A couple of weekends ago I went to stay with a friend of mine in Edinburgh. I'd visited Scotland's beautiful capital before a couple of years ago and remember loving it so I was very much looking forward to going again. After an eventful four and a half hour train journey from Kings Cross (have I told you that Pippa Middleton was on my train? Oh yes, I've told everyone) I arrived in Scotland.
I always find it very strange to write about places that I've gone to in order to visit someone. It's a very different kettle of fish from going on holiday somewhere, as often you don't do anything different to at home. You chat, you hang out, you eat, you drink. All very fun, but never specific to the location. So, much as I don't want to write an obviously 'tourist-y' account of the places I go to, I will try and include things other than 'so, we got takeaway and then went out and got pissed'.
The first thing that always strikes me about Edinburgh is just how bloody beautiful it is. The architecture is truly astounding and adds such a wonderfully gothic atmopshere. The weather helps too. I'm a bit odd, I'm mad for the cold. I have a nice new winter coat that I haven't really been able to wear because of the ridiculous warmness of Surrey, so I was very pleased to experience single-digit temperatures. The brisk wind in combination with beautiful buildings meant a perfect atmosphere for sitting inside somewhere warm and staring at the city. Luckily, my friend lives a stone's throw from a wonderful place called Chocolate Soup, just off the Royal Mile, which sells all manner of warm, chocolate-y goodness one could hope for.
Aforementioned friend is very busy and clever and studying for a Master's in Being Really Clever at Law-Related Things (or something along those lines) and had a lecture to attend, so she dumped me in the National Museum of Scotland for a couple of hours. A bloody fantastic place, to be honest. The Grand Gallery is stunning. Edinburgh you impress me with your architectural badassness. The museum content is also very varied and interesting, definitely a great place to spend a few hours wandering about. And it's free!
I then met up with Equally Clever Future Doctor Friend, and we, predictably, went shopping. Knowing I am a fan of vintage shopping, she took me to the Grassmarket branch of Armstrong's which was heaven. Heaven! Very crowded but when you have so many pretty things to look at, who cares? I bought a scarf and some bracelets with Jesus on them.
Unfortunately I have to cut this post short. I had a marvellous time in Edinburgh, but the rest of my time was spent coffee-ing and clubbing (we went here) which was great fun but not what this blog is about. You don't need to know about me getting hit on by giant Canadians with fauxhawks, do you now?
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