Edinburgh with Ester

Yes, I am about three countries behind. And my recollection may now be so overcrowded with new sites and peeps, I'm trying mightily to pen them down as quickly as I can. It's actually been only 11 days ago that I was in Scotland, where I trained up from Birmingham. But am writing this now from Zurich...so, this is an especially expensive piece of writing you could say!

The 4hr train ride to Edinburgh was lovely, passing lots of green pastures spotted with little lambs...or maybe they just seemed little. Ester, my lovely Airbnb host was there to greet me at the train station on Haymarket, even after I had to retrieve my red carry-on bag left on the train. As we walked through Edinburgh to her apartment, me dragging my 20kg samsonite over some cobblestone, Ester gayfully pointed out sites around town as I kept wondering if I'd stepped back in time. A land of castles right in the middle of the city, brimstone houses and old rock bridges...I was waiting for gnomes and goblins to jump out from under Dean's Bridge!

My first day on my own in town, I went on a free walking tour along the Royal Mile, learning much of the history. I hadn't even known that one of my favorite authors hails from here and got to have a few cups of coffee (which has somehow become a reinstated lifestyle for me) in one of the purported cafes where Harry Potter was born. Ester had adviced against paying to go in to Edinburgh castle or hiking up Arthur's seat and instead walk up Calton Hill, which was absolutely lovely. The architecture of this whole city is just amazing, more so pronounced from the top of Calton, and never mind the rich history and stories. Definitely worth going back, especially to visit my new friend who hails from the Basque region of Spain. My favorite thing about Edinburgh, aside from getting a slice of Ester's passion for it, is the sun setting close to 10pm this time of year! Yes, 10pm! Too bad the museums don't stay open this late. On top of all this, I found a handful of yoga studios, one where I met a lovely instructor, Hailey.

I also got to spend a lovely lazy day putzing around Ester's neighborhood, Stockbridge, which is very close to the royal botanical gardens. It was a perfect afternoon even with the sporadic downpour. This was a city of UK I've hardly known about and have come to love and appreciate in the very short few days I got to spend there, and I keep thanking the universe for granting me the most awesome life, filled with such amazing experiences and wonderful people!