12. My Geographical Soulmate!

So you know how some people find their soulmate in the form of a human being? I've found mine in the form of a city.

I can't handle it. I need to find a way to legally marry a city. I'm not even sure that there's a way of illegally doing it, but I'm taking it on as a challenge. 

Today I did three of the six things on my main list, and two were quite by accident. 

1. The Royal Mile

I had it on my list, but being new to Edinburgh, I wasn't sure where I would come across it. Luckily, The Royal Mile was on my way to Edinburgh Castle. It's essentially a huge street of touristy stores, selling people like me some stuff that I could get at the store two doors down. However, I stopped in and bought a lot of stuff. Like, already more than I did in London. I was in London for eight days... I've been in Edinburgh for one. Anyhow, my aunts and mom will be happy, got a little gift for them, as well as a small something for pops and Edgar. I also made out quite well! What I'm saying is, I am being kind to myself. This could possibly be my favourite city in the world. I'm going to enjoy it!

(Dudes, I'm typing this while I sit at a French patisserie, and the guy serving the patio looks like a damn legitimate Disney prince. This is weird. It's also quite excellent. In no way should this be interpreted as a complaint.)

Moving on...

(Tron Church, bah!)

(The Witchery has some really great signage, I may have to actually go in.)

(This guy and his dog were adorable. We chatted for a bit, and the man is a sweetheart.)

2. Edinburgh Castle 

This was the gem. This is what I was excited to see, and man alive did I see it. It's a real castle, you guys. Not some fake Disney one (though clearly, they're welcome to send their princes my way), and it was an extremely wonderful experience. It was touching at moments, beautiful overall and something that you cannot miss in Edinburgh. Literally, it's huge and sits atop a hill/cliff/embankment/highthing. I took so many pictures, that my camera battery died. The good news is that because I'm as ridiculous a person as I am, I have two extra batteries, though they've yet to be charged. Tonight is the night!

(There is a stunning WWI memorial inside this building, and was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seem. No pictures allowed, but Google it and see for yourself. Stunning.)

(Even the things used to attach drainage pipes to the wall are fancy at the castle. Beauty is in the details. Is that the right saying? Well it is now.)

(Prisoners quarters, the last three shots.)

3. St. Giles Catherdal

I missed this on my walk to the castle, and only realized that had happened when I was eating some fish and chips, and a woman referenced that I was right near it.

So I walked down the street, back to St. Giles, and it did not disappoint, I remember reading online that I would have to pay £2 for a photography pass. The internet did not lie. It didn't matter as I'm sure they saw it more as a way to get donations than much else. The place is stunning, and has this blue ceiling that I have never see anything like. It's truly a beatfilovely (new word!) building.

After that, I decided what tomorrow would be (more on that later), and it did not entail a ton more for the day today. I walked the shops, a couple of Scottish-inspired ones, as well as what I would call super-fun designy shops. As I mentioned, much was purchased, and it is all my new favourite things. I purchased myself the following:

1. Scottish tweed gloves with leather (winter, I'm ready... please still be nice)

2. Shortbread, obviously

3. A hilarious insert-inappropriate-words-here notebook

4. Five hilarious greeting cards, never to be used as such

5. An adorable tartan fabric bird pin/broach

Then I ended up in the middle of a little outdoor space near the Scottish National Gallery (closed when I walked by), and watched an extremely fun band of a Scotsman and two brothers from Milan. It was a bagpipe, drums and an electric guitar. I enjoyed it so much that I bought their CD, and donated a few pounds. It was so pleasant, unique and lovely. I have some video but can't upload it here, so a picture is below (managed to squeeze one more only out of my camera battery after letting it rest.) They're called The Spinning Blowfish. They're also called excellent and adorable.

Tomorrow will be the trek to the top of Arthur's Seat, a very tall mountain-like situation, that I am voluntarily going to take part in. Contain your shock. Then I'm going to climb up another thing called Calton's Hill, where there are fun historical things that I plan to learn more about, because I sound super ignorant right now!

This is Calton's Hill, as seen from a bridge as I walked to dinner.

Alright, have to finish up here at the patisserie, get back to the place I'm staying, get the pictures I took onto this thing, and send it out to the internets.

Until tomorrow!