PICTURES OF EDINBURGH!!!

Finally I have had a chance to post some of the pictures of this crazy city that we live in. Unfortunately, or fortunately however you look at it, for you, we have only taken pictures of the best parts of Edinburgh, so you don't really get a whole view of what the city is like. Maybe later we'll post some other pictures....but these ones will at least give you a flavour of what it is like to live here. I have posted them all down the side of the blog and added some descriptions underneath so you know what you're looking at.

For references' sake, the Royal Mile, in case you aren't aware, is situated in the centre of the city and is basically the oldest street in Edinburgh. It is where the people of old used to live. They call it the Royal Mile because the Palace of Holyrood sits at one end of the street, and Edinburgh Castle at the other. It is my favourite place in Edinburgh because it is the oldest, and has lots of little tiny alleways called closes. The most famous, Mary King's Close, takes you to the old underground city, where the very poor used to live....it is literally under the city, with no windows or means of fresh air getting in, and so it was quite prone to disease. They now offer tours of this underground city as well as the vaults underneath Edinburgh, but we haven't had a chance to go visit them yet....we will soon! Some of the tours are just regular tours of the vaults, while others are ghost tours that occur at night, and they tell creepy stories....can't wait to go on one!

Also, Princes street is, more or less, part of the new town of Edinburgh, and is down the hill from the Royal Mile. It is the main street in Edinburgh and it is where all the shopping is done. However the shops are more like the Gap, Topshop Topman, British Home Stores, etc. The really high class shopping is done on George Street...and it is really quite posh. I feel like if I were to go into one of those stores, they would definitely look down on my poor, middle class self.

In Edinburgh, a lot of people are quite snobby. They treat you according to your class status....I know it's a little unbelievable, but it happens all the time, especially at my work. The people here, generally, are not as friendly as they are at home. I am sure that the constant gray skies, rain and lack of showers have something to do with it:) There is one thing about being abroad, and that is that you really appreciate your own country. We miss Canada, and all the familiar things back home...but we're adjusting. Seeing all the old buildings and countryside is definitely the best part though.

Well that's about it for now, but we'll make sure to keep you updated!

Lots of love,

Sarah