Train to Edi

Last night I slept poorly but I still feel pretty good. I was up early, especially since I could not sleep. After once more packing up our things we were off. It was about a 20 minute walk from our hostel to the Euston-London station. 

Once we got there we noticed that our original train information was not listed on the boards for departure. We thought something like this might happen as there was a planned strike for London's trains. We got in line and found an alternative train to Edinburgh.

On the train we had reserved seats with a table to work at. I really enjoy being on the train. It's one of my favorite modes of transportation, especially in Europe. This train was comfortable and not overcrowded. However, usually I write on the train and this time I didn't.

Today we met a lovely British couple who chatted and joked with us the entire rest of the way to Edinburgh. There was also a lovely British woman who was there on the train for a while. We all chatted and joked and enjoyed the train ride.

When we got to Edinburgh we dropped our bags at the sister hostel to where we will stay tonight. I wandered around a few shops and some side streets. Then we walked the Royal Mile. We walked up to the castle at the top of the hill and down to the bottom, then back up again.

From there we wandered around a lot of the side streets. We saw some of the iconic buildings and statues around the city. We walked up and down many of the side streets I didn't see before. I also got to take lots of photos. 

I saw many of the different things that influenced J.K. Rowling when she wrote Harry Potter. I learned some new things too while I walked. I also discovered that the iconic cafe where she wrote the first Harry Potter book has closed down.

We continued walking the city then grabbed our bags and headed to the hostel we were staying at for the night. We grabbed dinner at Bene's, a restaurant the British couple recommend. Everything was fried. We even tried a fried Mars Bar. It was a good treat. 

After dinner I headed out to walk the city at night. I went to Colton Hill. It was weird to walk around there at night. There are no lights. There are also rats but if you ignore them they will ignore you. There were lots of cool things on the hill to take pictures of.

I took lots of photos as I walked back around various areas of the city. I walked a bit of the Royal Mile. I also walked some of the side streets. It is so relaxing walking around the city at night. It has a different feeling then walking around during the day.

I have been walking around outside all evening and it has been very relaxing. I enjoyed listening to different people play bagpipes on the street. Someone had a falcon and an owl that people were taking pictures with. It is also fun to people watch while wandering the streets. 

Now I am relaxing in the hostel. I am tired. I have walked over 30,000 steps today and climbed many stairs and hills. This trip has been lots of hiking and walking. I am enjoying it but I am also tired. It feels good just to relax though.