e trip ended up getting moved up a day, so we left on a Wednesday night rather than a Thursday night and we got back on a Saturday. This was because the school had overlooked the fact that the Six Nations Rugby tournament was going to be held that weekend and the hostel that we were supposed to be at was booked for the Saturday night. We only had about 30 people go in total, but we ended up getting split up at different hostels. There was one that wasn't even in the city and then there was the one that I stayed at, that was only a few blocks from the main area in Edinburgh. Of course though, when we got dropped off we weren't able to check into our hostel until 3pm and it was after 10am at the time. So we changed and locked up our bags. I ended up staying with some girls that are my friends, but I don't get to hang out with them as much as I like.We ended up taking a free walking tour through the city. We went to places like St. Giles Cathedral, The Edinburgh Castle, and the Elephant Cafe, where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. All I can say is that weather in Scotland is very temperamental. One minute it was sunny, then it rained, the it was windy and freezing, and then it rained again, and
then it was sunny. After the tour the girls kind of split up and did some shopping. Then we finally were able to check back into our hostel. That night most of the people from our hostel went out to eat as a big group. After eating, Jori, Cierra, Rick and I went on a "haunted history" walking tour of the city. It was fun, but I also got freaked out during it, surprising I know. The best part of the tour was that we got a free drink at a pub when we were done.The next day we met up with Leslie, Bethany, and Julie to go on a bus tour of the Scottish Highlands and to see Loch Ness. It was a lot of fun, but it was more time riding in the bus than there was time outside seeing the Highlands. We only got to see Loch Ness for about 15 minutes because we ate at a pub right by the loch and then only had about 15 minutes at the loch. The ride back was the worst though because there was a lady in the bus that was eating food, but it was food that had been in her bag all day. Cheese to be exact. Needless to say it was stinky cheese and most of the ride back, the bus smelled awful. After we got back to the city we ate and then decided that we needed to taste Scotch whiskey. I was definitely not opposed to this and took mine like a champ while others cringed at the after taste and after burn of the shot.
Before leaving Edinburgh the next day, we went up to Calton Hill and took pictures of the city landscape. Then we walked down and Jori and I went into Holyrood Palace. This is where Mary Queen of Scots lived and where the Queen stays when she comes to Edinburgh. The bus ride back didn't seem as long as the ride there, maybe because I had a few books to read. But all I can say is that I would definitely live in Scotland someday!
