I can’t remember how much I wrote last draft. I arrived to Edinburgh at the bus station. It was lightly raining and followed my map to Princes Street then to North and then South bridge. I looked at my map and realized street wasn’t where it was supposed to be – or rather it wasn’t there at all. I looked around and then looked down and realized the street was in the air, the street was a bridge – but it was a street with buildings over another street. I found a street that went down and walked it. I passed under the other street almost like the gutter slum. I looked up at the name, Cowsgate. In front of me was a yellow cow leaping halfway out of a bar/resturant building and the other half was leaping into the wall around the corner. I find my next marker street and I am heading up hill again, but not all the way. I turn the corner and I find the marker telling me to go left to the SYHA (Scottish Youth Hostel Association) that way.
When I got in there was an elderly woman complaining about how hard it was to find the hostel. Which was pretty boring, so eventually I just sat down. I eyed my hand while I waited. I had scraped it one the stupid rolly bag’s screws and it nicked my thumb flesh. Stupid bag. But it’s my goodie bag and I love all the goodies inside.
When it was my turn I was assigned to 7th hall, 3rd floor, Rm 3. I hiked up and it was basically a dorm turned summer hostel. But hey I had my own room!! Yay! I settled in and made myself comfy. I think at this point it was getting late and everything was closing. So I stayed in. I think I started working on the London entries. I worked on them along with enjoying by computer until about midnight – or 1:30 before I was too tired.
The next morning I had to check out. Luckilly hostels let you keep your luggage in a storage room for a day. I struck out and went to search for a new hostel. I had researched a few hostels and went to find them to check their openings. Both were full. But at the second one as I was leaving there was a tour guide guy who said he’d walk me to the hostel I was told to try out next. Since he was going that direction for his tour.
He called ahead and they were booked and so was the next. But he pointed to another one and said if I could get one there I should go on the tour. But I decided finding a place to sleep was more important. I never did end up going on his tour – I wish I had though, he was rather cute – of what I saw. But I did eventually find a hostel. It was probably a very nice house at some point like some European hostels.
I was situated upstairs down the hall and on the bottom bunk. In Ireland because it’s so near the sea all over you’ll see and hear seagulls. Oh and pidgeions are likely to come right up by your feet. I think I went to the Homecoming that day. The Homecoming was a festival where all the clans met up. It was on the other side of town and lots of people. Especially in kilts. I listened to the Red Hot Chili Pipers, which were awesome. I had heard them on YouTube and at that moment didn’t know it was them. I checked out the food and had a cup of blueberry juice which was nice.
I went over to the games ground and watched muscular men throw weights with sticks attached – like throwing mallots. There were two North Carolinian participants but neither won. Still very impressive. I also watched the bag pipers and thought of the NCSU team. Before I left I had seen them in concert for a class. Little did I know then that I’d be going to Scotland that summer.
Once I had had my fill of the festival I decided I’d follow other people up the hill next to the grounds to see a great view of the city. After a good bit of hiking, in my Croc sandals no less, I was rewarded. While I could still hear the festival I heard “Black horse and a cherry tree” and when I went down I heard “I’d walk 5,000 miles”. I don’t know if they were the actual bands or not. I took video and pictures and sat down for a bit to enjoy the view. It was getting late by then, in store closing terms, so I headed back to the other side of town and back to my hostel. Princes street, at least part of it, was under construction. The detour sent me next to a park. I was sort of rushing for the traditional dance at the Queen’s Hall because I realized I didn’t look too snazzy. I took a back road once I was done getting ready but by the time I got there it was over. I sat in the park for a bit and watched the clouds for a bit before heading back to the hostel.
My last time out before I left I took a City Sightseeing tour and got off at teh Edinburgh Castle. I wouldn’t have probably found it otherwise. I got an audio guide and plugged in some numbers to listen to the stories of St. Catherine (Queen) and her chapel and her relationship with her husband who was killed and then she died of a broken heart? And her body was lowered from atop the castle while under siege. I bought a painted glass window replica from the chapel. I really want to have many stained glass windows so I could catch the light in my room in Chapel Hill. – Or anywhere I live. They make me happy. I also saw the crown, staff and the stone – which I took a picture of when I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to. From there, after a few hours, I got back on the bus and went back to the Gathering grounds and walked back since everything was closed already. I walked back to the hostel, packed up and I’m pretty sure it was that evening I left.
