It's just my bow!

Today we did some genuine exploration in Edinburgh. I think this is because we had the motivation to be adventurous after getting a good night’s rest. After having not slept much for 36 hours, almost eleven hours of sleep was well deserved. We started off the day by going across the street to a shopping center called Cameron Toll. The “Pound Store” was our first stop. Not surprisingly, everything cost a pound (about $1.60). Next was Sainsbury’s, the Scottish equivalent of a mini-Target. We needed some sheets and towels along with some basic food for sandwiches and snacks. The plan is to try and save money in Scotland so we can splurge some when we travel around the rest of Europe.

In the afternoon we explored a city overlook called Arthur’s seat. We took the bus to city center to meet up with some Texas friends. So yes, we learned quickly that walking isn't really an option from our dorm that is basically in Siberia. From city center we walked to Arthur’s Seat which is just on the edge of town. What was thought to be a stroll turned out to be a nice hike. Fortunately it was nice outside and we could see more and more of the city as we climbed higher. It was beautiful, especially with the sunset which began around 3 pm  The hike was actually quite muddy because it is always wet, everywhere. I actually don’t know how because it hasn't rained in a couple days.  In fact Dan had a little bet that whoever slipped and fell first had to buy a round of drinks. So, Dan proceeded to slip first. Thanks Dan.

Edinburgh Sunset

Next we tracked down a cell phone store for Dan to set up a pay-as-you-go plan. It is incredibly cheap here for unlimited data and lots of texts, around $22 per month. I still need to find a way to unlock my own phone. Afterward we met with a family friend of mine for a drink and some much needed advice on living in Edinburgh. He advised against tipping because it is rare here unlike in the States.

This evening we ate our first Haggis. This “delicacy” is a sheep’s stomach encasing ground meet and veggies. Contrary to popular belief, it was pretty awful.  Later Dan and I discovered that John Powers was not with us. In other words, we had to buy our own drinks which seem innocuously cheap (about 3 GBP) until you factor in the exchange rate. Here we met two intelligent young women who asked where I live in Texas. When I responded “Plano” they asked if it was named after the philosopher. Turns out, not surprisingly, they were thinking of Plato.

 

Finally, we have to make a decision. There are some rooms open closer to city center. Our current walk of 35 minutes could be cut to 15 minutes. Obviously this would require us to pack up and move but I think it would be worth it considering how inconvenient our current location is. We have until Monday.

Orientation is in the morning. Goodnight

It's just my bow! The accent can be pretty funny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8W39Nftd0I