Scotland incites excitement and hold-your-belly laughs during a girls’ reunion one weekend in Edinburgh.
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It takes exactly twelve minutes for my heart to settle on a mushy love scene with Edinburgh. During this time, I decide the picturesque Scottish capital is quite the romantic backdrop. At least, I’m sure twelve minutes is how long it takes me to walk from Waverley Station to The Mound, the slope that connects Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns.
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Setting Off at King’s Cross Station
My trip starts at King’s Cross station in London, with its cacophony of voices, languages and accents. The five-hour journey is punctuated with scenes that remind me how much I love the way trains move through a landscape. Trees whiz past with dizzying speed. Corn fields sway with the wind. Small water bodies twinkle as the sun’s rays hit. A frisson of excitement rushes through me, leaving the heady feeling of being on the eve of something amazing.
Arrival in Edinburgh
When my friend, Abena, meets me at the station in Edinburgh, we squeal like a pair of kids. It’s been years since we last saw each other.
“Arrrgh, you cut your hair!”
“So did you!”
“Your butt hasn’t shrunk!”
We couldn’t keep calm – not for love or money.
Settling In…
Abena lives opposite a bakery, a Chinese restaurant and a chic-looking hair salon. We settle in on the second floor. I get an unobstructed view into one of the apartments across the street. There is a couple in the flat above the bakery who seem to be glued at the pelvis. Their kitchen window looks steamy. One is hard pressed to know if this is from the hot water she’s pouring from the spaghetti into the kitchen sink. Or, the scorching kisses he plants down her neck while she’s at it?
I turn around and grin mischievously at Abena. “You have nice neighbours.”
I have packed optimistically. This really means I’ve totally underestimated the weather and haven’t brought a decent coat for the somewhat chilly summer. While Abena roots for one to lend me, I send a text to Adi, a Scottish friend. Hey, I’m in your country! What’s a must-do in Edinburgh? He replies soon. A must-do in Edinburgh…is to get out of the city and go to Glasgow immediately. Ha! Bet you can’t tell he’s from Glasgow, can ya?
Time for a Catch-up
The plan is to have dinner and take in some night time sights. However, we never make it out of the flat. Once we park on the chairs in the kitchen, we trade scintillating stories we’ve missed from the other’s life. For the rest of the night, peals of laughter can heard from us every so often. This leaves us with a steely determination to get up and about the next morning. Y’know, instead of lazing around and gorging ourselves on cake.
Out and About in Edinburgh
A quaint feel hugs itself to Edinburgh’s cobbled alleys, Gothic architecture grand dame hotels and vintage shops. Two prominent landmarks helm the city in; Edinburgh Castle, and the rocky peaks of Arthur’s Seat, the eroded remains of a long-extinct volcano. At about 251m in its highest point, I know my thighs cannot manage Arthur’s Seat right now. Even as I toy with the idea, I remember Adi’s second text. I was going to suggest Arthur’s Seat. I know how much you love to exercise, he’d written with characteristic cheekiness. (A direct dig at the time we planned to attend an exercise class together. I pulled out at the last minute. Honestly, I had a headache!) That said, I admire Arthur’s Seat from afar.
Perched on a hilltop in the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline in a cascade of architectural styles.
We descend to the Royal Mile, a time warp of a street awash with a tangle of historic sites, walkways and entertainment options.
A Whirlwind of Activities
Over the next days, we pack in a whirlwind of activities. We people-watch on the Royal Mile. Feast on a hearty Scottish breakfast. Fit in a last-minute trip to Glasgow for a house party. Enjoy afternoon tea at The Balmoral, Edinburgh’s top five-star hotel dating back to 1902. Take in the hustle and bustle of Princes Street, a shopping mecca boasting views of the Old Town. We chance on a book sale and buy emergency bags to lug our loot back home. Bask in the warm hospitality of the Scottish.
Edinburgh is such a great city to tap into my inner flâneuse on a girls’ weekend. It’s the perfect backdrop for history with a side of hold-your-belly laughs. One weekend in Edinburgh: 10/10 would recommend.
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