Miguel and I were in Scotland for two months. We stayed around the Edinburgh (Ed-in-burr-ah) area in little towns like Penicuik and West Linton but Edinburgh itself was a great city. The city isn't a vast, spread out city like LA. In fact, it was one of the first cities within Europe to build up instead of out. Edinburgh is a walkable city. A walk around town among the black spires and cobbled streets through Scotland's greenery makes for a pleasant day. Walking around Edinburgh can tone your glutes with its many stairs and gradual inclines. No wonder I saw some nice buns among the young!
On our first visit to Edinburgh, we walked about and took pictures, our camera stating, "Tourist," each time it snapped. We saw the Scott Monument on Queen's street. "Tourist." Languidly, we walked across the north bridge to enjoy the park and sight of Arthur's Seat. "Tourist, Tourist." We even saw the National Scott Art Gallery with a rocking bagpipe band outside and peruse the National Scottish History Museum. "Tourist, Tourist, Tourist."
Along some way, we had an interesting moment as American English speakers. We tried to explain something to an older Scottish woman that she could enter somewhere she thought was locked but she gave us a confused look and said she couldn't understand us. Our accents were too thick! We were shocked. It was the first time that we were not understood because of our accents and neither of us have thick accents! ...I mean...my own accent comes out every now and then and I might say awkward sentences like, "May I fix you something?" Vs. "May I cook for you?" but she couldn't even understand Miguel's English. Whoa!
Before heading back to Roger and Jane's in Penicuik, we wanted to see Edinburgh Castle. Climbing the city's hills, we passed club-converted-church called Sin and another place that mentioned something about a witch. I had to take a photo with them, especially because of our inside joke of me being called a witch by my grandmother. We could see the castle in the distance as our hind quarters burned. But before the castle, we found another castle that we've known about before visiting Edinburgh.
Relatable tangent!
Before Penicuik, I did research into potential hosts around the area. There were a few farms and homestays, but we also looked into hostels. We had always heard of travelers working for a night's stay and there were plenty of profiles in Edinburgh. One that caught our eye was a hostel called Castlerock Hostel. There were positive reviews, references, and, from the pictures, looked fun! Among our first walk around the city, we stumbled upon the hostel when walking along a road leading to Edinburgh castle. We looked at each other with raised eyebrows and said, "Why not go inside?" I hadn't contacted them, yet, and we were considering a transiional period between hosts at a hostel.
Castlerock's colorful hallways are decorated with a medieval theme with signs of what to do and what to see and how to live within the hostel aplenty. We were surprised by how large it was with 5-6 floors! (There's one floor that kind of acts like two because it is part of the attic.) There's a large kitchen with 4 stoves and more than a dozen refridgerators, a large lounge with a mezzanine, computer room, and a quiet posh room with large windows showcasing Edinburgh's rising buildings and castle outside. We were impressed by this hostel. Soon after visiting Castlerock, we returned to Penicuik. We would return multiple times to Castlerock to stay while in Scotland.
On our first visit to Edinburgh, we walked about and took pictures, our camera stating, "Tourist," each time it snapped. We saw the Scott Monument on Queen's street. "Tourist." Languidly, we walked across the north bridge to enjoy the park and sight of Arthur's Seat. "Tourist, Tourist." We even saw the National Scott Art Gallery with a rocking bagpipe band outside and peruse the National Scottish History Museum. "Tourist, Tourist, Tourist."
Along some way, we had an interesting moment as American English speakers. We tried to explain something to an older Scottish woman that she could enter somewhere she thought was locked but she gave us a confused look and said she couldn't understand us. Our accents were too thick! We were shocked. It was the first time that we were not understood because of our accents and neither of us have thick accents! ...I mean...my own accent comes out every now and then and I might say awkward sentences like, "May I fix you something?" Vs. "May I cook for you?" but she couldn't even understand Miguel's English. Whoa!
Before heading back to Roger and Jane's in Penicuik, we wanted to see Edinburgh Castle. Climbing the city's hills, we passed club-converted-church called Sin and another place that mentioned something about a witch. I had to take a photo with them, especially because of our inside joke of me being called a witch by my grandmother. We could see the castle in the distance as our hind quarters burned. But before the castle, we found another castle that we've known about before visiting Edinburgh.
Relatable tangent!
Before Penicuik, I did research into potential hosts around the area. There were a few farms and homestays, but we also looked into hostels. We had always heard of travelers working for a night's stay and there were plenty of profiles in Edinburgh. One that caught our eye was a hostel called Castlerock Hostel. There were positive reviews, references, and, from the pictures, looked fun! Among our first walk around the city, we stumbled upon the hostel when walking along a road leading to Edinburgh castle. We looked at each other with raised eyebrows and said, "Why not go inside?" I hadn't contacted them, yet, and we were considering a transiional period between hosts at a hostel.
Castlerock's colorful hallways are decorated with a medieval theme with signs of what to do and what to see and how to live within the hostel aplenty. We were surprised by how large it was with 5-6 floors! (There's one floor that kind of acts like two because it is part of the attic.) There's a large kitchen with 4 stoves and more than a dozen refridgerators, a large lounge with a mezzanine, computer room, and a quiet posh room with large windows showcasing Edinburgh's rising buildings and castle outside. We were impressed by this hostel. Soon after visiting Castlerock, we returned to Penicuik. We would return multiple times to Castlerock to stay while in Scotland.