Adventures of a Girl

So I'm still officially in the first week of my adventure - I can't believe it's only been a mere 7 days since I left home! I spent New Years in Edinburgh - easily the most beautiful place I've seen. Of course, the whole point of this exercise is that I've not seen much, so this is no great comparison. However, I can still appreciate the stunning architecture, inspiring landscape and interesting people, despite not being well-travelled (yet).

I was starting to believe I may have some kind of warm inducing illness, so I was even pleased to feel the crispness in the air. Yes, it was cold, and as I left there was the promise of snow - if it had not been for Jenni's promise of great sledging hills at her Mum and Dad's, I may have stayed just to see it.

Being one that has never been overly interested in Kings, Queens or castles, I've been astounded at my new found fascination for all things medieval. I visited two castles in Scotland - Stirling and Edinburgh - both beautiful, and interesting. I hadn't realised how little of those school history lessons I actually took in, and feel a little embarrassed by my ignorance. I guess there will be more castle visiting in my itinerary to make up for it.

The supposed main event was New Years Eve at the infamous Hogmanay street festival in Edinburgh. This may have been a great highlight for me 10 years ago, but somehow I think I am now a tad old to cope with Antipodean teenagers desparate for memories of how wasted by got so far from home. However, the fireworks from Edinburgh Castle, high on the hills above the city, looked fantastic and somehow made the horror of streets below a little less... well... horrible. There I go with those castles again... maybe a theme I'm yet to discover.