Exploring Edinburgh

Guest written by our friend Sergio Chaney

I had long been considering a trip to Scotland when late one May evening, as I watched a documentary about Edinburgh on international channels on direct tv, I decided that I was definitely going to use my two week's vacation time to travel to this fascinating city.

After flying into Glasgow and taking the train to Waverly Station in Edinburgh, I took my baggage and walked to my hotel - the Roxburghe. It is located just off Princes Street, which made walking to many of the major attractions such as the Scott Monument, the National Gallery and the Old City (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) very easy. Walking up the Royal Mile in the Old City to Edinburgh Castle was an experience in itself. The street is full of historic architecture, including St. Giles' Cathedral, as well as small shops, pubs, restaurants, and narrow closes (alleyways) that branch off the street. The Castle itself was marvelous and provided a stunning view of the city and the Firth of Forth. Other attractions I visited while there were Holyrood Palace, Holyrood Abbey, and the Camera Obscura. Having just read “The Da Vinci Code, I also took a bus out to Rosslyn Chapel, which is the chapel that featured in the book towards the end. All in all, it was a fantastic trip, and I will definitely go back some day.