I have finally arrived in London, a place where i have always wanted to visit, especially after hearing so much about it from the media. I arrived with 40kg of baggage and insisted on taking the tube to Christine's place at Greenwich, as taking a cab would probably cost me 100 pounds compared to 7.50 pounds that i paid for a day pass on the tube. I must say that the tube system looks extremely confusing with lots of coloured lines crisscrossing everywhere. Lucky for me, i was given specific instructions on getting to where i need to be. After an arduous 2 hr, i finally got to the apartment. It is cozy and convenient as it was just like a 3 minute walk from the tube station.
After leaving all my bulky items, i quickly packed for my Scotland trip and rushed back to the airport for my flight to Edinburgh! Got there and had an expensive lunch, but i was hungry, so had to eat.
The journey to Edinburgh took an hour and before i know it, i was on the bus to the city central and the place that i will be staying for the night. I arrived at 6pm local time and i thought most of the places would be closed. However, there was the Edinburgh festival going on and the city was still bustling! I put down my stuff in the room and quickly ran out to get dinner (Chicken Kebabs) and started my city tour of Edinburgh.
I walked around the city and realised that it was awfully bright at 6pm, so i asked around and apparently the sun sets at 9pm. It was a pleasant surprise and it just means that i can still explore the city and take pictures!Started off with the Edinburgh Castle, which was just right outside the place that i am staying at. The cobbled streets and the juxtaposition of the medieval and modern buildings just add a touch of inexplicably beauty to the city. The city is bustling with activities as it was the Edinburgh Festival and the fringe festival was part of it. People were out partying as the sun sets later in the summer season. There were performances on the streets, stalls selling food and warm coffee. Walked around the city and visited the National Museum, many monuments, the city hall, the parliament.
While exploring the city, i ended up at the street where the fringe festival was going on and i chanced upon a shop selling everything chocolate - Chocolatesoup. I thought it was really interesting so i went in and ordered a hot chocolate and a white millionaire shortbread. It was amazing in the cool weather.
The city is gorgeous and i wanted to join the ghost hunting group, but i was too hum to do it. Then i walked to the oldest bar in town (which was built in 1700s and was managed by a lady who apparently survived being buried alive after getting pregnant before marriage), but it was sooo crowded that i could just peek at the doorway. The shopping malls were plastered with %, but they closed really earlier, which is a good thing, if not it would have distracted me.
As the sun set, the city brightened up and i took a slow stroll back to my lodge. The night has its own charm and beauty and it is as captivating as it is in sunlight. Edinburgh has captured my heart and it is definitely a place that i would want to visit again.
