some of my favourites

I wanted to share some of my favourite pictures from Edinburgh that I haven't posted yet. The trip was definitely one to remember, and the sights were amazing. One of my flatmates is running a half-marathon there later this semester so we all may make the trip down to support her and enjoy the lovely city once again!

Tomorrow I am getting together with an old friend from middle school who is at the University of Glasgow for the semester. It will be an interesting flashback I am sure. Other then that I am preparing for my trip to SPAIN! I leave this Thursday and come home on Monday. I am going over with Claire, one of my flatmates, and staying with someone she knows in Seville. I am so excited! xo

edinburgh castle

Carly and I both knew that we wanted to see the castle while we were in Edinburgh. Although we hadn't heard great things about it we felt that it was necessary to see. Plus we both have a weird obsession with castles. It was expensive to get on to the grounds but the view of the city was fabulous, and there was so much to see. We got to see St. Margaret's Chapel, the Scottish National War Museum (due to our extreme hangover and the heat inside the museum we went through it pretty quickly), and Mons Meg. 

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland's oldest castle, towers over the city from its perch high on a wedge of volcanic rock. When entering, you first cross the Esplanade (where the Military Tattoo takes place). You then pass through the gate and up the steep, cobbled ramp for great views over the city and its various attractions. Once we were inside the thick walls of the castle it felt like a whole new world, a complete community - remote, powerful, and cut off from the rest of Edinburgh.

Esplanade

Inside the walls of the castle

The Argyle Battery terrace offers the first chance to catch your breath and enjoy the view north over the city as we made our way to the Castle Rock. No longer firing is the famous cannon at Edinburgh Castle, the monumental Mons Meg. This siege gun was built in the 15th century and was capable of firing a 400-pound cannon ball. The ferocity of its power allowed it to only be used a few times a day because of the enormous heat that the explosive force generated. It remains a popular sight to see in Edinburgh - so obviously I got a picture with it. 

Mons Meg

My other favourite part of the castle was St. Margarets Chapel. It is the oldest structure in the castle, as well as being the simplest and most moving. It's the 12th century chapel dedicated to St. Margaret by her son, King David I. Margaret was the wife of Malcolm III and died here in 1903. The chapel, with its single, whitewashed chamber and tiny arched doorway (that I thought was super funny), survived several attacks of the castle and is still used for occasional weddings. 

St. Margaret's Chapel

Overall the castle is definitely something that you have to see while in Edinburgh. It may have been because we are both overly amused by castles, but Carly and I both enjoyed our time there. If anything, the view of the castle walking up the Royal Mile is magnificent. 

edinburgh

This past weekend my friend Carly flew allll the way over from Canada to visit me (and her sister..but thats not as important) for her reading week. We had first discussed this idea in the summer when I told her I would be studying in Scotland for the semester. Conveniently her sister goes to school in Edinburgh so it could be a joint visit for her. Although we tossed around the idea of her coming I didn't think that it would necessarily happen. But to my delight she did visit!
She arrived on Friday and made her was to Glasgow for the day/night. While in Glasgow we did a bit of walking around and went to see an x-rated hypnotist at the student union. Carly had never seen a hypnotist before, and I had never seen a show quite like this one. It was definitely something to remember. Due to the fact that she was jet-legged and I was getting sick we didn't venture out far later that night. In the morning we had brunch at All Bar One and enjoyed a delicious and very large meal. We then made our way on to the train (my first Euro train ride) to head back to Edinburgh for the rest of the weekend. 
In Edinburgh we were able to see a ton of stuff in the little time that I was there. After dropping our bags off at her sisters apartment Carly and I decided to climb Arthurs Seat that afternoon. We were very inappropriately dressed to climb a mountain type thing (seeing as we were both wearing black knee high fashion boots) but were determined to make our way to the top anyways. At the top of Arthurs Seat it was a whole different type of weather: aka rain and lots of wind which made it slightly unpleasant. However the view of the city was still insane. The pictures don't do it justice at all - it just looks like we are on some weird hill - so you are just going to have to trust me when I say it was unreal. And so cool. 

Arthurs Seat

At the top!

At the top!

Finally made it

Carly being silly

And me being sillier

We were dead tired after climbing this but decided to stroll around the city for awhile to see some of the sights. It was nice to see the city when the night was rolling around and how all the lights looked against the buildings. After making it home in one piece we got nachos and caesar salad for dinner at a local pub right next to her sisters apartment. We rested our feet for awhile, had some drinks with her sisters friends before heading out to their campus club/bar thing for the night. Thankfully no actual camera followed us to the club but Carly did snap this on her blackberry - it captures the moment the night got strange. 

"Carly and bunny"

Tonight is international night so we are currently getting ready to head out for the night. We are going to Missoula Bar tonight and most likely heading over to Common for the rest of the evening. xo