Edinburgh - The Adventure

So after we arrived in Edinburgh, we walked to lunch and had a meal together. Tensions rose a little bit when we realized that we all had different plans and some of us had suitcases, other backpacks, meaning some of us needed to go to the hostel before seeing the city to drop off our bags. We parted our own ways, half of us going to the hostel, half venturing straight into sight seeing. I unfortunately, did not think to bring a backpack to Europe with me. Let's be real... I'm a Palm Springs girl, I go to college in Malibu... I don't think to bring a backpack with me anywhere. I'm not the best at roughing it. And that's quite the understatement. So my lovely suitcase decided it wanted to stop rolling smoothly and what was once my favorite suitcase became an annoying little red caboose that I dragged along the streets of Scotland. The walk to the hostel was much farther than expected. Only a mile... but a mile with tourists flooded in the streets and dragging a defective suitcase after a 5 hour train ride and in the cold was not pleasant. Not in the slightest. And at this point this was the 2nd time during the day when I was missing my mom, and becoming extremely thankful for her planning our trips in such detail. When my family travels together, my mom arranges for every last detail. What time we're leaving for the airport, how we're getting there, what we're packing, what time we'll check in, what time we'll arrive, how we'll get to the hotel we're staying at (which will have been booked weeks in advance), where we'll be eating every meal, and what sights we're seeing and at what times. Thanks mom. Love you. So I drudged through the streets with this stupid suitcase thinking to myself how ridiculous this was and all I wanted was to be in our hostel and just to sit down in a bed with fluffy pillows and crisp white sheets. Thankful moment for mom number 3... This hostel was not a Four Seasons, not a DoubleTree, not a Marriott... more akin to a Motel 6? No fluffy pillows... no crisp sheets... no marbled bathroom floors. Well, thanks again mom. You rock. I obviously don't know how to plan trips like you yet and I'M THE WORST AT ROUGHING IT. I DON'T ROUGH IT. Alright, hostel sucks, bathrooms are gross, but you know what, whatever. I'm in Europe, this is awesome - I'll make the best of this. I have nothing to complain about. So we walked to the National Museum of Scotland after settling our bags in and choosing our beds in the 14 person room (ew.) The museum was absolutely incredible! My favorite part was the animal exhibit that held pretty much every animal you could ever think of, all stuffed and placed in lifelike poses that made it seem like you were in nature. Afterwards, we ventured to the 7th floor of the museum where there is a terrace where you can see a 360 degree view of Edinubrgh. It was absolutely gorgeous! We took our typical panorama pictures and tried climbing the rails until we were scolded not to (hey, you've got to try.) We walked around the town after leaving the museum, walking past the Edinburgh castle and down the famous road called The Royal Mile. Gao, Aston, and Chloe told us to meet them for dinner at Number One Restaurant. We obviously had no clue where this was so we asked around and were told it was in the Balmoral hotel, which my first reaction was, "Does that mean this restaurant is super expensive?" *deer in head lights look* the man I was talking to laughed at me and said yes, extremely expensive. I said okay... So we started walking towards this hotel and I obviously forget the name of the hotel because hello, the man had the thickest Scottish accent and I got nothing out of our conversation except that this place was super pricy. Okay. Walking to the hotel... which we don't know the name of. Perfect. 
We saw a huge building with fancy script and assumed it was that hotel. We walked in, asked, and they said no. Not this hotel, but the one across the street. PERFECT. Let's go. So we found the Balmoral and we found Number One restaurant... but this place was super fancy. White table clothes, wine glasses on the tables, about four different forks and spoons on each table setting and I had a slight feeling this was wrong.... We stuck out like sore thumbs, looking in with wide eyes and maps in hand. I texted Gao and he said we were at the wrong place. Thanks Gao, I figured that much. So he sent us the address of where they were and we mapped our way there... So this restaurant was ALSO called Number One restaurant... both within half a mile of each other. First of all, this should be completely not allowed because it's super confusing. And second of all, my feet at this point were so sore and tired I just wanted to sit. Thank goodness we found them. We had a delicious dinner and I had authentic fish and chips - DELICIOUS. These were the real fish and chips I've been looking for. Perfectly crispy, flaky and so so so yummy. 
After dinner, we were going to walk back to our hostel except my legs were really not having it. I can't even imagine how many miles we had already walked that day. I saw all these cabs whizzing by and I just flagged one down ASAP. Let me just add - that cab ride was the best 7 pounds and 10 pence I've ever spent. It usually took us about 30 minutes to walk to our hostel and we were there in I swear, what seemed less than 30 seconds. SO MUCH JOY. 
I practically collapsed on my terrible spring bed at the hostel. Goodnight world. Also, might I add that it was 9:30 at this time and still light outside? Europe rocks. 

Day 2: 
In the morning, we ventured to a little cafe for breakfast that was so cute and so yummy! After a little bit of lounging and planning the day, we walked to Arthur's Seat. I'd been waiting to go to Arthur's Seat all weekend - it was the one thing I was most excited to do in Edinburgh. When we first got there, I was completely blown away. In Edinburgh, all we had seen was the little streets, the beautiful gothic architecture, cobble stoned roads, and castles. The town was so beautiful in it's own unique way - it seemed older than London, much smaller, and much more quaint. On the train to Edinburgh we saw green fields, but once we got to the old town, all of that seemed to disappear and the architecture and history was at the forefront. But Arthur's Seat was like the pictures of the rolling hills and mountains of Scotland and Ireland you see in travel magazines. It was mind blowing, absolutely stunning and put me in a state of awe. Also, it was incredibly high and a super long hike. Okay, this is going to be awesome - let's go. We started hiking, all of us kind of splitting up, walking at our own paces. I really enjoyed being on my own. I really enjoyed walking in silence, taking in the beautiful surroundings and taking an hour or so just to reflect on this time. For those of you who know me... I'm a big thinker. I'm a big wonderer and I like people. I always love watching people and wondering what their stories are. I kept climbing this seemingly never-ending mountain, every couple minutes, turning around to see more and more of the city of Edinburgh. It was absolutely beautiful. Eventually I got to the top, it was incredibly windy- I've actually never experienced such cold wind before, and at such speed. Arthur's Seat is the highest point and Edinburgh and I was pretty proud that I made it to the top. I took my pictures and stared for a while. I looked down to this grassy area and saw that there was a flatter trail that led to the bottom. PERFECT. YES. I hate climbing down, it scares me and I'm no bighorn sheep with incredible traction and braveness. I started walking down and all around me I saw so many wonderful things that filled my heart. Initially, when I was walking on my own, I saw couples, families, friends - happy people who were enjoying each other's company. And I became sad. I really started to miss my parents, my brother, Gaby, and Vishnu. This trip has been such an incredible one and there are so many moments that I wish I had the people I'm closest to to share them with. But about half way down, I started to become really happy. I started to think about how wonderful it is that I have all these people to miss! What a blessing. Everything from the couple having a picnic together in the middle of this beautiful grassy hill, to the young boy licking an ice cream cone with a half-toothed, huge smile and the baby girl riding her bike faster than her mom could keep up, mom screaming "Wait!" and the beautiful black labrador running through the hills, tail wagging faster than ever. Everything was so happy. Everything all at once just seemed so light-filled to me and I was able to be on my own and take in everything around me and realize what an incredible adventure this is. 
Edinburgh, you were wonderful to me - thank you so very much. 
In about 20 minutes, I'll be back on London and this 5 hour train ride will finally come to end. Phew. 

Life is good.