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Arthur’s Seat
Yesterday, I climbed Arthur’s Seat. The Seat is a portion of an exinct volcano that rises above Edinburgh. Interestingly, as was pointed out multiple times during the walking, Arthur’s Seat has nothing to do with King Arthur, and the name is believed to be a bastardisation of Archer’s Seat, which seems much more logical. There is a heap of history associated with the Seat both geographically and socially, but I’ll let you find out more yourselves. While normally quite an easy climb especially when done in certain directions, I set myself the challenge of climbing the road less travelled. The climb took me from one side of the Seat, along a gentle slope onto the windward side, where I scaled the steepest part of the hill which didn’t require climbing equipment.
The view from Arthur’s Seat is amazing allowing you to see Edinburgh proper and the surrounding regions. It was quite beautiful. At the top I was able to drop my whole body weight against the wind that howled around me and remain standing. Rain was pelting in sideways, so hard that I felt that my face was being cut with glass with each drop. It was great. I spent about 3 hours casually strolling the Seat, taking in the sights and generally being proud of myself.
Soaking wet I sauntered back into the hostel at about 4pm. I got changed, hung up my gear and retired for a brief nanna’s. The Edinburgh night was calling me and I had to be ready.
New Edinburgh Pub Crawl
I’ve been doing a lot of drinking in Scotland. When in Rome and all that. Last night in an effort to satiate this alcohol fueled demon that seems to inhabit me whenever I stay in a hostel I joined the New Edinburgh pub crawl. The tour, organised by the same company that ran the walking tour I went on earlier in the day, took in about 5 pubs and a night club. Starting the tour at the Bank Bar, 70 people gathered together in the cold and fog and drink tokens in hand trudged the streets.
I made a few new friends, dominated the video pub quiz (scoring a share of the 10 pound payout), and drank, drank, drank. It was a great night, but I lost everyone at the Hive. I hit up another club, and headed home about 2am. For anyone looking for a great tour group to explore Edinburgh with, I don’t think you can really go past the Sandeman’s New Edinburgh group. Fantastic stuff.
In other news I managed to score a room at St. Christopher’s, the hostel I’ve been at the last two nights, even though I left the booking until this morning. Pretty lucky, as the interwebs were telling me the whole of Scotland is booked solid.
Belushi’s
I’ve arrived in Scotland. Nine hours on a bus sure builds a thirst. I quenched said thirst pretty hard at the bar below my backpackers. Belushi’s. For the first night in a new city it proved pretty fun, however the loud Americans in the common room this morning are a bit tiresome. Their voices are piercing. Obnoxious. I want to tear out their tracheas.
Bit harsh? You wouldn’t think so if you were here, nursing a killer hangover.