DAY 40: SCOTLAND!!!!

Sunday morning, we got to the station at 8AM to catch an 8:40 train to Edinburgh, Scotland (pronounced EDIN- BURRA- roll the R’s a little- you MUST say it right!). I fell asleep for a couple hours on and off but the train had several delays and the trip ended up taking longer than anticipated. I spent a good amount of time on the way there writing blog updates from my massive loss of momentum.  Every now and then I’d get distracted by the gorgeous scenery flying by – rolling hills, stone cottages, fields of sheep, cliffs and the sea. Six and a half hours later we arrived in Edinburgh, delayed about one and a half hours. 

The train station is right in the middle of the city. As soon as we walked out of the station we dropped everything, including our jaws, and took in the city. I can’t even describe how beautiful that city is. It was built around 7 huge hills, and the train station lies in a valley with huge, gorgeous buildings all around it, and on the farthest hill- Ediburgh Castle. Aside from the modern cars and dress of the people, you’d really think you were transported back in time.

We were totally starving after the long train ride so priority one was finding food. A little Italian place was calling our names! Then we took a cab to our hotel. We were able to get a discount on our hotel from Jeni’s mom.  There were two Marriott’s to chose from , a modern one in the heart of Edinburgh and one a little outside the city that resembled a mini-castle. We chose the mini-castle. It ended up being further outside the city than anticipated. It was about a £20 per cab ride to get to the hotel, but it was in the middle of rolling green hills and was completely quiet and worth the commute. It was really nice to get out of the city for a bit.

After checking in and dropping out stuff on in the “castle”, we headed back out to the Edinburgh to explore and meet up with Sam. He was only enrolled for the 5 week program and left London with his parents Saturday to travel around the UK before going back home. We went to a place called the Grass Market, where there were a bunch of bars and restaurants.

Whitney, Jeni and I had the brilliant idea of doing a “world tour”… We had lunch in an Italian restaurant, and started our evening in an Irish pub. After a round in “Ireland” we went next door to Mariachi, a Mexican restaurant where we enjoyed chips and salsa and the best strawberry margaritas ever. Leaving Mariachi, we ran into Sam and his parents leaving dinner. He joined our International pub crawl and we went to a more traditional English pub. From there we went to another Irish pub where Whitney was “salsa-ed” around the dance floor to live traditional Irish music. We hung out there for a while before going to church converted into a club. Sam really enjoyed the lasers at that club. The last stop of the night was another dance club where we claimed a couch and people watched.

It was such a great night, probably one of the most fun nights I’ve ever had.

Scotland bound!

Scenery from the train

One of the first things we saw leaving the station... a guy playing bag pipes

lunch!

Our mini-castle hotel - the Dalmahoy Marriot

The room

Our sweeping views

Grass Market- where are the pubs and bars are

Up the hill from grass market - more bars!

another view up the hill ... we walked this MANY times

Hotel Missoni - as in the Italian fashion house Missoni

The wonderful doormen in their Missoni Kilts

Interior of the Hotel Missoni - see the fashion show playing in the mirror?

The Royal Mile

Edinburgh Castle

All of the buildings looked like this- amazing

First stop of the evening (second stop on our "world tour") - Ireland!
Finnegans's Wake Irish Pub

2 Cider & black (black currant liqour)  please!
CHEERS!

Next stop, MEXICO!

Amazing guac, and the most delicious strawberry margaritas ever

Stop number 3- now you see it...

... now you don't!

Last stop of the evening.. must have been number 6? Sam, Whitney and Jeni

Whitney, Jeni & I  - probably laughing about "joutfit"