It all started there
March 1, 2006
Cimetary in Dean Village
I was stuck in a life that wasn't as I expected it to be.
Since I was old enough to understand that there was a world out there to be discovered, I wanted to experience it. My biggest dream, every Christmas, was that I wouldn't miss Santa Claus coming to my house so that I could go with him around the world distributing the presents! Gives you an idea?!!
I was living a stagnant life and didn't really know what to do about it considering my situation. But anyhow, the only thing I was sure about my life at that point was that I wanted to travel. So I thought, this doesn't seem to be that bad of a start. Let's follow your heart for once, girl!
I would never have been able to afford Europe for a long time, working where I used to work and making the salary I used to make, having a flat and other bills to pay.
Victoria Street
So, got my working holidaymaker visa, said "s*** it!" to my boss and bought a return flight to Edinburgh!!!
Had two friends from home, who had been staying there since september so I decided to go and meet them for a while before heading north to the Isle of Skye to work for the summer.
What a good decision this has been!!!
Stayed at the Belford Hostel, 10 mins foot walk from the heart of the city. Had a pleasant little routine of Gregg's sausage rolls and Starbuck's small lattes to go!
Walked Princes Street a hundred times as well as the Old Town. Couldn't get enough of sunsets at Calton Hill.
Sunset on Edinburgh, from Calton Hill
We spent almost every night in pubs just enjoying being with each other, all these nice people from all over the world: the "Church Bar" (can't remember the name but to get to this pub, we had to walk on a big cathedral's land so it was like if we were to go to the church!), the Iglu, the Black Bull on Grass Market and what else?!!
The city was beautiful. So ancient compare to where I come from. Couldn't get enough of walking through cimetaries just to read the thombs that were, some of them, almost as old as America itself!
Impressive, gorgeous, magical! I fell in love and sincerely hope that this love will never faint...
P.S Has absolutely nothing to do with the city itself but one night at the church bar, a local guy asked us a question that started a huge but friendly argument. Our group, mainly composed of people from Canada and Australia, couldn't agree on whether the polar bear or the crocodile would win the fight if they would happen to meet each other somewhere somehow. Have any opinion? :)
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
Create a free TravBuddy account or login to leave comments, meet travelers, and share experiences with the TravBuddy travel community.
Cimetary in Dean Village
Victoria Street
Sunset on Edinburgh, from Calton…
Princes Street
hehe, two storey buses! YE!!
The Old Town from the Garden's o…
Victoria Street
Cimetary on Calton Hill
On Calton Hill
On Calton Hill
Back alley somewhere
In New Edinburgh I think that's …
Rush Hour on Princes Street
City of the dead they call Edinb…
Cimetary next to the Gardens of …
Princes Street from Calton Hill
South Bridge Street.. I think.
Arthur's Seat
Sunset again from Calton Hill
African tribe man playing tamt-t…
Bottom right: Edinburgh's Castle…
Simply having a litlle laugh:
a…
The Belford Hostel
Arthur's Seat
Free... except for the bus ride! Can't remember which one though. Sorry!
Anybody going to Edinburgh must climb Arthur's Seat!
Right in the middle od the city, the hike is pleasant, not too difficult and the view at the top is simply stunning!
You can see everything from there. Really, if you have an afternoon free go and do it. You won't be disappointed. Promise!
Anybody going to Edinburgh must climb Arthur's Seat!
Right in the middle od the city, the hike is pleasant, not too difficult and the view at the top is simply stunning!
You can see everything from there. Really, if you have an afternoon free go and do it. You won't be disappointed. Promise!
(Part of) the view
Arthur's Seat
Great view of Edinburgh if you don't fancy hiking Arthur's Seat
I've rated Calton Hill 3 stars 'cause it isn't going to change your life but if it was about how beautiful the view is: it would most certainly get at least a 4!
Right at the end of Princes Street, Calton Hill is easy access and a pretty good spot for sunset. You have a gorgeous view of the Old Town from there to. You might also want to stay a little longer after sunset 'cause that's when all the lights of the city start to shine and the skye still has this bonnie blue color.. Spectacular!
Tip: you might also want to go at another time than sunset for your pictures of the Old Town 'cause at that time of the day, its all shadows and could look better with the morning light.
Hum, almost forgot: you will find a stunning view at the forth, the bridge and Arthur's Seat too!!!
Right at the end of Princes Street, Calton Hill is easy access and a pretty good spot for sunset. You have a gorgeous view of the Old Town from there to. You might also want to stay a little longer after sunset 'cause that's when all the lights of the city start to shine and the skye still has this bonnie blue color.. Spectacular!
Tip: you might also want to go at another time than sunset for your pictures of the Old Town 'cause at that time of the day, its all shadows and could look better with the morning light.
Hum, almost forgot: you will find a stunning view at the forth, the bridge and Arthur's Seat too!!!
Belford Hostel
I stayed at the Belford for two weeks at the beginning of March 2006.
The hostel is hosted in an ancient church.
It looks quite nice from the outside actually.
Inside is fine, nothing special.
Dorms are the ground floor.
Large common area with kitchen facilities and a lounge with TV.
Pool table.
Warm atmosphere and met some great people.
Patio area below street level which is probably nice in summer but rather useless in winter! :)
As you can imagine, churches have a very, very high ceiling normally.
Most rooms, the dorms, are in that part of the church.
So the ceilings for these are actually, well, back then anyway, were thick plastic sheets!
You will understand that unless you sleep very deep or you sleep with ear plugs, when one of your fellow traveller's alarm clock rings at 6 in the morning, it doesn't only wake him up!
I thought it was a bit chilly too, no heating or very little but it seems to be the norm in Scotland as I have experienced so far.
Just wrap yourself or stay next to the fire place seems to be the way of thinking here! :)
No fire place in the Belford though.
Sat on Belford street, literally 5 minutes walk from Haymarket and 15 from Princes Street.
In the new town, right next to Dean village.
A rather quiet, peaceful and posh area.
Not bad but not absolutely fabulous either.
The hostel is hosted in an ancient church.
It looks quite nice from the outside actually.
Inside is fine, nothing special.
Dorms are the ground floor.
Large common area with kitchen facilities and a lounge with TV.
Pool table.
Warm atmosphere and met some great people.
Patio area below street level which is probably nice in summer but rather useless in winter! :)
As you can imagine, churches have a very, very high ceiling normally.
Most rooms, the dorms, are in that part of the church.
So the ceilings for these are actually, well, back then anyway, were thick plastic sheets!
You will understand that unless you sleep very deep or you sleep with ear plugs, when one of your fellow traveller's alarm clock rings at 6 in the morning, it doesn't only wake him up!
I thought it was a bit chilly too, no heating or very little but it seems to be the norm in Scotland as I have experienced so far.
Just wrap yourself or stay next to the fire place seems to be the way of thinking here! :)
No fire place in the Belford though.
Sat on Belford street, literally 5 minutes walk from Haymarket and 15 from Princes Street.
In the new town, right next to Dean village.
A rather quiet, peaceful and posh area.
Not bad but not absolutely fabulous either.
Belford hostel
