Bagpipes, haggis, gothic buildings, and hilly cobblestoned streets. These are all things we encountered in our first full day in Edinburgh, Scotland. The day began with a delicious breakfast of smoked salmon eggs Benedict before a six-mile hike up and down Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano among the many hills in Edinburgh. We left from the bed and breakfast and headed through the old city with the sound of bagpipes playing in the distance. Once we got to the bottom of the volcano, half of the group went up the main path while Garret and I took a route leading more directly up the face of the hill. We climbed up rocks, met several furry friends, and took pictures of the breathtaking view on the way up.

 When we finally reached the top, the wind was so powerful it felt like we were about to be blown off the mountain. There was a sign that stated the volcano was 251 meters, or 822 feet, high. We looked off into the distance at the tiny city below us. Many other tall hills surrounded us, each with the same beautiful green grass and rocky structures. We ventured off towards the other hills as well and experienced the views from each of these. After this, we made our way back down the volcano and headed back towards the hotel.

 After we got back to the hotel, we embarked 30 minutes later for the Edinburgh Castle. The Castle was like a small city in itself. We saw military prisons, the Scottish Crown jewels, and castle rooms. There was also a museum about the history of the monarchy in Scotland. The view from the castle was also spectacular. One could see the entire city from the castle wall. After a few hours, we left for dinner before the show. Garret and I tried haggis, the Scottish national dish. It was surprisingly tasty!

Finally, it was time to see the Lion King at the Edinburgh Playhouse. We spent three hours at the theatre enjoying familiar show tunes and a feel-good show. The puppeteering of the animals and the spectacle was incredible! Overall, it was a wonderfully busy day filled with adventures and time well spent discovering the city.