Scotland - the land of Bagpipes, and Scotch Whisky ! The land of Scottish the Braves ! The birthplace of Golf ! The land of castles ! But I had no idea where to start and what problem are waiting for me when I landed in Edinburgh at 11:33. Just went to the information centre in the rail station and asked for anything can be done for getting an accommodation. they should me to another counter open for accommodation. They charge you £5 ( I am sorry for using £ sometimes and saying 'pounds' sometimes. My funny keyboard doesn't show up £ sometimes.) for each booking you make from the counter. But luckily, they had only hi-fi hotel infos and my budget can't exceed £30. As already lost £46.10( for missing the train), I have to compensate it somewhere else. Here again, I took my trump card, the printout from net and showed them and asked them where this Mayfield gardens is.I had taken some 6 addresses and 3 of them were in Mayfield Gardens. So I was sure that this place is full of B&Bs. The first half of the answer was disappointing, but the second half was good. They said, "it is out of the town, about 30mins walk from here" !!! So I am in the heart of the Town and the town ends in 30mins walk :)) ! Good for me ! She tried two three places with the number I gave, but none had vacancies( I know I will burn my hands if I do make a call). She, then, gave me a rough map. Came out of the station, through a wrong exit and asked the first person I met, the nearest bus stop which can take me to Mayfield gardens. It was amazing ! The place was lonely and this guy was painting a wall standing on a ladder.He came down and came to show me the way to the bus stand and he walked until the stop was in sight and then, went back ! Now, it looks like you are not in a strange place ! See the people ! The whole perspective changes ! I walked to the bus stop and there were two people, asked one of them. He explained, " You can get in to 5 or 33. Better take a day pass, it will cost you £1.80 and keep the change and the machine in the bus will not give back change if you put £2 or something like that !" The other guy added, "just count for some 3-4 stops and you will reach a place where the bus will take a turn, if it is 33. Get down there. I think we have a 33 now." I am talking about a bus stop in the middle of the Town, Capital of Scotland ! Unbelievable ! If you have landed in another European country's capital and you feel so homely, like you are in Thrissur or Kozhikode, it is incredible ! Took 33, took a day pass, and got down at the place where the bus took a deviation from main road. Just walked a bit forward and the next junction glanced at the left side cut road and saw a B&B board. Just gave a try. They had vacancies, and got single rooms and for rent £29. I really got it right when the room was attached and had coffee kettle and other accessories like cups and saucers other than the basic heaters, towels, soaps, shampoo and all. The time was 12:50 by then. Left the luggage and started immediately.Walked back to the Royal Mile. Royal Mile is the main road in Edinburgh old town. Old Town and new town is separated by a bridge with the rail line making the partition. The Royal Mile starts from the Castle and ends in the Palace. It looks it is a mile in length. My road from the hotel cuts the Royal Mile in the middle and it goes on to the bridge and to the new town. On my left side, I have to walk up to the Castle and if I go down the road on my right side, it will take my to the Palace. It was 1:15 when I entered the Royal Mile - a road made of stone, gives you a feeling that you have gone back a century ! Except for the taxis passing thru the road rarely, the road is full of pedestrians, and the air, air is full of music of bagpipe ! May be because Bagpipe has been one of my favorite instruments, I am biased ! But I will really call it an experience ! With both sides on the roads, either souvenir shops or restaurants, passed the Cathedral, and walked to the Castle. The air was full of the bag pipe music due to the piper here and there standing on the corner playing it with the box open for donations. Anyway, you get the music free and it is worth putting 20p or 50p in ! A queue for some 15 mins to enter the Castle. The view of the city from the castle was good, with the sea on one side and snow-filled hills on the other, both at distance. The war museum inside the castle conveyed me the message that the Scotts are proud for being brave and they boast a lot of their military history. I was amazed to find Haider Ali's sword in Castle of Edinburgh. The Scotts also were so much excited about their victory over Tippu. This is the only person I see, featured as a brave man in Windsor castle, British museum and now, here in Edinburgh also ! In Windsor castle, his small machine of a tiger killing an English man , his golden tiger head, and clothes were on display. I have seen his sword and helmets in British museum ! Bought some mementos and done with the castle by 4. One of the main things I bought was a CD of the pipe band. As usual, things are unnecessarily costly. Walked down the Royal Mile to the other end getting in to almost all souvenir shops and mostly coming out empty-handed after using my 80's table !
Reached the other end of the road, the palace- the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Walked past it to the right, I had no idea what is there. I ended up in an open area with the freeway passing through. On my left was a golf course, and in front a hill which has some pedestrian steep path to climb. Climbed half way, and looked back ! The evening Sun shining with his golden cloth and the meadow of the golf course, the houses, and the sea, all looks like a beautiful girl dressed up for a party :) ! Just stood there till the Sun vanished. Then climbed down, walked back to my hotel, had my missed lunch by 7pm - a falafel from a Syrian shop on the way.
I realised how tired I am once back in my room. Just fell flat to wake up only on next morning 7 ! I think I have one more day to go, but don't want to be lengthier than this.
