those electric water heaters, and also tea, coffee and biscuits in the room which is a huge plus for me. Accesibilty to free coffee and tea makes Lori a happy girl.

Since we were starving, we immediately went to eat. On a recommendation from the B and B owner, we went to a place a few blocks away, rightfully called ´The Basement´. We started with two Grolsh beers, which I actually love, even though I am not a beer fan. We had hummus to start and then J and I shared two plates, a beef burrito and some kind of parmesan chicken in a tomatoe, kidney bean, and sausage sauce. The food was amazing and afterwards we called it a night.

Friday we woke up at 8 to catch the free Scottish breakfast in the B and B. It was DELICIOUS, and included eggs, beans, tomato, pudding, canadian bacon, sausage, toast, coffee, juice, yogurt, and more. Then we braved the upward trek to the Edinburgh Castle. The castle was 11 pounds each to enter which I initially thought was a rip off but once I entered I realized it was like entering an entire city! Antique building after building, dungeons, prisions, musuems with swords, jewels, crowns, men in kilts,crazy panoramic views of the city, canons, historical stories, etc...we prob spent about 3 hours there. Well worth the money I would definately say, and unlike any other castle I have seen. (Well really I´ve seen one in Wales, which was in ruins, and a few in spain, its not like I am super versed in castle viewing, but whatever, it was cool haha).

Following the castle we started the walk down the Royal Mile. Of course, in following my typical error of style in front of practicability, I was wearing completely inappropiate boots which were instantly soaked, making me concerned about the possible future of having to amputate my frozen toes...I was rather uncomfortable, to say the least but I treked on. We then stopped at St. Giles, the cathedral, which was very pretty, rather dark and looming but I enjoyed it. We stopped here and there in little where I bought postcards, a calender, J bought a hat...typical stuff. We then stopped for a soup and sandwich at Deacon Cafe, which was yummy. It also used to be the workshop of a man with the last name Deacon, who apparently was the inspiration for the book, ´Dr. Jekeyl and Mr. Hyde´, which I found interesting. We roamed for a bit, got lost in a good way, and ended up on Prince St., where we attempted to find me rain or snow boots, with no luck. We then headed back to the hotel and found a fabulous used bookstore, where I bought about 10 books in english. I was thrilled, each book was either 1 or 1.50 pounds, and I spoke briefly with the owner. He said all the books are donated, hes austistic, owns and runs the shop himself and donates any extra profit at the end of the year to a foundation to help autistic children, a nice story. Then I found a couple vintage shops which of course bored J to tears while I anxiously searched through the racks. I ended up finding the most ridic rain boots, bright yellow and covered in sunflowers at the strangest store. I got a free bag with the boots, this weird handsewn thing, I can´t even explain it, but in any case I was obsessed with it. J and I headed back to the B and B to change and warm up a bit, then we decided (ha well I decided) on Indian for dinner.

We went to ´Passage to India´which was pretty good, not the best I have had but good. I got chicken curry, and J chicken chasti tanti or somethign like that...not as spicey as I would have liked but for J it was good as he can´t handle the spice.

Moving on to Saturday...another delicious breakfast at the B and B...I had scrambled egs, and J a small fish called kippers, i think its sort of similar to sardines maybe? Anyway we then were so tired from eating so much we actually went back to sleep until about 11 haha, then we finally got our lay asses out of bed and headed to Carlton Hill. Its a snowly, hilly park that originated from volcanic rock. Up there they have several monuments included a famous canon from Portugal, a fake Greek temple, and more. There is a gorgeous view of the city, the castle and Arthur´s Seat, which is a famous mountaintop peak. As much as I despise snow the city was really beautiful all snowy and it was fun running around the park, especially since I had my new waterproof boots on...I was invincible lol. Then we headed back down into the city and got lunch, I found us a Pret a Manger which is my favorite sandwich spot in NYC! It is actually from the UK though. J and I got sandwiches and soup and then headed to the Scotch Whiskey brewery for a tour.

