We couldn’t stay away.
Almost two years ago, we went to Scotland for the first time and loved it so much, we were already planning our return before we boarded the plane to carry us home.
And three weeks ago, the day finally came to go back.
Why do we love it so much? Let’s see—there’s the history, the beauty, and the people.
Plus, according to our DNA tests and Ancestry.com, we each have a little Scottish blood in our veins. Us, and most of America, it seems.
But I digress.
After a connecting flight in Boston, we landed in Edinburgh about mid-morning. Our hotel room was not yet ready, so the staff stowed our bags and off we went. First stop, money—as in pounds—at the bank through the park and across the street.
We looked forward to using the ATM at this bank, because we went there last time. In fact, we got a tour.
If you followed the posts from our first trip to Edinburgh two years ago, you might remember this bank.
Even though I’d seen it before, it still stuns me. It reminds me a little bit of the bank buildings our family went to when I was little. The ones in our town had murals on the wall and marble on the floor. Now, most of the bank branches in our area have either closed or are so utilitarian as to be nondescript and unwelcoming.
In contrast, the Bank of Scotland bank at 36 St. Andrew Square takes my breath away and set the tone for the beauty and history we would see on this trip too.
Next stop, the bookstore, of course. This one, Waterstones, has a fabulous collection of books on Scotland history as well as local interest and travel, and fiction written by Scottish authors or that takes place in Scotland. Within half an hour, I bought two books that I would then have to lug around the country and back home. But it was worth it.
Next, we headed over to the University of Edinburgh campus to walk around a bit. And just off the quad, we found a long patch of bluebells and other wildflowers decorating a fence. We knew that bluebells would be in season and, since I wasn’t sure if I’d ever seen them before, I was excited to do so now. We saw them many times over the days to come.
After a quick stop into the “Uni” bookstore, we went in search of a coffee/tea shop, knowing we’d find several close to the campus and its caffeine-craving students. At one busy coffee shop, we were pleased to find this nook by the window. It could not have been more perfect.
Then, tired from our long hours of travel the day before, we headed back to our hotel in hopes that our room was ready. After a nap, we went to dinner and made it a short night.
The next morning would be the official start of our trip, and we couldn't wait.
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