This blog post is a sequel to the series ‘The Recap of the Day – Edinburgh 2017’.
How my first day – friday – has been, you can read here –> Edinburgh Travel.
How my second day – saturday – has been, you can read here -> Edinburgh Saturday

The morning

After a very late and a bit tired of all the impressions within one day, Sunday arrived. This Sunday I chose to start easy and slowly with my day. Waking up and after the morning ritual pack some stuff and go on the road for a little breakfast outdoors. This breakfast was just a normal one for me: a sandwich accompanied with a fresh juice and some fruit. No, I have not had the Scottish breakfast yet, I save that for another day. While I was having breakfast I was figuring out what to do today, what to do the next couple of days and how to combine all the stuff. The focus was only on today though, the rest of my ideas of what to visit was just labeled as ‘later sometime’. After a while the decision was made: The National Museum of Scotland!

The afternoon

In the transition from the morning hours to the afternoon hours I walked to the National Museum of Scotland. Uphill, downhill, left and right…I walked criss-crossing through the streets of Old Town. The museum is at first glance a nice old classic Roman looking building with a modern extension next to it. The entrance and facilities are far from old, it is really modern and good facilitated! Only I did not know one thing that I had better should have known in advance: the museum counts eight! floors. The exhibition on the floors are now and then as small as one floor or as big as two, three, four, or even five floors! Depends on in which area you are walking. More details and explanation and tips and tricks for this museum will be written in a special blog post.

The National Museum of Scotland is not only about the Scottish, the Scotsmen were world explorers! And therefore inspired people and got inspired by other cultures as well. Yes, inspiring, not taking over cultures. At the museum a nice guard explained me about a royal exhibition and that I could join and leave the guided tour when I want to. One hour later at another exhibition I ran into the same guard again, those guards at all the museums switch places throughout the day, kind of rotating system of the guards. Therefore they know lots about all kinds of subjects. So I had for half an hour a nice chitchat about the Scottish people, the culture, the exhibition we were at, the Royal history and how they are all connected to each other and the Brexit. Yes the Royal history is in my opinion extremely complex. From Stuarts, Tudors, Jacobites, Oranges and so on and the many battles that were fought with – the help of – the Scottish the past couple of centuries. What also had a lot to do, in fact is, Royal history as well, is the history of Bonnie St. Charlie and the Jacobites. This is also the name of a temporary exhibition now at the museum and it is really wonderful! Learned a lot and slowly bits and pieces are becoming a vague picture of the Royal family, the battles and the history of the crown!

When you are visiting Edinburgh and this exhibition is still at display, definitely worth a visit because it explains a lot special – non photography permitted – items are at display! Jacobites Jacobites…I had read it already several times throughout the city but who the were, are, and so on….will be written in a special blog post about this exhibition!

The evening

After I left the museum at closing time, I decided to have an early dinner for I could walk to and through Holyrood Park which was my idea for spending the evening. Nearby the museum I stumbled upon a nice bar named ‘Biblos’. A spacious bar / restaurant / café where I had fresh Fish ‘n Chips from the menu. When you are in the United Kingdom, you have to try that too. Though I believe it is not typical Scottish. But anyways it was delicious and accompanied with Italian Bruchetta, I had fuel enough to walk an approximately 5 miles (around 8km). The walk was again criss-crossing through a lovely neighbourhood, entering Holyrood Park on a side path that ended into a not-official grass path. Astonishing views already from the ground across the deeper valley to the hills. Two major hills at front of which the highest one is the ‘Arthur’s Seat’.

This is also a point where I have to admit I was confronted with traveling on my own. Thinking about: is it too late at the day – because of the daylight – to hike through a enormous park on your own? Who will watch my back? – nobody of course except maybe a passerby. Will the weather stay the same all the time I am hiking / climbing? – guessed not because the wind was changing in strength a lot. Is there a clear route map? Or sign? –> apparently not as well. It really is nature as it is! Lovely but therefore take care, don’t get lost! I decided to just walk a path that did not look too steep and not climbing the stone stairs to ‘Arthurs Seat’. Was already quite a bit afraid of height by seeing those people high on the hill, or mountain to say as a Dutchie living in a flat land. Everywhere near the edge of the hills we had to be aware of falling rocks. Meanwhile I made lots and lots of photos of the incredible view and shared a few with friends and family so they know a bit where I am, how it is and in a kinda way this feels also a bit more safe. Being connected and kind of ‘being watched your back‘ by sharing an update now and then during the walk.

Well, after walking and walking, photo’s, drops of rain, sunshine, runners passing by, dogs playing around and so on…it was time to go home. I crossed the Holyrood Park on a nice path and from there it took me another 3/4 hours before I reached home by foot. Nearby were several bus stops but the busses on that route particular were redirected due to road works. I don’t mind walking when you miss you bus, or two or three bus stops. This gave me the nice and mandatory opportunity to walk through another neighborhood and discover nice cute houses, gardens, churches, pubs and just being in a completely different environment again. This city Edinburgh has so many kinds of different neighbourhoods, areas, parks, churches, every little bit makes you feel your are completely somewhere else again.

Tomorrow or really late tomorrow, my story of Monday will be online, that consists of lots and lots of venues and exhibitions. It has been a busy and long day but I immensely love this kind of holiday. Again a little 1200 words on…Oh I keep on talking – eh writing – ….

Goodnight folks! Oidhche, mhath.

Chan eil aon chànan gu leòr!

Greetings by Sophie