Edinburgh

Edinburgh, originally uploaded by davedavid86.

i actually really miss Pulp Sport.. watching that now..

well coming to Edinburgh, visiting the sights and seeing and being able to stay with friends whom I know has definitely been one of the high points of my tour so far. Does make a bit of a difference when u stay with someone u know who is of ur age. U do feel a bit more at home and more comfortable. Of course will have to get used to being in a hostel and in the company of others but it is good once in a while to be with people that u know when u're touring.

Edinburgh Castle has plenty of history - not exactly a work of art bar the Royal Scottish War Memorial and the sights from the top, Palace of Holyroodhouse is quite exquisite and worth going if u didn't see Buckingham or Windsor Palaces, St Giles Cathedral i reckon is more stunning inside than St Pauls - this i say before i go to places like Notre Dame in Paris, etc. - Royal Mile is worth the walk on the cobblestones, and Newtown has plenty of great shops..

just want to say that while Dunedin and Edinburgh may be twins by name, they are definitely two completely different cities, and i have to say Edinburgh actually comfortably carves up Dunedin for culture - architecture of the buildings, the shops, Edinburgh actually feels more modern for some reason - history (obviously) and the scenery.. yes both may have Princes, George, Cumberland, Great King Streets and Heriot Rows but if u didn't know that fact, u wouldn't even have noticed the similarities..not once did i feel that i was back in Dunedin.. and prob i'm not supposed to..

so i head off to Liverpool tomorrow via Preston.. will try and catch the Liverpool v Marseille match - take my chances with tickets! will be there for two nights before moving down to Cardiff and maybe Southampton before going back to London.. still keeping the money p tight - helped by the fact when u're staying at friends too although u learn abt lunch deals at Greggs or Boots Pharmacy..

and have to get cracking on my French with the Eurostar now nearly a week away.. got to practice my French with this blonde French girl who was studying in Edinburgh.. she was with her friends on Arthurs Seat (this lookout point in the middle of a beautiful part of Edinburgh, with the grassy hills, lakes of swans and ruins of chapels).. chatted a little bit and she helped me out with a bit of my French..

btw that's a small plate of haggis and whisky.. beautiful.. once u don't think what's in it..

so goodbye Scotland.. it's been great.. back into England and then Wales!