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My Scottish Adventure; Edinburgh

7th August 2017 by Candace 6 Comments

After a very traumatic few weeks where I had been in to a coma and nearly died, developed a serious and rare dermatology illness and then spent 9 days in a cancer isolation ward and my immune system had failed, my hair coming out in clumps and required a central line, I needed a change of scenery.  A place to mentally get my head around what lay in front of me.  Something that would throw my life right in the air.  I really was in no fit state to travel anywhere,  I was fainting on a daily basis.  I knew why and it was something I would have to put up with for a wile.  I was also emotionally and mentally drained after splitting from my partner.  I didn’t think it was possible to cry any more tears.  A text message was sent to me after he had driven half the night to avoid telling me face to face after an ultimatum had been made.  An ultimatum to pick me or someone else.  I lost. I’d been unable to tell him something I so needed to but with him not answering my text messages it appeared my next journey in life was to be done alone and I needed to get away from all surroundings to process this in my head.  I truly was alone and I needed time to think.  So on a plane I jumped to Scotland.

Sitting at the airport was like waiting to have my fate sealed.  Everyone around me was so happy and jolly off on their holidays.  All I wanted to do was find a snuggly blanket, wrap myself in to it and crawl in to a ball and sit there until everything went away.  That clearly wasn’t going to work.

When it was time I made my way to the plane from Birmingham airport to Edinburgh.  I hadn’t even booked a return flight and just wanted to go back to my earlier 20s where I’d book a one way ticket and a couple of nights and see where the wind would take me.  I’ve had fabulous holidays in Egypt, Canaries Island, Scandinavia by just throwing caution to the wind and seeing where the wind would take me.  These were all travels as a single person and you know what they were some of the best times I’ve ever had.  Just what I wanted and needed to do.  I’ve always been quite independent like this and was always very uncomfortable with structured activity dictated by others.  I much prefer to go with the flow,  Which explains my trouble with people interfering in my life.  I am laid back and will probably take more than most but I do reach a point where I will take no more.

So there I was an hour later in bonny Scotland; Edinburgh to be more precise.  I took the shuttle bus in to the city centre and jumped in a cab to my budget accommodation.  I was staying in university halls with the students being on summer break.  I can’t recommend them enough,  You can see my trip advisor review here.  The price for the double room, en suite and shared kitchen was amazing.  I stayed 7 nights and paid £250 for the week.  The only thing I would fault would be the walls are a little thin and I was disturbed by other guests coming home in the early hours.  There is a large sainsburys situated below the building and the halls a mere 10 min bus ride out of the city.

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My first day in Edinburgh consisted of a ticket on the tourist bus and a visit to Edinburgh Castle,  I was really lucky in that the sun shined.  The views from the castle were spectacular.

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For lunch I went to the Cannonball restaurant that is just at the entrance to the castle.  Delicious is not the word and I have written a separate post regard the lunch here.

The city tourist bus tour took us down the Royal Mile to Holyrood.  Unfortunately it was not open to the public as they had royal visitors present.  If I ever return to Edinburgh I’d love to visit inside.

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The streets are lined with pipers everywhere and do really bring a crowd together.  But who doesn’t like a Scot in a kilt!

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I was lucky to enjoy two afternoon teas whilst in Edinburgh.  The first was at Browns on Geroge St.

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The second at the stunning Palm Court Room at the Balmoral hotel.

https://bucketsoftea.co.uk/afternoon-tea/afternoon-tea-at-browns-george-st-edinburgh/

As well as Cannonball, I also dined at the most spectacular restaurant called

Ondine. Such a fantastic meal.

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At the weekend I decided that I would love to see a little more of what Scotland had to offer and booked two separate day trips by coach.  Saturday took in Saint Conan’s church, Lake Lomand, Inverary caste and Oban as part of our tour.

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Day two was all about Loch Ness, Glen Coe and The Highlands,

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Back home to this wonderful view across Edinburgh from my accommodation.

Edinburgh

Whilst in Edinburgh it would be just rude no to come away with no tartan at all.  I just fell in love with this wool shawl and feel so lucky that it came home with me.  It is so warm and soft , I am literally praying for some cooler weather so I can snuggle up on the sofa wrapped in it.

Edinburgh

Of course no shopping trip would be complete with out a trip to the local Cath Kidston store and some addition to my mug collection

Edinburgh

Finally, while waiting for my train home a full Scottish Breakfast, minus the black pudding for meas its not a favourite.

Edinburgh

And in no time at all it was time to say goodbye to Edinburgh and my first Scottish adventure but there will most certainly be more.

Edinburgh

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Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Edinburgh, Scotland, Scottish Travel

« Tea Adventures; Coffee and Tea: Yin and Yang
Review; Seafood Lunch At Ondine, Edinburgh »

Comments

  1. Jo @ Mummy Needs Wine! says

    8th August 2017 at 12:33 PM

    Sounds like a fabulous trip. Sorry about all the heart ache and suffering before though. Big hugs xxx

    Reply
  2. Belinda says

    8th August 2017 at 10:56 PM

    Oh you’ve been/are going through the mill. Very sorry to hear of the stresses you’ve been enduring and so happy for you that you got to go away for a bit for some ‘you’ time. Loved all your photos.

    Reply
  3. Abbie says

    9th August 2017 at 3:54 AM

    I was heartbroken to read the beginning but it became so warm by the time your post ended. I pick up heartbreak and it tends to impact me greatly. I have been through things myself but pain can never be compared because everyone feels it to its maximum. Loved the photos! And I love your spirit. May you always stay this strong.

    Reply
  4. clare says

    27th August 2017 at 10:04 AM

    ‘Going through the mill’is exactly what passed through my mind too…yet still out and about, you are one amazing lady!Don’t ever forget that…Loved this post, used to live in Edinburgh, always love going back…

    Reply
  5. Sandra says

    9th September 2018 at 5:11 PM

    Looks like you had a fab time in my adopted City!

    Reply
  6. Jti says

    20th December 2019 at 8:47 AM

    OMG my heart bled for you. I hope your strength mentally, physically and emotionally are in the mend, you truly are a strong person to have started a new journey amidst all of the trauma.
    How are you now?

    Reply

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Welcome to Buckets Of Tea. I’m Candace, a 40 something tea drinker renovating my forever home, a 125 year old former dairy in North Wales.

Grab a cuppa and take a read of my adventures, passions and dreams; afternoon tea, food, travel, interiors and self care all washed down by buckets of tea.

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