My first day in Edinburgh left me slightly disappointed. The city I had so highly anticipated turned out to be a bit of a let down. Instead of a quaint city filled with rich history at first glance it seemed no different than any other place in Europe. I started my day with a walk around Prince St, the shopping district of the city. The stores along the blocks were all names you'd find back home, all mass produced, nothing special. From there a short walk up hill took you to Edinburgh castle, situated at the start of the royal mile. These cobblestones streets was the heart of the city's tourism as stores on both side sold tacky knick knacks, and street performers filled the blocks. What was unique were these "close" or narrow alleyways that were nested between restaurants and store fronts. Some of the better known ones contained beautiful staircases and passages to courtyards.
As sunset approached I made my way up to Calton Hill in hopes of capturing the iconic shot of the city. Unfortunately this rare, fairly sunny day produced a lackluster sunset which along with the gusty bone chilling winds made the experience unenjoyable.
After a late start the next day I found myself again at Edinburgh Castle, though this time for a visit inside. What sets this castle apart from the numerous others in Europe is that it sits on top of an extinct volcano plug.
The castle itself has played a pivotal role in Scottish history, both as a royal residence and as a military stronghold where up until the 1920s it served as the British army's main base in Scotland. Having said all that, the actual interiors were less impressive than the magnificent views over looking the whole city. The remainder of the afternoon was spent eating mediocre food and relaxing at cafes as the weather teetered between sunny and overcast. It didn't take one long to realize just how compact this city was. By dusk the weather started to look promising as patches of clouds filled the sky. Deciding to give it another go I ventured back up Calton Hill, and was thrilled as the beautiful sunset overlooking the city stretched out in front of me.
My final day in the city was much more relaxing as I spent it leisurely strolling along the Water of Leith before ending at Dean's Village. This charming little village tucked in the northwest part of the city was an absolute gem. Dotted with colorful cottages on both sides of the water the village resembled a sleepy countryside straight out of a fairy tale. A short walk beyond was Circus Lane, one of the most delightful streets I've ever seen and a beautiful ending to remember the city by.
Rating:
Atmosphere: Old school Europe with some modern flare is how I think best describe it. The neoclassical buildings dotting the skyline of the old town versus the Georgian style of the new town just a few streets apart. What it lacked in sights as most major city do, it made up for it with a unique skyline.
Beauty: By far the most beautiful aspect of the city is the view on top of Calton Hill. Unlike most skylines competing for the tallest skyscrapers this one is defined by famous landmarks such as the Balmoral hotel and ultimately the castle itself.
Food: Knowing that food in Scotland isn't its strong point, I'm not surprised I have yet to find something that was great. Even the famous OINK sandwich which is just roasted pork with various dressing was bland and disappointing.
The best so far was a creamy seafood chowder with smoked salmon. In addition I have yet to work up the courage to try haggis.
Cleanliness: Like most European cities it is so much cleaner than ones in the states. In addition there are little to no graffiti which well preserves the appeal.
People: The Scottish people are pretty friendly and willing to help if you seem lost. Even a big city like Edinburgh didn't seem pretentious which is a rarity.
Last Comment: At the end of the day it was a city well worth a visit. However 2 days is more than enough to see the main attractions. As for the infamous Scottish weather, well that bit is absolutely true so always bring waterproof layers and don't forget the hats and scarves.
Scale: 6.5
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