Scotland 2015 – Day 7: Wandering around, sightseeing

We had a relaxed day. Nat & James are leaving tomorrow and I don’t want them to go 🙁 It’s been so great catching up and being tourists together. Natalie is having a fab time, which I’m so pleased about, given that Scotland is not her fave destination. I think she’s been very pleasantly surprised at how much there is to see here.

We grabbed a cup of tea at the bottom of the Mound, then headed up the 4 billion stairs to the Royal Mile. Good God, I’m going to have buns of steel after this holiday.

Dear God.... the stairs in this city...
Dear God…. the stairs in this city…

We wandered down the Royal Mile, down past the Wyrd Shoppe and stopped in for some shopping. Nat & I got some beautiful titanium quartz necklaces and a few other bits and bobs in the crystal section. My crystal collection has grown significantly since I arrived. Cannot wait to get them all home and see what they do.

After that, we carried on down the Royal Mile then made our way up to Calton Hill. More stairs but after the beer consumption lately, it’s very necessary!

The Royal Mile
The Royal Mile
Dugald Stewart Monument on Calton Hill
Dugald Stewart Monument on Calton Hill
National Monument of Scotland
National Monument of Scotland – Nat & James
The wee castle on the hill way yonder, the Balmoral Clock and the Scott Monument
The wee castle on the hill way yonder, the Balmoral Clock and the Scott Monument
Nelson's Monument - it's shaped like an upright telescope
Nelson’s Monument – it’s shaped like an upright telescope
The Observatory
The Observatory
Holyrood Palace in the distance and Arthur's Seat
Holyrood Palace in the distance and Arthur’s Seat
The flags were half mast outside the Balmoral for the Paris attacks.
The flags were half mast outside the Balmoral for the Paris attacks.
Uh..... ok.
Uh….. ok.
Stopped for a bite at this pub on Rose Street
Stopped for a bite at this pub on Rose Street
And of course, pulled in for a pint here
And of course, pulled in for a pint here
I'm going to miss these 2 lunatics so much when they leave :-(
I’m going to miss these 2 lunatics so much when they leave 🙁
Man I miss the pubs in the UK!
Man I miss the pubs in the UK!
The Ross Fountain and Edinburgh Castle
The Ross Fountain and Edinburgh Castle

We stopped at The Scotch Whisky Experience at the top of the Royal Mile. I’ve been tasked with bringing back 6 bottles of scotch for my family so I needed the extra hands to help me carry them back to the flat.

More miles, lots more stairs, and then dinner over some pints. Oooof it’s definitely been a boozy day! We’re meeting up early tomorrow to see them off at the airport. I’m not looking forward to that part at all.

Author: MacScottie

I'm a South African-born American who dabbles in writing, photography and cookery. I lived in England for 6 years before moving to America. My first trip to Scotland was in 2003 and it was love at first sight. 4 trips later & I'm now on a quest to find a way back to my soul-home in Scotland. I've picked up favourite foods in each place I've lived so I'm a product of all the places I've been. A sprinkling of this, a dash of that and in an emergency, a generous splash of Scotch!

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