Hey everyone!
As you know, I’m studying abroad at the University of Edinburgh for the semester (yay!). I was really excited when I was moving here, because I have always wanted to visit the city and Scotland as a whole. Before Brexit happened, and I chose to apply to schools in the US, the University of Edinburgh was my first choice for a university. I’m really happy with how things ultimately went down, but I’m really excited to try out life in Edinburgh.
Speaking of the city, I decided to give you a quick tour of the city through its most popular tourist attractions, which is how I first explored it my first week here.
1. Arthur’s seat
Arthur’s seat is an ancient volcano that’s situated in the middle of the city. It’s a very popular and relatively easy hiking place. The views from the top are said to be really stunning. I have only climbed it once, but the weather was really bad that day, and the fog prevented me from taking pretty photos of the city below.
2. Edinburgh Castle
This castle is situated on top of one of the other hills of the city (yes, there are a lot of hills here, hah). It was first built in the 12th century, and it now hosts the Scottish Crown Jewels.
3. The Royal Mile
This street is one of the most iconic places in the city. It’s in the heart of the old town, and it goes all the way to the Edinburgh castle. It’s lined up with shops and restaurants throughout it. A fun fact is that two weeks ago a Netflix film crew had closed off parts of it because they were filming parts of the upcoming Frankenstein movie there!
4. The Scott Monument
This monument is one of my personal favorites because of its unique look. It’s dedicated to one of the most famous Scottish writers, Sir Walter Scott. The monument itself is situated in one of the more modern streets, and I really like the contrast it provides to the busy street.
5. Leith
This neighborhood is probably the most famous one in the city. It’s full of gorgeous houses, and the walk around the Leith river that passes through it is arguably the best and prettiest long walk you can take in the city. The neighborhood also borders the water, and there are many great restaurants along the coastline.
So, yeah, that’s it from me for this week about the city. I will tell you more about the actual university life here next week!