It has long been an aim to increase my travelling independence. Over the years, I have gone through the stages. First, I walked to primary school by myself, taking the same route everyday. Gradually, I have explored Cambridge by myself, looking around the city with no guardian watching over me. Last year, I had a wonderful day in London alone: visiting the Palace of Westminster, successfully managing the tube network and enjoying the New Statesman Christmas Podcast live. Each occasion, especially for the first time, created an immense sense of satisfaction.
I wanted to go a step further this year. As December draws to a close, I appreciated the benefits of term at Warwick finishing so early. Next summer will be one of work (I’m a student!) both to earn money and hopefully gain valuable experience. With a couple of weeks until my family began their Christmas break, I thought a holiday would be no bad thing. Edinburgh came to mind straight away. I had visited the beautiful city once in April 2018 with my family and we absolutely loved the experience. For a capital city, it seemed so homely and intimate. With beautiful architecture, safe streets and a lovely variety of tourist attractions, it was a place I wanted to devote more time to by exploring at my own pace. It seemed like the right place to spend my time. I would feel safe there. And boy was it the correct decision to make. Edinburgh is just a place of beauty. Arriving at Edinburgh Waverley station, a busy, bustling place, I felt immediate calm and assurance in the actions I was taking. There was knowledge of where I was heading, thanks to the clear directions, giving me time to enjoy the historic architecture of the buildings and the general liveliness of the place. This holiday was going to be a cultural one. I was armed with a copy of Lonely Planet Edinburgh which I can highly recommend, offering me tips and advice about the best locations to visit. I had five days to spend. They were ones I wanted to use well, given I knew this would be my last holiday for some time. Google Maps has been well in use in the run cup to my trip as I tried to find the best routes to take and places to stay. In reality, that is nothing compared to a paper map or simply having to look aware of one’s surroundings in the heart of a city. With less than a week in Edinburgh, I wanted my holiday to be one of cultural exposure and true pleasure. I’m very happy to say that was the case. All cities have museums. It is a pinnacle part for exploring history, understanding how a society has developed and bringing about progress and understanding. My patch of land in Cambridge has a number of museums looking at history and science, often tied to the university for innovation and academic advancement. We should celebrate that such institutions of knowledge and wonder remain free for all to access regardless of wealth in the pursuit of excellence. Many museums were on my mind to explore, not least the National Museum of Scotland. Located in the heart of the Old Town, it combines modernity with history, tradition with evolution. Made up of multiple floors exploring fashion, transport, architecture and exploration, it is revelatory in the depth of knowledge. I was lucky enough to visit all my tourist attractions at quiet times during the week, meaning I wasn’t overly affected by the hustle and bustle of fellow tourists. I can also strongly recommend visiting the Writer’s Museum. Tucked away from the Royal Mile, it’s a small tower focused on the literary careers of the finest Scottish writers. Again, there are plenty of authentic manual-scripts and paintings. One can’t help - with the atmosphere of a warm fire and leather arm chairs - but feel in the perfect setting for writing and literary exploration. It is something truly visionary and inspirational to behold. With museums come plenty of art galleries. I am no artist; indeed, I spent the last year of compulsory art lessons purely chatting rather than engaging in the artistic mediums on offer. However, I have begun to develop a fondness for appreciating the artistic excellence and creative beauty that others can provide. Edinburgh was happy to fulfil my desires. I wanted art galleries and the city had plenty. I was most impressed by the National Portrait Gallery. This may have been because I was relieved to have escaped the high winds of Scotland, which meant many of the pleasant gardens - Princes Street and Queens especially - were shut off to the public. The range of portraits, both busts and paintings, of Scottish figures past and present, were admirable to see in an inspiring environment. I was particularly pleased with the range of political figures that featured, dominating the landscape and watching over all, with brief and concise biographies about their lives. It was amazement, work to behold and admire dearly. This mirrored my admiration for the Royal Scottish Academy. Never has a grander name been heard. It contained a multitude of contemporary artwork: from the present day, political pieces to more recent landscape paintings of the beautiful world. The Academy was unashamed to celebrate brilliant artwork and great exploration of artistic abilities. There were plenty of sights to behold and appreciate, all for free. I took a number of photos during my stay in Edinburgh, but tried to avoid this in the galleries. I wanted to appreciate the sights with my own eyes. A holiday allows for freedom and flexibility. On polling day, I tried to embrace the calm before the imminent election storm by visiting Dean Village. Located in the west of Edinburgh, it was the perfect place to recluse away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. How I had never heard of that part of the world I will never know. Neve has a more idyllic place been seen. Walking past a cemetery, the beautiful housing made me feel totally connected to the world. The Water of Leith is a sight to behold, full of wonder, utterly calming and immersive in an enchanting environment. This was wholly reflective of the National Galleries of Modern Art, which combined expertise and excellence, bringing the nation together to enjoy the festive cheer and reveal a whole range of artistic projects. Election night itself had me awake for 30 hours, from 5.50pm on Thursday evening to quarter past midnight on Saturday morning. It is not a night I am going to forget quickly! There are many contenders as to the highlight of my stay in Edinburgh. Sometimes just walking around the streets, not entire sure of where I am going but embraced in the nature of Scotland was satisfying enough. A chance to enjoy the calm of the environment, see somewhere different to the usual sights of Cambridge. However, little can beat my experience at Toppings bookshop. I’ve visited their Ely and Bath branches and been in delight on every occasion. Having only been open a couple of months, I was in anticipation for what the Edinburgh branch was like. I was not disappointed. An intimate, grand, friendly shop. Soaring wooden bookshelves with ladders to reach the highest books. The books were beautiful presented with hardback covers wrapped in protective plastic. Upstairs, where the delight continued, were stools to sit down and delightful tea. Exploring Toppings was like exploring a new home, each room, every corner containing something unexpected. It was an utter delight, I was privileged to have visited Toppings and the truly astounding city of Edinburgh. It’s no wonder I felt like I’d come home.
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