So thrilled to be in Edinburgh, Scotland for the first time! For a true sense of the city, nothing beats the hop-on-hop-off bus.

We lucked out with the sun shining. The bus ride offered panoramic views from the open-top deck. It was fun being transported around learning about the history of the city and the importance of the places we encountered.

Edinburgh, the hilly capital of Scotland, is a city of dramatic contracts, blending a medieval Old Town with a neoclassical Georgian New Town.

We truly enjoyed the experience that the hop-on-hop-off bus offered. We did the entire loop around the City, which gave us an insight of where we wanted to explore on foot.

Marianne, Jennifer, and I had our sights set on the perfect place to explore: the Grassmarket. It is a vibrant, historic area in Edinburgh’s Old Town, located directly below Edinburgh Castle, known for its cobbled streets, stunning castle views, shops, and bustling pubs and restaurants.

One of the best parts of our trip to Edinburgh was spending time with Marianne’s dear friend Emily, who is pursuing her master’s at the University of Edinburgh.

Emily became our knowledgeable tour guide.

My favorite….a liquid history tour of Edinburgh.

We could not resist stopping at the Greyfriars Bobby statue, sculpted in 1873, which commemorates a loyal Skye Terrier who guarded his owner’s grave for 14 years. Rubbing the dog’s nose is suppose to bring good luck!

Emily took us to the Royal Mile Tavern for dinner. We were happy to have our crew member Brandon join us. The tavern was in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It was a traditional Scottish restaurant bursting with charm and character and typical Scottish food.

Sadly, our fun night had to come to an end. It was time to get Emily back to her abode.

Cheers to an unforgettable first visit to Edinburgh!

CONTINUATION OF LIVING OUR BEST HIGHLAND LIFE

Less than 24 hours later, Jennifer and I worked another trip back to Edinburgh. We decided now that we knew the lay of the land, we would explore Edinburgh by foot.

A short walk from our hotel, we came upon St. Cuthbert’s Church, a Scotland Presbyterian Church. It is believed to be the oldest Christian site in Edinburgh. The church is located at the foot of the Edinburgh Castle.

We came upon this prominent Celtic cross that stands in the graveyard of St. Cuthbert’s Church. The cross is characterized by detailed stonework and traditional Celtic design. It serves as a reminder of the site’s long, continuous Christian history.

We enjoyed our picturesque stroll from Edinburg’s New Town to the Old Town. It felt like a journey through time. Jennifer and I found a quaint spot to wait for Emily to join us.

Then we set off to explore some of Emily’s favorite spots.

So much more fun to explore a city with our own private tour guide.

Wow, who knew that there is a Frankenstein themed pub in Edinburgh’s Old Town known for it’s gothic, horror atmosphere, featuring a large animatronic monster that descends periodically, along with themed drinks and food.

It was time for dinner. We went to the popular, award-winning restaurant, Makar’s Gourmet Mash Bar that specializes in authentic Scottish comfort food. The long wait did not deter us for having the most delicious dinner.

My mouth is still watering thinking about the yummy dinner I had. You first pick your protein, followed by your choice of 16 different kinds of mashed potatoes. I chose the braised beef, along with mashed potatoes with bacon and onions, which was then served with a savory gravy. Definitely found my comfort that day!

It certainly was another great day living the Highland life! Our lasting memory of Edinburgh’s historic charm and fun city will stay with us forever!