Fall 10 - Edinburgh Trip

The Edinburgh Excursion – Katelyn Spainhour

The group left bright and early Friday morning with Edinburgh, Scotland as their destination. With six hours on a coach between us and our hotel, many, if not all of us, slept as much as we could. We stopped for a few minutes at the border of Scotland and England, though not many exited the coach due to the rainy, windy, and cold weather that we had driven into. Those that did get off now have a picture of themselves with the big rock that says Scotland on one side and England on the other. I personally think that the wet chill was worth the picture.

A few hours and many beautiful views of the Scottish countryside later, and we were finally in downtown Edinburgh! Our excitement was somewhat false, though, for it took our coach driver several more minutes and a few circles around the city to find our hotel. It seems that GPSs aren’t always trustworthy. Anyway, after checking in, students had the afternoon free.

Many chose to climb Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano that overlooks the city. The path up the side of the mountain tricked us into thinking we were as high as we could go, but after it descended some and circled around one of the peaks, we realized that we weren’t even close to the top. I think I can safely say that most of our students braved the wind and steep paths and successfully got to the top. The views were stunning and definitely worth the hike. Other paths lead students to beaches, ruins of an old chapel, or other views of the city. After the long day, some went to bed while others scoped out pubs and clubs to spend the evening in.

Saturday was another free day, and the Royal Mile, the Scott Monument, the Scottish National Museum, and Edinburgh Castle were among the favorite spots to visit. The Royal Mile is the main street for shopping. The majority of tourist shops are located here, and many spent the day perusing through each. Those who were lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right time saw a parade of people and whistle and drum marching bands. It was a unique cultural experience. Also, the parade traveled by a corner where a gang of men dressed as Willy Wonka’s Oompa Loompas were hanging out at a pub…another unique demonstration of Scottish culture. The Scott Monument was a huge tower by our hotel that was built in honor of Sir Walter Scott. Those who were brave enough to tackle the 287 spiral steps enjoyed more spectacular views of downtown Edinburgh. The Scottish National Museum had a variety of exhibits, displaying things from Scotland’s religious reformation, the development of the modern engine, and more. Edinburgh Castle was the most prominent building in the city. It was on a hill, and thus overlooked downtown. Students who went enjoyed its grandeur and historic qualities.

The coach left the hotel after an early breakfast Sunday morning. On the way back to Harlaxton, the group made two stops. The first was at Hadrian’s Wall. Students roamed the remains of the Roman fort and took several pictures before heading back to the coach. The next stop was in the city of Durham. Students had an hour and a half to grab lunch and explore the city. Most looked around the small shops or walked up to the cathedral. There were a few platoons of Royal Air Force cadets outside of the cathedral commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which made the visit unique. The building itself was massive, but absolutely beautiful. The foundations for the church were laid in the 1090s, which made the open architecture and huge stained glass windows even more impressive. There was an art exhibition set up in the back room, which displayed pieces about the church. Overall, it was a very good stop that nicely broke up the long couch ride back to school.