Edinburgh!

Today was the International Society's trip to Edinburgh.  It really is such a beautiful town (debatably prettier than Glasgow), but obviously filled with tourists.  It has such amazing architecture and I guess just the way the city and streets are laid out is amazing.  Left Glasgow University at 9, got to Edinburgh by 10:15 (by bus), so not too bad.  Didn't get to see too too much due to some issues (thanks International Society), but I won't really go too much into that because it would be way too much of me ranting.

On the Royal Mile, St Giles Cathedral in the Background

Victoria St, which curves down towards Grassmarket

(I got some really cute prints of Edinburgh from a store down this way)

Beginning of Grassmarket.  A lot of pedestrian walking space (don't even think cars can go down there) and stores/restaurants on both sides.

On Grassmarket looking back towards Victoria St.

A little side street thing

Anyway, one of the first things we did was go to Mary King's Close, which is a street closed up underneath the Royal Mile (the main street leading up to Edinburgh Castle... it was built on top of other streets), and you can tour the street and houses/rooms that are still intact down there.  Its amazing because these places are still intact and looks like a street, but theres now a street over the top of it.  Apparently it hasn't seen the light of day in over 400 years!  Tour was interesting, sadly, no pictures of inside.  Did purchased a picture that they take of you inside with infrared cameras (to catch any ghostly visitors! - did I mention that its supposed to be the most haunted place in... Scotland? Britain?  Somewhere), but I don't really have a good way to post it right now.  By the way, its really easy to get to.  Its in a little alleyway (Warriston's Close) right off the Royal Mile.

The entrance, from the street.

Did a loooot of shopping.  Some of the prices in Edinburgh are a little bit better than what I've seen in other places so obviously I had to buy stuff.

We had lunch at a restaurant on Grassmarket, called Mamma's American Pizza Co.  I know I should be eating Scottish food not American, but they had gluten free pizza and a VERY gluten free friendly menu, so I couldn't resist going there.  Atmosphere was so nice, it didn't seem like we were in an "American" restaurant or anything, it felt like it belonged in Edinburgh.  And it was easy to tell on the menu what foods were gluten free, which is always nice.  I, of course, ordered pizza.  Another thing that is nice about this place is that you can pick the different size of pizza you want, even the gluten free pizza (by the way, the gluten free crust was apparently 50 pence more but I don't know if they charged me or not), and I haven't really seen that as an option in most places.  Food was AMAZING!  Gluten-free pizza didn't even taste gluten free (it even had me worried for a little bit that it wasn't because of how good it tasted, but it was fine).  And then my friend ordered nachos (also gluten free), and they were SO delicious.  Best nachos I've had in a long long time.  Definitely recommend this place.  If I ever go back to Edinburgh, I'm eating there again.  And ordering a ton of nachos.

Nachos, obviously.  Look kinda gross here, but actually really good.

Yummy pizza.  Had already had two slices before I remembered to take a picture.  Oopsie!

Outside of Mamma's. 

After lunch we did more shopping, and a little more shopping.  There are so many tourist-y Scottish souvenir stores that they all begin to look the same and you feel like you've been there before.

Looking back up at Victoria St.  Its hard to tell in this picture but thats actually two levels up there.

A really pretty gate outside of some building.  Sadly, I can't remember which.  Also sadly, didn't get a picture of the building, just the gate.

Stopped into St Gile's Cathedral on the Royal Mile.  Took about 4 pictures before I saw the sign saying that a "photography permit" was required to take pictures, and could be purchased for 2 pounds.

Oh, and we saw the cafe/restaurant where Harry Potter was written!  Also known as The Elephant House.  It looked super awesome and if I ever come to Edinburgh, I want to go there for more than a photo op.  It was fantastic for me on two levels: 1) Birthplace of Harry Potter/JK Rowling has been there 2)  This place is COVERED in elephants.  Could have died...

Side note about this pic:  Outside of the Elephant House was this waist-ish height green fuzzy elephant, and as we approached it, I said "I love you" to it (don't know why, I felt compelled).  And then right below the elephant, on the wooden base, was a sign that said "I love you, but please don't climb on me, I'm delicate" (or something extremely similar.  It definitely started with 'I love you' though, which is the funny part)

And then after that we had to start making our way back to the bus to go home... sad face

We went down one of the Close's that looked like it might be interesting and found some pretty buildings

Love this sign!  Its so cool looking!

But we still had time for a little more rushed shopping on Princes St, and then we had to leave.  I definitely want to visit Edinburgh again - there was so much that I missed.  Didn't get to see Edinburgh Castle due to ... issues with International Society (long story short: They had no idea what they were doing and the tickets we bought from them for Edinburgh Castle didn't allow us to get in to the castle.  Yes, we got a refund...)

The closest I got to Edinburgh Castle.  Yeah, I know you can't see it.

Some... building (honestly not sure what).  Never got a chance to actually get close to it, so it could be anything.  But I wanted to take its picture! (Edit: I have since learned that this is the Scott Monument!  And you can go up to the top!)

I'm almost positive that this is Princes St Gardens, but I'm not 100% sure.  IF it is, apparently it used to be this horribly, nasty, sewage filled loch, and they drained it and put in a pretty park.  How delightful :)

  And to end this extraordinarily long blog post (and I haven't even gone back and added pictures yet!), I give you another video.  Of some Edinburgh musicians :)

(Sorry the video is short, I only got to stop for a second as we were heading back to the bus)