After my Edinburgh trip last year, I decided I wanted to go up again and actually spend a full day there sightseeing.
I booked my flights and then booked the hostel for the first night. The plan was to sleep there the night I got there (the flight got into Edinburgh at around 23:20), sightsee the next day and then just find somewhere to chill before getting the bus to the airport around 03:00.
I was so tired when I got to the hostel that I asked about an extra night’s stay and booked it. With how tired I was, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay awake as long as I had planned.
I checked out (for now) and then had a wander up to the Royal Mile. When I got there, I saw a lot of media around by the court. There was sentencing of a high-profile case going on. It was for Peter Murrell. The former husband of Scotland’s former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
I hovered around to see what was happening and then I went on my way to find a supermarket to get something to eat and drink. I had decided that I would get the train to Glasgow and go there for the day (since I had another Edinburgh trip planned for September).
I made my way to the train station and got my tickets and then got the train to Glasgow. It is a really scenic route.
I got off in Glasgow and just decided I would walk around. I wanted to go to the Apple store to speak about some headphones that weren’t working properly. I got there and made an appointment for about 90 minutes later. It gave me time to find some souvenirs and then go find somewhere to get something to drink. It was so hot that I had already finished the drinks I bought in Edinburgh!
I found some cherry Irn Bru. It was so good. I also found some milk sweets that were delicious too. I will have to look for them again once I am back in Scotland.
I did my walking around and Glasgow was pretty cool. There wasn’t a huge amount in the city centre, but it was still nice to walk around.
You can see some pictures below.
I headed back to Apple and they checked the headphones and said the battery wasn’t the issue, as they were now charging, connected to the phone and music playing. I was still sceptical but left so I wasn’t sitting there.
I decided I would go on the Subway. I had heard the stations/platforms/trains were tiny and I wanted to see for myself. It’s all true. They are. I bought a day pass so I could get on and off when I wanted.
I got on at Buchanan Street and decided I would do a full loop. They have an Inner Circle and an Outer Circle route. The Inner Circle goes in an anticlockwise direction and the Outer Circle in a clockwise direction.
I did the Inner Circle and then I got off at St Enoch (1 stop before completing the loop) as I needed a bathroom break and something to drink as I was so thirsty from the heat. I then got back on and went to Buchanan Street (just so I could say I technically completed the full loop).
I decided that I would just head back to Edinburgh at this point. I had done and seen all I wanted to in Glasgow.
I made it in time for the train that was just about to leave. I got my seat and then enjoyed the trip back to Edinburgh.
I left the station and went past some shops and had a quick look inside (mostly for the AC respite). I didn’t really have plans on what to do once I was back here. I knew I didn’t have a huge amount of time as I needed to get back to the hostel to sleep ready for a 03:30 start to get the bus to the airport.
I wandered along Princes Street and decided to sit in Princes Street Gardens to enjoy the cold drink I had and people watch. It was quite nice. The gardens are really pretty and I got some good views of the castle too.
I tried to call Addy, but I was having so many issues with the headphones that I couldn’t chat with him properly. I wanted to show him where I was in Edinburgh.
By the time I was done here, I was hungry. I looked at the map and saw I was close to a Jollibee, so I decided I had to go. I took a couple of pictures and sent them to Addy for when he woke up.
I got chatting with the guy who served me and he told me he was from Iloilo and I was telling him about Addy. He smiled when I told him I had been to the Philippines a few times.
I left here and just made my way back to the hostel.
I got in the room and started packing and some guy started chatting with me and was flapping his jowels so much. He wasn’t getting the hint of me packing and yawning. I needed to sleep so bad.
I finally got to sleep, but it wasn’t very good sleep as it was so hot in the room.
I got ready and headed to the bus and to the airport. The flight back was pretty uneventful and I think I slept on it. I’m not sure though.
As we were experiencing extreme heat, the train company said I could travel on the train before the one I had booked. Result. Or not, as it turned out. The 09:25 train was cancelled because of the heat. The next train was the 10:25 (the one I was booked on) and that ended up getting cancelled because of a level crossing failure. I was getting so frustrated.
I went and asked the train staff and they said my options were as follows:
- Stansted Airport – Bishop’s Stortford
- Bishop’s Stortford – Tottenham Hale
- Tottenham Hale – Cambridge
- Cambridge – Ely
- Ely – Peterborough
There was no chance I was taking 5 trains to get home. I thought I would just wait for the 11:25 train, but that was showing as delayed.
I got the train from Stansted Airport to Ely and then from Ely to Peterborough.
I was so glad to be off the train and in my cold, cold room.
Edinburgh & Glasgow were good. I can’t wait to go back up. I just have to remember to book 2 nights in the hostel and not just one.
View all of my Edinburgh media hereView all of my Glasgow media here