Edinburgh

May 5th

Our final moving day has arrived. We were headed to our last destination on this trip, Edinburgh. We packed up and left the apartment at 10:20 AM and walked with our bags through the now familiar route towards Central Station. We skipped the usual fish and chips and had breakfast at Wetherspoons, the same chain that we found on the morning we were leaving Oban. This was the restaurant, and probably the only one in the country, with free refills on coffee. 

After breakfast we walked the rest of the way to Queen’s Station where we boarded the 12:15 train to Waverly station in Edinburgh. It was a short 45-minute train ride. Exiting the platform was almost magical, it was like we had been transported back in time. We were on a bit of a hill and in every direction were many of the same majestic looking structures that have welcomed visitors to the city for hundreds of years. 

Edinburgh is Scotland's compact, hilly capital. It has a medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Looming over the city is Edinburgh Castle, home to Scotland’s crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny, used in the coronation of English and Scottish rulers. Arthur’s Seat is an imposing peak in Holyrood Park with sweeping views, and Calton Hill is topped with monuments and memorials.

The Royal Mile is the busiest tourist street in the Old Town, rivalled only by Princes Street in the New Town. The Royal Mile runs between two significant locations in the royal history of Scotland: Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. The name derives from it being the traditional processional route of monarchs, with a total length of approximately one Scots mile, a now obsolete measurement measuring 1.81km.  

Last time we were here was just after the queen passed and the day we planned to visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace they were closed for the funeral. We bought tickets to the castle in advance and feared it would be closed again due to the king’s coronation. We had no idea when the coronation would be when we booked our trip and the chances that both trips land on first the funeral of the queen and then the coronation of the king is quite remarkable. We didn’t know what to expect but we were hopeful to see the castle and palace this time.

We easily found a very friendly taxi driver that delivered us right to the door of our next apartment. We were in a residential area and away from the main tourist section of the city, yet not too far. The Royal Mile and the main tourist area was only about a 20 minute walk.

The first impression of the apartment was certainly different than the prior one in some fancy new high-rise building overlooking the modern structures in Glasgow. This place was only on the second floor in an obviously very old building and directly on top of a café. We caught a faint smell of grease as we entered which wasn't too bad but did leave a constant impression that the kitchen was well used. The bathroom and kitchen had been remodeled and were very nice and comfortable. The rest of the place was sparsely furnished, had an older feel to it but I love it! Reminded me of an apartment I leased in Chicago many years back. The bedrooms were upstairs along with a little private office space. 

There was grocery store right next door, loads of ethnic restaurants just steps away, a movie theater (no more expensive movies on this trip!), a performing arts theater (under renovation), an ATM just out the door, bus stop right in front of the apartment, gelato shop and bakery next door… just absolutely anything anyone would want all within a block or two. Our apartment was upstairs, but the entrance was between a barber shop and a flower shop. Two blocks to the east is a very large community park called The Meadows. A little better furniture and décor and I could live here. Oh and a computer repair shop two blocks over where I could work. But no, I’m not considering relocating…yet.

After we settled in a bit we walked over to the Meadows. It was a beautiful sunny day and the locals were out enjoying it. The park was full of joggers, picnickers and parents taking their kids and their pets out to enjoy the unusually beautiful weather. The paths through the park were lined with cherry trees in full bloom. On the way back to the apartment we stopped to eat at a Thai restaurant and chatted with the very outgoing and friendly owner. Other restaurants just a few steps from our place are multiple Indian restaurants, African, Nepalese, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish and Greek and it keeps going. So many exciting options. Oh and of course a fish and chips shop the next block over. 

We stayed in tonight and was hoping for an exciting day tomorrow although not quite sure what to anticipate. It was coronation day for King Charles and we were headed to Edinburgh castle. We stopped at the grocery store next door and bought our coronation day snacks. A special coronation edition ‘Regal Lamb and Mint’ potato chips and coronation day Cadbury chocolate. Along with a cider, we were ready to celebrate.