Why to travel to Edinburgh?

This week we have an invited blogger. Patricia Cárcamo, of Las Palmas of Grand Canary, tells us his passion for Edinburgh. Do not get lost it! And pay attention, because he has lived in Perth and in Edinburgh, so quite what it tells us is an information first hand …

Edinburgh

The capital of Scotland is perhaps a slightly valued destination. It is not of the first ones that they appear being offered in magazines or webs of trips. But for me, and many other persons with whom I coincided with her, it is a magic city … not only for his history, but because it has something that catches who the visit. None we could have forgotten it. I worked and lived a few months in her, and for the one who wants to go of tourism, these are my recommendations:

First, to take a good overcoat and pea jacket. And second, to very want to laugh and be related with, for me, the nicest citizens of the whole United Kingdom.

It does not have big tourist attractions, but the simple fact of walking along Royal Mile (or the Golden Mile), deserves to visit it. It is the heart of the old town of Edinburgh, the avenue that communicates the castle of Edinburgh (dominating the city) with the Hollyroodhouse palace. One mile, or one kilometer of entertaining cobbled walk. During the walk, in the daytime, you can turn away and begin typical bars to take a beer or go down for streets replete with shops with Scotch products. It is necessary to take time in Royal Mile to discover all his mesenteries. And in the night … the underground world and histories of witches. There can be done holding a permit trips that the spiky hairs put.

Edinburgh can be covered, informs, on foot. Very close and parallel in Royal Mile there is Princes Street and his gardens. It is a shopping street and a green area where (if it is nice) it is ideal to lie down to relax, trying not to think that you are in the place where they were burning the witches. There Nelson is also the Monument in honor in this admiral, whom it is possible to raise for a spiral staircase.

It is not possible to allow rising to the hills of the city. Calton Hill is, undoubtedly, my favorite corner. There are a few wonderful conference of the city and of the sea. Also there is the National monument, based on the Acropolis of Athens and that was constructed to remember the fallens in the Napoleonic wars … but like many of the things that are begun in Scotland, the monument remained by half, and now they call him the Monument to the National Shame. Nevertheless this half of Acropolis in the top of a hill, with a sky azulísimo of fund, is a spectacle.

A very popular walk also is the one that rises to Arthur's Seat (Arturo's chair). It is very easy to climb and the panoramic sight of the city also is beautiful.

But the big beauty of Edinburgh is his people. Open, cozy, nice. Of course, up to someone who dominates English it will find it hard to him to understand his accent. In the bars they meet young and major, wealthy and poor … it Begins a typical bar to take a face and you will end up by chatting the whole night with some villager. Of course, they have his well gained reputation … drink greatly, too much.

To go out night there are bars for all the tastes. If you go with little money find out of what bar has offers every night, and you will be able “to suffocate” in rogues. He eats and drinks in the Tron, start the night in the Cabaret Voltaire, a bar - cave, if you want ambience more "heavy" enter the Opìum, get lost for the alleys and caves of the endless Espionage. You will not have problem in finding places moving for the center.

If you go enough days, from Edinburgh you can do visits to nearby cities. One is worth giving a jump to St. Andrews, with his university, his beach and golf courses. Dundee is a very animated city and Perth is also very agreeable. That, close to Edinburgh. If you want to cover the Highlands rent a car (there are the cheapest agencies) and sleep in cheap hotels. Also there are routes guided in bus from Edinburgh, but for my taste, they go too rapidly and stop only in the souvenirs shops.

A separate mention is deserved by the Festival Fringe of Edinburgh. From July until September there are small festivals, of Jazz and Blues, of scenic arts … certainly, although the cheap hotels get dearer, it is necessary to go in August to enjoy the city in all his splendor. Royal Mile becomes saturated of artists and the day one can happen in this street enjoying free street spectacles. Also there are concerts in the Princes gardens. Of course there are hundreds, thousands, of shows of payment for the one who could allow it to himself.

Also there is known Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which takes place every evening in the Castle. It is a quite curious spectacle of military bands.

The advantage of going in summer, in addition to the time, there are the hours of light. Practically you will not see the darkness. Nevertheless the winter is quite depressing because immediately it becomes night.

I recommend to visit this city, do not have the most minimal doubt that they will remain pleased for his magic.

Accommodation

In summer the city fills with tourists and artists come from the whole world, for what there are many cheap hotels in Edinburgh where you can sleep in berths sharing room, use the kitchen and common areas. It is a good way of having accommodation at accessible prices.

Meal

The meal is not the fortress of the Scots. The specialty of the house, for whom it dares (I have not proved it) is the haggis … by means of animals guts.

Otherwise there is greatly fish&chips, rolls (sandwiches) and hamburgers. They will end up by eating in Chinese, Turkish restaurants and McDonald's. But before the absence of variety, I recommend to eat in the Tron, in full center of Royal Mile, to go out of the step. And a teeny-weeny and familiar, but very good Sicilian restaurant, which is in Union Street.

Thank you very much Patrician for sharing your experience and your photos with all of us. We have liked very much: and we wait that to all our readership also!

Thank you also to bea and fredi for the photo in Flickr.