Tugs of War
Hello world! I would have preferred writing this yesterday, but we were so tired after a long day and I couldn’t keep my phone straight enough in my hand to write a full sentence.
Saturday in Edinburgh was a dreary. Rain and cold everywhere, but with a sticky warm underdone that meant our clothes would be wet on both sides and it would make the rest of the day uncomfortable if allowed to fester.
We started out by walking towards Edinburgh Castle, where my umbrella immediately failed. The wind and rain proved too strong for the flimsy aluminum mechanism of the poor thing, and so I had to make do with what was left. The road to the castle was filled with interesting small shops and boutiques, and we were impressed with the diversity and quality of the items in stock. Tourists left and right, going about their business regardless of the weather, gave us the motivation to power through and ascend the road to the castle itself.
Some of exhibitions we saw within the castle walls eye-opening, like the prison cells where inmates would sleep on hammocks and forced to eat lovely protein snacks:
The rest of the castle itself was interesting as castles go, but what was more impressive was the enthusiasm around its military history, as shown here by The Most Scottish Man in the World:
This man made sure we were well versed in the language of primal cries as he was brandishing his spear, and I now feel more safe at home knowing he’s here defending us against the foes of the United Kingdom.
The rest of the day, we shopped – kilts, Harry Potter apparel, whisky liqueur, and anything to remind us of this fantastic (and friendly) historical city once we’d leave. We wanted to embark on some ghostly, scary dungeon tours and some alcohol-filled whisky tours, but every other tourist in the city beat us to it so we had to settle for spending the evening indoors.
But honestly, what a great idea.
We needed some time to rest our feet, and what better way than to order take-out and play games as a group? Isn’t that what traveling together is all about?
Next up: Stirling Castle, Age of Empires & Crimson Tide! Stay tuned!