Castle stone and whisky mist

We arrived on Friday and checked into our vacation rental on Elgin Terrace. That very evening, we were drawn outside: our first stroll through the Old Town, the Royal Mile at dusk, and a pint at the City Café. Edinburgh welcomed us with its gray, cozy atmosphere—exactly as one imagines Scotland to be.
Over the next few days, we really took the time to soak in the city. On a Vault Tour, we descended into Edinburgh’s dark past, through narrow vaults deep beneath the Old Town, where stories of smugglers, poverty, and superstition sent a slight shiver down our spines. Our visit to Edinburgh Castle was quite different; it towers majestically over the city and rewarded us with a magnificent view over rooftops, towers, and the sea in the distance. Things got a bit more playful at the Camera Obscura right next door—mirrors, optical illusions, and a live image of the city projected onto an old bowl: wonderfully nostalgic fun that made us feel half like children and half like 19th-century scientists.
In between, we let ourselves be carried along by the hop-on-hop-off bus tour, hopping on and off wherever we pleased—a relaxed way to discover the city from the upper deck. And since we naturally had to take a little bit of Scotland home with us, a round of souvenir shopping was a must at the end: tartan, miniature whiskeys, and the occasional Highland cow magnet included.