Edinburgh Scotland

When my husband asked me “where is the one place you have always wanted to go,” “Scotland!” was the first place I exclaimed. I can’t say for certain, but I do know it was always one of those places you intrinsically feel “called” to see right up there with Ireland. It seemed magical. When you think of Scotland before you’ve been there, you think surreal. So it shouldn’t be a shock when you finally arrive to find that it is nothing but. Yet I was still so surprised and in the best way possible. Scotland is a place you dream of a child, one that so vividly captures your imagination you never forget it. And so I found myself in 2024 standing in front of a Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

From the moment we landed, the sites were crazy to take in, our friendly taxi driver speeding down the “wrong side of the road” as Americans like to say. The architecture is so unlike America, cobblestone streets and castles everywhere. Even the “normal” buildings have grand spires and arches. Adrenaline carries you a long way when you arrive in a place you’ve been dreaming about. We stayed at the Adagio Edinburgh Royal Mile Hotel (which I highly recommend especially for a first trip to Scotland!) Castle-like on the outside and modern apartment style on the inside, the Adagio is perfectly situated on the Royal Mile in Old Town Edinburgh. If you wish to go to cool restaurants, do some great shopping, visit pubs and enjoy absorbing the history, being on the Royal Mile is a perfect situation. The Mile is the space that exists between both the Palace of Holyrood where members of the royal family stay when they come to Edinburgh. There is so much to do, see and explore all day long that at the end of a long day of walking, you can rest up back at your cozy hotel.

The pubs are as intimate and welcoming as you would imagine and the charming locals are warm and friendly. They are the kind of places you can sit in for hours just talking to people and not feel pressured to leave. Nobody rushes you out, and sipping a beer or wine and chatting is highly encouraged. We had some favorites in the area that we frequented more than once, like No.1 High Street, The Black Bull, and Cold Town House with it’s lavender ivy creeping up the side and sitting directly under Edinburgh Castle. Another must see area also right under Edinburgh Castle, is a 2,000 square foot walkable shopping area called The Grassmarket Market. You will love walking around, stopping and shopping in all the lively shops and vibrant pubs that line the whole area. Historically the Grassmarket from the 15th century was a former execution site which hundreds of years later eventually became the hub of shopping that it is today. This square is also an excellent place to take photos and one of the best selfie spots in Scotland with Edinburgh Castle towering over you in the background. Can’t beat it!

While in Edinburgh, be sure to try the a well known dish their called the Cullen Skink, a thin and lovely fish soup, almost like a chowder a favorite dish of ours. Of course we tried haggis being in Scotland and all. I am mostly vegetarian so not something I would eat all the time but I just had to try the famous food and it was actually pretty tasty. You will find whatever you order in restaurants and in the pubs to be delicious, like steak and ale pie, their fish and chips, scotch eggs, scrumcious breakfasts and of course the beer, cocktails and Guinness. Scotland was the first time I was anywhere with no sign of America and I have to say it was so refreshing and wonderful. To be in a place thousands of years old with so much history, the geography and landscape, the people, food, and places to go. I even got to see my first Scottish Coo (the huge, orange cows with long horns and shaggy coats) and drank whisky while listening to Scottish stories. It was an unforgettable trip. I highly recommend you plan a vacation there, you won’t regret it!