Pretty Edinburgh: Even Colder

Winters in Sydney are not cold, they are quite mild in comparison to the chilly climates of the far north. Arriving in Scotland's capital city this morning, we discovered that it was colder in Edinburgh than in Glasgow.

We walked up to Edinburgh Castle, which Lonely Planet suggests is a good first stop in a visit. As castles go (and I haven't experienced that many yet), it was not bad. Plenty of cannons, stones, crags, parapets and views to satisfy me. There are still soldiers living and working within the castle today. We joined a guided tour early on and we were glad that we did. The tour guide Paul led us on an informative and amusing journey through the history and significance of various parts of the castle. After it ended, we listened to a story about Mary, Queen of Scots in the Great Hall. Viewing a few more of the sights in the castle, including the Scottish crown jewels, we watched the daily firing of the cannon. Loud and drew a crowd.

Hungry from the cold and our exercise, we left the castle and searched for food along the Royal Mile. After rejecting some pricey choices, we found a wee deli/cafe that was reasonably priced.

Back towards the New Town, we walked the streets and ended up back at the Scott Monument (for Sir Walter Scott) in the park where a German style Christmas markets was set up, along with rides. My friends went to the Scottish National Gallery for a look-in, while I spent a while longer in the markets.

Met up and after a few more detours, we bought a bag of roasted chestnuts which we consumed on the train ride back. I like British trains. Roomy, comfortable and frequent, they also have seats with tables and a refreshments trolley.

Back at the apartment, we made dinner and prepared for tomorrow's activities. We saw a fox on the walk home too.

Although Edinburgh is picturesque and I'd like to return to Stirling one day, I'm glad we picked Glasgow for this trip. Next time I come to Scotland, I'd like to explore more of the country as well, especially in the Highlands. It's a nice country and folk here have wicked accents.