Edinburgh

I have been in Edinburgh for a little over a day now and it has been quite the adventure.

When I first got here, I was so overwhelmed... See, when I got to London - I had been basically planning getting there for about a year... so I knew what to do when I got off the plane (plus, London has maps basically everywhere). However, Edinburgh is not London...



I've only been planning on staying here about a month but have been a little preoccupied. And I hardly looked at maps or anything. I'm a planner typically... so when I got off the train... I was quite shocked to not have a solid plan. I mean, I knew "where" to go but I didn't know how to get there.

And my poor momma got a text - as soon as I found wifi - that probably just made her stressed out too.

Anyway - the point is, I was lost in a new place and was very tired. So, I was stressed. Plus, I am staying via Airbnb.com - which means I am staying at someone's house, in the suburbs basically.

The people here have absolutely been angels. They truly watch over me and guide me along. The first person I talked with went out of their way, walked me all the way to the bus stop, made change for me so that I could get on the bus, and made sure all was in order. Then on the bus, a kind elderly lady showed me where to get off since the bus routes... are kind of not as user friendly as my ignorance would have liked... Haha. Anyway, I then did not realize I was staying at a 64A instead of 64. Poor confused lady who answered the door - no worries, she figured it out and pointed to the "wee little door over there" - and also watched to make sure I made it.

Sadly, the lady I am staying with was not at home... there was a note on the door for me and then I waited. Then I heard someone inside and eventually a kind woman let me in (the cleaning woman named Gabby).

Gabby is from Hungary and taught me how to say Budapest. You probably already know but I'm afraid my ignorance really shows over here. It's "pescht" but you kinda swallow the t at the end. Anyway, Gabby, my host, and I later drove around Edinburgh so that I could see it and that they could finish some errands. Also - cobblestones aren't fun to drive on...

That was basically my day yesterday after I got off the train.

Today - I slept in. The bed was so comfortable and I was so tired. It was a good match there. Then I took it easy today. I made it into town, found the post office, went and collected some fun items for my friend (whose family is from Scotland so she sent me on a quest to find her some fun stuff). Back to the post office where I sent my first international package.

**I now interrupt the narrative to say that naturally, I couldn't do it right my first time. I put my old zip code on instead of my friends... but I did not realize this until hours later and after the PO had closed and panic ensued... Luckily, my friend back in the States works at the PO where my old zip code is and I was able to ask her and she said she would watch for it and take care of the problem for me. Aren't friends amazing? Ok. Now back to the story.**

Then I wandered Edinburgh for about a half hour. Today was a slow day but it was lovely. I walked around a park you have to have a key to get in - I read up on the vote that is happening TOMORROW (Scotland is voting whether to become an independent country or not) and then I found this lovely little artisan bakery in the basement of a shop. And let me tell you, it was delicious. Then I went over to the bus stop.

After looking at the stops, I began to worry because I didn't see what I wanted to (it wasn't the same line I took to get to town) - so when I got on I asked the driver. I was getting on the bus my host recommended so I was sure it was fine. The driver said that no, this bus wouldn't take me there. So I got off. Suddenly, I was really nervous. I had made sure to figure out how to get where I wanted - but not how to get back. Luckily, the rest of the bus told the driver he was mistaken. And so the bus stood still while I waited on the other side of the doors while they looked at me. Haha. And a kind lady wearing a "YES!" sticker, that I couldn't understand...sorry, probably told me to get back on the bus and that it would take me where I wanted - at least that's what I understood from her hand signals and a few words. So I nervously got on and sat down. Haha.

Then throughout the way, everyone on the bus made sure I knew how to get back. One lady even after she got off, told the driver where to stop so I could get off. Others showed me maps and the app on the phone (which won't work all the way here since I don't have a UK phone yet but it still has the maps...). So when it got to my stop, a lovely elderly couple told me where to get off and how to get home.

Upon my arrival, I decided to take a break before attempting anything else. One of the pros of traveling by yourself is if you get tired, you can just stop... so I did. I read from a book called "The Emperor's New Kilt: The two secret histories of Scotland" - though I'm not quite sure how accurate it is because there aren't any citations in text... just "some accounts say..." but it's been quite fun.

Let's see. The only adventure I was up to after that was to find the grocery store. I was hungry. I looked it up, and set off. Only a few minor concerns. Then I saw ... a KFC. Haha. It's been so fun to see all these familiar things all the way over here. Though it does make me a little sad because authentic things would be nice too. I just realized how long this post is... so ... got groceries and came back ...

The rest of the day I've been relaxing. Tomorrow promises more adventures so ... stay tuned. For me and for the results of the vote! Which you can probably get somewhere else too... Anyway.

Edinburgh meets Kentucky Fried Chicken (which started in SLC...haha)

This is what my key looks like. It's cool to me because of the little bobbles on the end - and because where I was staying in London was a keycard, and this is an old fashioned key... so it was fun.

From yesterday's car ride - still not used to the opposite driving... 

Signs  like these are everywhere. For both sides. Tomorrow will be interesting

These ones had some rationale - it was fun to read. Especially the reference that reminded me of home.

Sorry - you probably can't tell - but there are 4 signs in the windows - two "YES" and two "no thanks"

Quite a delicious bakery - and a fun location. Though, graceful as always, I tripped going down the stairs. Haha.

Home again home again. Such a pretty place, no? Though, I still don't know what the lines mean on the road there by the crosswalk. They are everywhere. They may mean to watch for pedestrians which would be why I, the pedestrian, see them everywhere I go. Huh. Don't know.