Edinburgh and Glasgow

I have been to Edinburgh before, many, many years ago, and I saw Edinburgh castle, walked the Royal Mile, a few museums, so I didn't want to do that this time. Not because I didn't enjoy it, I did, and if I had a few more days, I probably would have done those things and more. Edinburgh is a beautiful city, with an architecture that just speaks to me somehow, I love it. It's also a city for walking, but it's very hilly, "seven hills". But my time in Edinburgh was meant to be a break from running around from tour to tour or attraction to attraction; I was staying with a friend from college and her family, and was looking forward to a slower pace. I did want to walk up Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, the main peak in a group of hills (I think in Minnesota we might consider them mountains) and I thought I would be able. I quickly found out that walking up steps is NOT the same as climbing up a rocky, craggy path, or walking down a scree-like trail. That's what made me stop, not the going up, but the coming down. We did make it up quite a way, and the views are pretty magnificent. Maybe next time.


Staying with a family gives you a different perspective than staying on your own in a hotel. We've
been having discussions about politics (it seems Britain and the US are going to hell in a hand basket), television (my friends are big NCIS fans, as well as of other shows, but we've watched some British shows we don't get in the States), food, whiskey. Whiskey...I probably embarrassed myself, or at least showed my lack of taste when I tried some 'very smooth' whiskey and made a face. I did finish it, but I feel like I should have a greater appreciation for this product of Scotland. Sorry Andrew.

I spent the day in Glasgow yesterday; an easy train ride from where I'm staying. I hadn't planned it;
how odd of me to be so spontaneous. I knew Glasgow was larger than Edinburgh, but I didn't know the layout of the city. So, I hopped on one of the hop on, hop off tour buses to get the lay of the land. I recommend to people to take thes types of tours when a) you only have a limited time and you don't
have any idea what to do b) if you have a few days, but want to get the lay of the land (I have done this in London, New York, Rome, etc., it's very helpful). I rode it for a whole circuit, about an hour and twenty minutes, up top, wind whipping my hair, got some photos, and heard some history, and
got an idea where to stop. The next trip, I did get off at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It's a free museum and it's huge, with a gallery for every interest: Glaswegian painters, ancient Scottish history, newer history, modern art, and, just for me, a comic/superhero exhibit. It was a collection of art by Frank Quitely who has illustrated Superman, Batman, Justice League and more. It had some sketches, paintings, even a Superman cape. The museum also has a huge pipe organ at one end of the museum, and on the day, there was a recital. How cool was that? They also have a a Dali painting, Christ of St. John of the Cross, which is quite a coup; it's actually one of Dali's less startling paintings, in my opinion. If you're in Glasgow, or thinking of going, I totally recommend it, go for an hour, or three. I'll leave my day there, otherwise you'll have to read about how lost I got on the way back to my friend's house.













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