“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9

July 23, 2014

Day Thirteen p.1: Glasgow to Edinburgh

14th July 2014

Waking up early on a bed made of roses is illegal. It has to be :) So needless to say, when mum woke me up at around seven I was not happy. We had to wake up to pack, because the hosts were coming at 9:30 and we needed to be pasked and ready to leave to Edinburgh.

After checking out with the hosts, and assuring them that our stay was amazing, we hopped on the train to Glasgow Central. From there we then took abother train to Edinburgh.

The train trip to Edinburgh from Glasgow took just under an hour. It was a very comfortable train, and the scenery was again gorgeous:) Then, when we arrived and emerged from the train station, we were bombarded with an assortment of old black/grey buildings everywhere. It was like walking into a movie set or painting, where everything is perfectly straight and defined. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture, so you will just have to use your imagination.

Our accommodation for the first night was a couple of miles out of the city center, and I wanted to take a bus. However, dad insisted that we walk. I was a bit annoyed for a while, but then when we arrived at the accommodation I had a power nap and was fine. That really helped, a power nap, because then you can sort through your feelings.

After a couple of hours spent walking to and from our accommodation (all in the name of saving money) we finally entered the Old Town. The old town in Edinburgh is situated around The Royal Mile, which is a street lined with older houses, museums and shops. At the top of The Royal Mile is Edinburgh Castle, and at the bottom Holyrood Palace, the royal residence of the Queen in Edinburgh. Hence the reason for the word 'royal' infront of mile.

A story about Holyrood Palace: David the first King of Scots was riding around the nearby forestry with trees streaming by on either side of him. As he was going he was hunting down male deer, who were giving him a good chase. The story goes that he inevitably hit one of a tree root and fell off his noble stallion to fall prey to one of these (by now anger-striken) male deer. He was then fearful for his life, till a bright cross was seen illuminated in the sky. He then wished to honour this cross by creating Holyrood (Holy cross) Palace on the site of his near-death experience.

Along The Royal Mile there are also these cavities going downwards from the road to the New Town called a close, where people of Edinburgh used to live to save space before the New Town was established. However illness was soon spread through the closes, so the New Town was built. I personally love Edinburgh for such an amazingly untouched history.

Walking up The Royal Mile.


Machinery used to weave traditional Scottish tartan clothing.

Harri taking a picture from a close.

We were walking along and found a handprint of J. K. Rolling. Harri loves Harry Potter, so that was a nice surprise.

-continues in p.2: Edinburgh Arthur's Seat

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