In October, I went on a super-short holiday to Scotland. I went on a wednsday and was back to work on friday!
First night
I went to work as usuall and work for a few hours before I went to the airport. I arrived at my hostel, Castle Rock Hostle(the best hostel I've ever been to btw) just before 5 p.m(17).
Just in time - because I was supposed to meet a local guy, that I had talked to through Couchsurfing, outside of my hostel at 5.
As the hostel is just by the Edinburgh Castle, we went up there and had a great view over the city. He helped me even though he didn't actually have time, but he told me about some things I should do and see while I was there. He drew on my map and told me backstories about most of it.
Then he had to leave, so I went to a pub called Shakespear, where a Couchsurfing meetup was going to be held that night.
I ordered a "Full English Burger" that had everything on it - fried egg, bacon, beans, sausage, mushrooms, onionring, 2 slices of burger and fries, and of course a large local beer with that.
I had also decided to meet another guy, Deniz, at the pub a while before the others came. We sat and talked and after 8 o'clock, more and more couchsurfers were arriving. At the end of the night we were probably more than 50 people! From all over the world!
View from my room at the hostel
Second day
I woke up early and went down for breakfast, showered, and was out the door of the hostel as early as 9 a.m!
Thanks to the advices of my couchsurferfriends, I went up the big hill in Holyrood Park. I had an incredible luck with the weather! It was sunny, clear and quite warm(for being the end of October).
The air was so refreshing and I felt so happy walking up that hill! I have never felt that free before. And the view was breathtaking! After taking a few photos, I sat down and just enjoyed it. The view, the air, the sun, the wind, the freedom, the silence and the calm.
After that amazing experience, I decided to go to the café, The Elephant House, probably more known as 'The birthplace of Harry Potter'. The café that J.K Rowling sat and wrote some of her first novels about the wizard, looking out the window with a view of Edinburgh Castle as inspiration.
I also went to the graveyard, Greyfriars Kirkyard, where Joanne also is said to have walked around in to get inspiration. Does the name of the poet William McGonagall ring a bell?
After going back to the hostel to charge my phone(so I could take more pictures), I went to the Water of Leith. Also a great tips that my couchsurfer gave me.
I was surprised that there were so few people there. I went along the little river and just enjoyed the afternoon sun, the sound of the water, the solitue and the beauty.
Then I walked through town and in the park by the Castle and just walked around all over town without a destination.
I went to a pub and had fish & chips for dinner, before taking another walk around town and then back to sleep.
The alarm went of at 3.45 am the next morning, an I went straight from the airport to work.
So many thing became so clear after that trip, and somehow I think that was the start of me finding myself.
edinburgh,
happiness,
resa,
resor,
scotland,
travel,
travelbug,
uk,
wanderlust,
