Travel Diary | Edinburgh, Scotland

It's been a while.

Exactly on this day last year, I took a visit to this absolutely stunning and magical city.

Not until I started going through old photos trying to come up with a few new post ideas did I realise this trip was precisely a year ago, I guess it might be the universe secretly trying to remind me of this piece of memory. Kind of crazy, just like the city itself, mesmerising and enchanting.

It was just about sunset when I set foot in Edinburgh. Felt refreshed from the crisp air and clear sky in pastel colours after a long five-hour (which felt like an eternity) train ride.

Restaurants, bars, and spooky tours basically summed up the first night. And of course I had to try my first ever haggis with whisky sauce in this authentic Scottish bar called The Royal McGregor. Their ale pie that my friend ordered was bomb too.
Eventually went back to our cosy airbnb after a few more drinks at local bars.

Full Scottish Breakfast before we started the day

A chilly and gloomy morning in late March, typical

Literature gems hidden in the floor to ceiling shelves of Armchair Books

If any reason that made me book my ticket here, it would be for the movie One Day. As a hopeless romantic, a visit to Edinburgh meant that I get to see this city that brought Emma and Dexter together, that lasted for a lifetime, with my own eyes. Starting with the famous Victoria Terrace down to the Royal Mile.

Spent a few hours walking around Victoria Street, it was drizzling a little and thus enhanced  the whole city's gloomy, mysterious vibe.

All the vintage, witchery, magic shops can be found on this street, oh how could we forget about the famous and beloved Harry Potter? J.K Rowling had in fact started the first ever HP book here. Not to be mentioned the cafe she used to write in, the Elephant House, has become one of the most famous tourist attractions. We could all guess that Edinburgh definitely is on top of the pilgrimage site list for all Potterheads.

Victoria Street from another angle, at dusk

 Then the sun came out later that day.

Dreaming about staying in The Scotsman Hotel for my next visit-- just look at the details.

The insta-worthy Circus Lane

Thanks to the gram, most checked-in landmark in Edinburgh I'd say? In real life it's simply a quiet, charming neighbourhood. With the flowers and vines and pebbles going on, many photographers seem to have fallen in love with it. Wonder what it feels like to actually live in one of the houses, must be tired of seeing all the people modelling in front of their doorsteps.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The glass house was unfortunately closed that day but walking and immersing in the sun surrounded by nature was delightful enough, especially with the so very unpredictable British weather.

Without a clue, I stumbled upon this iconic location: Moray Place, THE street where Dexter went after Emma and asked for her number after spending the night and day together, where they kissed each other goodbye.

"We will see each other again."

'I know we will.'

To sum up, the second day was spent exploring, falling in love, and being completely mesmerised by the city. Couldn't stop myself from taking thousands of pictures of these street views. Might seem ordinary to some people, but never in the eyes of a foreigner like me.

On the last day morning, we started off with a lovely brunch at Thomas J. Walls Coffee. It's an elegant cafe which used to be an opticians shop. That explains the shop logo, a clever combination of a spectacle and a coffee cup. I adore the dark wooded interior a lot, plus the huge sofa they have in the back of the shop.

You guessed it, I had to come check out Bobby. Because who doesn't love a classic tale of a loyal dog?

 

National Museum of Scotland

Finally onto the last stop, the museum. I'm not an expert on art or anything (well I wish I was) but the architecture itself is definitely worth a visit. So are some of the cool exhibitions.

These pictures are surreal but they speak for the city itself. No caption needed. 

Have you ever visited Edinburgh? If so, I'd like to know your favourite (hidden) spot in the comments down below. If not, I highly recommend taking a journey to this beautiful city, spend a couple of nights there. Surely you'll fall in love with Edinburgh too. Hope you all have a great day, stay healthy.

xo,

bits of brighton

Where do I even begin?

The sudden urge of writing things down in the middle of the night, after all the complex feelings have been washed away, I have finally started finding serenity in myself. No better time to start a memoir on the journeys I've been through last year before my brain decides to completely abandon them.

Six months in total, doesn't sound that long but enough for me to call it a remarkable chapter.

the first night perhaps

or that tingly feeling of a fresh new start

something sweet

fresh bedsheets


lots of nature


Might have left a piece of myself there, and it will always remain in that same place.