Okay, I have a confession– I have already been to Scotland. I travelled here in 2014 and loved it so much I just had to go back. I’m here again in 2016 and it has been an interesting change in perspective from coming here as a tourist and staying for only two weeks to coming as a student who will be here for a whole semester. For one thing, its day 1 of living in an apartment (with 6 other people– only 1 of whom has moved in!) and adjusting to cooking all my meals for myself.
I’ve been here for about five days. The first couple days were spent doing orientation with all the other Arcadia programs in Scotland. There was one other Bucknell student there, but she’s studying at the University of Glasgow. The very first day I was here I met a couple other Arcadia students at the airport and together we explored Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a relatively small city with a population of ~500,000 people. It’s fairly easy to cover most of the well-known sites in just a day; so, after just a couple hours we were able to see some of the beautiful places Edinburgh has to offer in the heart of the city where the Old Town and the New Town meet. We went to St. Giles cathedral on the Royal Mile (exterior above, interior below) which, in addition to beautiful stained glass and arched marble ceilings typical of cathedrals, has another hidden gem known as the Thistle Chapel, a gorgeous wood-paneled room that pays homage to all sorts of cultural and religious Scottish icons.
We were able to see the view from the top of Calton Hill, which hosts Edinburgh’s own mini Parthenon and observatory…
…And also get a great view from the top of the Walter Scott monument, dedicated to one of Scotland’s most famous authors. You can see the view we had (and the Edinburgh Castle!) in the picture at the top of this post!
On my second day, we took the time to visit a few local pubs, which, if you are ever in Edinburgh (or any other British city for that matter), I highly suggest doing. They provide a unique cross-section of British life, allowing you to interact closely with local people and fellow travelers alike all while providing a comfortable environment to relax in. Everyone wants to Haggis when they come to Scotland; instead, I suggest trying a meat pie from a pub! It’s a personal favourite of mine, but if you ever are wondering what you should try, ask the bartender. Chances are they will be more than happy to provide suggestions.
Edinburgh is a historic city– practically every building in its center has a unique story behind it’s doors. It’s essentially split into two parts– the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town, the side with the University of Edinburgh where I’ll be studying, is best known for the iconic Edinburgh Castle, the University, and Holyrood Palace. It is centered around the Royal Mile which runs from the foot of the palace up to the Castle.
The New Town is approximately as old as the United States (so I guess “new” is all relative, isn’t it? Too us Americans its pretty darn old!) and features the Scott Monument, Calton Hill, and Princes Street, which is where most of the main commerce in the city is.
The split is defined by the long-drained valley of Nor Loch where the Waverly Train Station is now built.
We left Edinburgh for a couple days to visit Stirling and stay with a host family. I was hosted by a very kind woman named Irene, her husband James, and their spaniel Holly.
Stirling is filled with its own illustrious history, too. Despite the cozy feel of the city streets, reminders of the part the city played in Scottish history are everywhere.
From the top of the William Wallace monument, you can see all of Stirling and even all the way to Edinburgh. Plaques at the top point out where the Battle of Stirling Bridge took place 700 years ago. It is remembered for the victory of the outnumbered Scottish army against the English. They won due to the military genius of William Wallace, who you probably know best as Mel Gibson from the movie Braveheart, which, despite being a rousing film, is incredibly historically inaccurate. For one thing, during the 13th century neither the iconic blue face paint (which was used largely by the Picts during the time of the Romans) nor kilts (which were first seen in the 17th century) were worn. For another, Wallace’s lover Isabelle of France wouldn’t have ever met Wallace; at the time the film takes place she was four years old! Finally, as I mentioned, the battle is best known as the Battle of Stirling Bridge… However, if you watch the film you may notice the lack of, well, a bridge, despite it being an integral part of how the Scots defeated the English.
Nonetheless, battlefield, bridge, and castle (Stirling Castle, that is) can all be seen in this picture!
We were also able to see the Stirling Castle, which has a remarkable view of the hills and fields surrounding Stirling. Its a fantastic piece of history and it’s incredible to walk around and take it in and realize that where you’re standing very well could have been the same place a king or queen walked hundreds of years before. Absolutely one of my favourite Scottish castles!
This Monday will be the start of my classes in preparation for my internship at the Scottish parliament! It promises to be an exciting time, what with the after effects of Brexit and the possibility of another referendum for independence! I can’t wait to start learning about Scotland and it’s politics and history.
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