Edinburgh, Scotland

Took a beautiful train ride along the Scottish coastline from Durham to Edinburgh this morning, and arrived, for the very first time, on Scottish soil! After being ecstatic about Scotland on the train, I was a little let down when I stepped off the train in Edinburgh. I'm not sure what I was thinking (probably something more along the lines of romantic and green), but Edinburgh is definitely a large, confusing, scary, eclectic, busy, CRAZY city. It just so happens that we're in Edinburgh during the time of the largest arts festivals in world (the Fringe festival), so the streets are PACKED with people... and I mean really packed with very interesting people, and the majority of them are shouting, yelling, and handing out fliers for their plays/performances. It was impossible for our group of 27 to stay together, but we managed to show up at the same place somehow. Just walking down one block was stressful. Edinburgh is interesting in that you can be walking in a touristy, semi-safe area one minute, and then you can turn one corner and be in an incredibly sketchy place the next. It's definitely not a place I would've picked to explore... but once again, I do love the country MUCH more than the city. I think the day trips we will be taking out of Edinburgh will be my saving grace.

Our group will be going up into the highlands for a couple days a week from now, and that should fulfill my romantic ideal of Scotland...
And Mom, you're right, I am an introvert at heart. I enjoy hanging out with friends, but I'm finding that the time I love the most on this trip is the time I spending exploring little towns by myself and the one-on-one conversations I have with locals and some of the members of the group.

Hopefully I won't go too crazy in this big city. I miss the little cobble-stone streets of York just a bit. Although, one positive perk to big cities is the great variety of food. I had amazing Indian curry tonight in a park with a smaller portion of our group... that definitely lifted all of our spirits.
Miss you all... lots of love, Giselle