Day 1: Edinburgh, Haymarket
Let me start out by saying that I am very proud of us: it's 8:30 pm, we've been up since 3am MONDAY morning (it's now Tuesday evening) and we've spent most of a day traveling.
First off, did you know that United Airlines adds an extra tax to your ticket if you fly with them on September 11? Shouldn't they decrease the price to try and get more people to fly with them on that day?
Second of all, no matter what I do, or how I prepare, I. Cannot. Sleep. On. Planes. Adjust my sleep schedule to reduce jet lag? Check (at least that seems to be working). Melatonin? Check. Warm, comfy clothing, compression socks, soothing music? Check, check, check. But no matter what, there is no comfortable position in which I can sleep in that tiny box of space you get in economy class. Suffice it to say, I am very tired right now.
And we certainly got our exercise, after the 8 hour flight from ORD to Dublin, we had to go through customs, and then back THROUGH security (and DUB is busy and huge and maze-like, with useless roped off areas that made us take the long way when we didn't have to) and all the while we are chomping at the bit because our flight with Ryanair to Edinburgh was in an hour. We needed that hour, because we got to our gate right when they started boarding. After that we were able to sigh with relief and enjoy the short flight across the way to Scotland.
So Scotland is very quaint. All those things you see in TV and movies are real: stone walls that surround a cute garden in a neighborhood backyard, red post-boxes shaped as large fire hydrants, a pharmacy like, every other store front, cobblestone side streets, every building seems to be made of stone and wrought iron and old and beautiful. It's great. Oh, and the weather? Aaahhhhhhh, I LOVE it! 60 degrees (Fahrenheit, of course, I'm still an American here), sunny, a strong wind making puffy clouds zoom by, next to no humidity, and the small mountains in the distance are green and beautiful. Ah, it's so lovely.
We found ourselves a nice restaurant/pub that didn't look too expensive and had a good selection in their menu, called Platform 5 in Haymarket. Jeff got the traditional choice when in the UK: fish and chips. I have been dying to try the different savory pies around here, so I picked a chicken, bacon, and leek pie. Mmmmmm. And chips of course, with malt vinegar sprinkled on top. We worked off the calories by walking around and taking pictures of the Haymarket area. Like Donaldson's College. And a super rich street that seemed to consist of a lot of Asians waiting in their cars...
We later walked down the street to the local convenience store to buy some snacks we don't have in the States and tried those out. Irn Bru tastes like bubblegum to me and looks like Triaminic. Galaxy Ripple I think was our favorite chocolate bar we tried, since inside it's thin bits of shaved chocolate that melts in your mouth. And Ketchup potato chips taste strangely...Japanese-y.
And the place we're staying at, St. Valery's Guest House, is adorable and awesome! I'm sad we're only staying one night. But tomorrow morning will be Day 1 of our Hairy Coo tours where we get to be on a tour bus and taken on a whirlwind Highland experience!
So hopefully I will be able to regale you with what we see on our first day being American tourists in Scotland. See you later!
First off, did you know that United Airlines adds an extra tax to your ticket if you fly with them on September 11? Shouldn't they decrease the price to try and get more people to fly with them on that day?
Second of all, no matter what I do, or how I prepare, I. Cannot. Sleep. On. Planes. Adjust my sleep schedule to reduce jet lag? Check (at least that seems to be working). Melatonin? Check. Warm, comfy clothing, compression socks, soothing music? Check, check, check. But no matter what, there is no comfortable position in which I can sleep in that tiny box of space you get in economy class. Suffice it to say, I am very tired right now.
Did you know there's a phenomenon called a "glory" halo that happens when you can look down from a high place through water droplets when the sun is behind you? It's like a circle rainbow!
And we certainly got our exercise, after the 8 hour flight from ORD to Dublin, we had to go through customs, and then back THROUGH security (and DUB is busy and huge and maze-like, with useless roped off areas that made us take the long way when we didn't have to) and all the while we are chomping at the bit because our flight with Ryanair to Edinburgh was in an hour. We needed that hour, because we got to our gate right when they started boarding. After that we were able to sigh with relief and enjoy the short flight across the way to Scotland.
So Scotland is very quaint. All those things you see in TV and movies are real: stone walls that surround a cute garden in a neighborhood backyard, red post-boxes shaped as large fire hydrants, a pharmacy like, every other store front, cobblestone side streets, every building seems to be made of stone and wrought iron and old and beautiful. It's great. Oh, and the weather? Aaahhhhhhh, I LOVE it! 60 degrees (Fahrenheit, of course, I'm still an American here), sunny, a strong wind making puffy clouds zoom by, next to no humidity, and the small mountains in the distance are green and beautiful. Ah, it's so lovely.
We found ourselves a nice restaurant/pub that didn't look too expensive and had a good selection in their menu, called Platform 5 in Haymarket. Jeff got the traditional choice when in the UK: fish and chips. I have been dying to try the different savory pies around here, so I picked a chicken, bacon, and leek pie. Mmmmmm. And chips of course, with malt vinegar sprinkled on top. We worked off the calories by walking around and taking pictures of the Haymarket area. Like Donaldson's College. And a super rich street that seemed to consist of a lot of Asians waiting in their cars...
Donaldson College (looks like the house from Downton Abbey to me)
Crazy Rich Asian people street
The rare "Angie Selfie" that is a normal face. At Platform 5.
I ordered a chicken, bacon and leek pie. It was delicious!
We later walked down the street to the local convenience store to buy some snacks we don't have in the States and tried those out. Irn Bru tastes like bubblegum to me and looks like Triaminic. Galaxy Ripple I think was our favorite chocolate bar we tried, since inside it's thin bits of shaved chocolate that melts in your mouth. And Ketchup potato chips taste strangely...Japanese-y.
And the place we're staying at, St. Valery's Guest House, is adorable and awesome! I'm sad we're only staying one night. But tomorrow morning will be Day 1 of our Hairy Coo tours where we get to be on a tour bus and taken on a whirlwind Highland experience!
Isn't that awesome?? And it's not that expensive and it looks gorgeous!!
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And now, the Jeff sidebar. Today was very busy and this city has a lot of rad (yet somehow repetitive) architecture. I'll be adding more stuff on later posts when there's more to comment on. I am le tired.
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So hopefully I will be able to regale you with what we see on our first day being American tourists in Scotland. See you later!
Sounds like a super fun (exhausting) day. I'm jealous of the savory pie. Eat one for me! -Cara
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of pie should I try next then? (Not liver pie please)
DeleteSteak and ale! I've always been curious.
DeleteI'll do it just for you!
Delete