Edinburgh

We arrive to Edinburgh Airport early in the morning together with heavy rain. Luckily, while I spent four hours sleeping, the weather has changed to better. Now the sky looks sunny. Let’s see how long it will stay like this for. 🙂 We’re in cold Scotland, which is quite niggard when it comes to sun. In the afternoon I meet with my crew. This time it’s surprisingly eight of us! It seems that Edinburgh is one of the most popular destinations, because senior crew members rarely leave the comfort of the hotel room. Only new joiners have still energy to explore. I’m bit afraid of a large group, I rather explore on my own or in a small group of people I get along well. I don’t like to face arguments and then do compromises. But it seems, however, that today we operate like a team not only on board, but also while out of our uniforms.

 

Harry Potter and the most loyal dog

We have to take a large taxi for eight people, which drops us off in front of Edinburgh Castle. We don’t go in, we just enjoy the view from the walls. Each building in Scotland’s capital looks like a haunted castle. I can see why writer J. K. Rowling came with idea to write about Harry Potter right here. Later, we get lost in the big souvenir shop, which is just below the castle. Bags are filled with cashmere scarves, biscuits or whiskey-flavored teas. And the time to fill our stomachs comes. Our Food and Beverage Manager leads us to a pretested location across the main street Royal Mile. We pass magnificent St. Giles Cathedral, under which Scotts in their typical kilts are playing the Gadgets. We stop at the Scotch Whiskey shop and continue towards Lauriston Square. There, on the corner of Grassmarket and George IV. Street is a small statue of a dog. Greyfriars Bobby was the darling of the whole city. He became known after the death of his master when he was guarding his grave for an unbelievable 14 years until he died as well. Only thanks to the people who kept bringing him food to the grave was able to live for so long… An unique example of perseverance, loyalty and unconditional love…

Scottish Haggis

Grossmarket is home to the typical Scottish Pub Maggie Dickson with live music and traditional food. And we’re going to eat there. As an aperitif, I’m choosing “salty and peat” Isle Whiskey Laphroig. After it, dense creamy vegetable soup and lamb chops with potato mash follows. Carefully from a colleague’s plate, I taste the traditional Scottish Haggis, which is actually something like liver sausages, flavored sheep’s intestines mixed with oatmeal. I have to admit that they are excellent! I will not hesitate so much next time.

The view from the tower

With a full stomach and warmed up with whiskey, we are ready for cold weather outside. The sun is still on the sky, although it sometimes fights with heavy clouds. At the Royal Mile, we stop at an old church, which today works as a bazaar of beautiful artistic crafts. And there, our large group falls apart. The captain with our First Officer prefer to go to the bar for another set of whiskey, while the rest of us walk down the street towards the Scott Monument tower. For five pounds we can go up to enjoy the view over city. It takes exactly 287 spiral and dangerously narrow stairs. As we climb up, we are loosing our breath and fighting with dizziness. And above all, up there is terribly windy, but the view is definitely worth it!

See you soon Edinburgh

When we leave the tower, outside is getting dark slowly. Three of us ditch us to continue on Calton Hill, where some Antic ruins are found. The rest of us go to pick up our pilots from the bar and get back to the hotel together. Edinburgh is awesome! I’m looking forward to coming back again. 😉