The tour was actually really cool, you sit in these giant barrels and go around a track, literally like an amusement park ride, and see and hear all about how the whiskey is fermented and distilled and everything. After the ´ride´ we saw a movie and a presentation on the whiskey. It was pretty interesting, apparently there are several kinds of whiskey. There is single malt whiskey which primarily comes from 4 different scotland regions. The highlands, the lowlands, isley, and one more I can´t remember. Anyway each one has a different base, for example in the lowlands the base is more fruity, in isley its more smokey, leatherish, taste, etc etc. You smell the ´smell´it comes from and pick which one to taste. So I picked the fruit one, bc I liked the smell best. J picked the one from the Highlands, the one with the sugarly, cinniamon, cookie smelling base. Anyway apparently single malt whiskey only accounts for 10 percent of the whiskey sold in the world, the most popular is blended whiskey, which is the single malt whiskey mixed with the grain whiskey. This accounts for the other 90 percent of whiskey sold. So learned the way to evaluate the whiskey, eg, color (lighter means its been distilled for less time), body, smell etc. Then we tasted. I for one find whiskey disgusting so I didn´t like it but the experience was good. J drank the rest of mine! Then we went into this room that has the largest collection of whiskey bottles ever made. Over 1000 different ones. Then you get a free whiskey glass and thats it. It was 11.50 pounds each which I thought was a bit pricey but you do get a free glass and the tasting so it was fun.

After this we got a well needed coffee and strolled around til we found a spot I had been looking for, a pub called Sandy Bells. 25 Forrest Rd is the address. I heard of this place through one of my fave TV shoes, ´Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown´on the travel channel. I forced many a roommate to watch this with me, its basically a lady, Samantha (ahem sorry to say I heart her but could totally do a WAY better job being a tour guide, she basically has my dream job) that takes you to different European cities, and guides you around. I remembered seeing her Edinburgh episode (unforgettable, she flirts with an 70 year old dude in a kilt) and so I found it online and rewatched before I came here. Anyway she goes to this place, Sandy Bells, to have a whiskey or beer and listen to live Scottish folk music. So we went, and heard live scottish folk music and it was so fun. I will try and post a video of it. It sounds like Celtic Irish Jig music or something, there were 2 fiddles, 2 black flutes (I know these have a special name but I can´t remember what it is) and a guitar. It was so fun actually I am really glad we went. I had two thirds of a thick Scottish Ale called Caledonian, it was literally so filling J had to finish mine! Then we grabbed burgers and chips (wasn´t in the mood for fish and chips!) and Carlsberg was on special so 2 of those, and finally made it back to the hotel. J and I were exhausted. There is something about this cold cold weather that makes me want to nothing else but drink hot tea and shortbread cookies in bed. And thats exactly what I am doing right now as I write this. Tomorrow we have the day here and then our flight is at 6 pm. More updates to come!!!

Fast foward...Sunday...more delicious Scottish breakfast, and then we checked out of the B and B, leaving our luggage downstairs. We first started off with a new walk that we hadn´t done, and ended up seeing the Holyrood Palace, which is the palace where the Queen stays when she visits. It´s really pretty from the outside, we didn´t tour the inside but it was nice to see. Then we got a giant coffee from Starbucks, sat down for a bit to warm up from our walk and planned the rest of our day. We then headed to the National Gallery of Scotland. It was a small art museum, mostly baroque art, religous stuff. They had a very small impressionist room, which I loved, with a couple painting´s from Monet (including one of my all time favorite Monet collection, the haystacks!) a Van Gogh, Degas, Gaugin, Cezanne, and a Pissarro. It was a small museum, we probably saw the whole place in about an hour, hour and a half. Then we went for one final pub lunch, a sunday roast! Mmm roast chicken and gravy, potatoes, veggies, yum. The place was called Conan Doyle, after the famous author of Sherlocke Holmes.

All in all, it was freezing cold and I didn´t get to see my fam but Edinburgh was absolutely gorgeous, in my opinion, and practically magical in the snow. Again, hate snow but it truly is a phenomenal city with alot of life, despite the weather.