An umbrella wouldn't work in Edinburgh...

Wednesday
To start off our trip to Scotland we met at Kings Cross to catch a 9am train. I sat with Bethany and saw lots of pretty scenery. I so want to visit the country. (I really don't belong in a city.) We got into Edinburgh at 1:38pm and went to our hostel to drop off our bags. (By the way, Edinburgh is COLD!!!!! And windy!!! and cold!!! and sometimes wet, too. hence the title.) Then we went to the Edinburgh Castle! It was so cool--made of stone and old and so...Scottish. It was kind of funny, but because of these mannequin things it kind of reminded me of a theme park. Then we went back to the hostel and had dinner at 6pm. I had bread and soup, then curry chicken with rice, and then ice cream with chocolate sauce--it was yummy! After this I wanted to rest, but my room (I was bunking with seven other girls) wanted to go out. So we went to a pub (called The Black Rose). I didn't get anything (actually only one girl ordered drinks) and we didn't stay long. But when we got back to the hostel I did get some apple pie--it was tasty! Then it was off to bed. Yay for sleep!

Me in front of the Edinburgh Castle!

Thursday
We started off this day with a big hot breakfast (I ate so much!). Our first trip was up a very steep hill to the National Monument (which was left unfinished by the way). It was SO windy. While we were there, we got to climb up the Nelson monument--it was very, very high (I felt very brave, considering my fear of heights). But there was a great view. It was beautiful. It's the closest to the country I've been able to get to. Then we went to a museum, which was pretty cool. It was really tall and basically had the Scottish historical timeline going from the basement to the top floor. The not-so-cool thing is that right after got there the fire alarm went off and we had to wait in the cold until they let us back in. :( After Bethany and I got all the way to the seventh floor, we went off the have our lunch that the hostel packed for us. :P Whoever came up with cheese and onion sandwich does not deserve a prize.

Then we went to the Scotland National Gallery. It's a really nice museum--not too big, not too small. My favorite exhibit was the Three Graces statue. It is SO pretty. and marble. and reminds me of Lucy, Hanna, and me. Afterwards Bethany, Aubrey, and I visited the Writer's Museum. It's cute and in an old house on a hill. It had exhibits on Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott and a few more. Then we went to some shops, the post office, and back to the hostel to rest before dinner, which wasn't so tasty. Then Martin took some of us went to an acapella choir sing Renaissance church music. And then some of that group went with Martin to a pub and bought us drinks (I got a big cup of hot chocolate! yum!). Then we headed back to the hostel (by the way of an ice cream shop) and then to bed!

Me and a view from the top of the hill we climbed (in the middle of the city!).

Beth and me in front of the (unfinished) National Monument.

Now we're on top of Nelson's Monument looking down on the National Monument. (soooo high up!)

Friday
For our last day of Scotland, we visited the Scottish Parliament. The building is really new and beautiful and nature themed. After that we rushed to St. Giles Cathedral, which is very old and beautiful with vaulted ceilings. Then we hurried to get our bags from the hostel and then to catch our train. (On our way to catch the train we saw a man in a kilt playing the bagpipes! So cool!) Our train ride home was loud, but otherwise uneventful.

Overall, the trip was amazing. It's a beautiful place and the people there are really friendly (plus there's always the cool accents). I would love to go back some day. And take people. Lucy, Han, Patrick--you guys would love it! Scotland rocks!

P.S. I forgot to say that I saw this cool giraffe statue, which made me think of you, Grams! :)