day 1 of adventure within adventure

The train station close to St. Andrews. Also note the fog in the background. I got the 13:29 train.

Ticket window

Trying to find out how to get to the ticket window was confusing.

The train station is called Leuchars (pronounced: loo-kers) is 5 miles outside St. Andrews. Luckily, there are lots of buses that go there.

The train is here! and it is 2 minuets early. The second I got on, it left. I guess it is not waiting for anyone.

View from the train.

I sat next to the crabby lady in the orange; becasue my seat I reserved was taken and this was the only one facing forwards left in the car.

Arriving about an hour after leaving at Edinburgh (Waverley station). Got in at 14:27.

There was a road that went through the train station! They do not collect tickets until you have to show yours to get out of the train area. Sucks if you lose it; I guess you are not getting out...

My hostel for the night. I got a private room. It is okay. They just turned the heat off though and it is in the 30s outside. Also, everyone is yelling in the hallway right outside my door. :(

My room.

Ah the Royal Mile, much better, a familiar area

The (Edinburgh) castle. As a note, on the train we went right next to Aberdour-a castle I visited on my field trip.

Crazy fog today.

There was like a little town in the castle- sweet!

Structures floating in the fog.

I love little nooks like this.

This is why I wanted to come to the Castle. In this building is the Stone of Destiny (Scotland's destiny that is) (and some crown jewels). I tried to take pictures twice and was told twice, very firmly, that photos were not allowed. There was a just married couple there... weird.

This is the 1 o'clock gun. Guess what it does? It is shot everyday, expect Sundays, at 1 o'clock.

Part of Edinburgh and the Castle.

I thought this was a cool picture with the moon and everything. This picture could have been taken anywhere. In fact, I think it looks like it was taken in a Muslim country in Africa.

Edinburgh

I loved that there are these streets within the walls of the Castle. With the Castle and the fog I felt like I was in Pirates of the Caribbean, in one of the first scenes, when the enemy was approaching and everyone was running around getting ready.

The end of the Castle and the beginning of modern Edinburgh. The car headlights is were the Royal Mile (high street) starts/ends.

The Castle in a different light, ha ha, pun intended.

I wanted to go see it, but all the tours were sold out for the day. Plus, I did not feel like going on a tour, especially a haunted tour. ( I went on one on the day before Halloween). But, apparently, Mary King's Close is cool becasue you can see how people build on top of the existing buildings- there is stratification. Plus, it was dark, and when the sun goes down this city gets weird. When I was on the haunted tour, there were about 5-10 (scary) tours I saw, and no one else was on the streets. So, I was back in my hostel by 5:20 (the sun goes down by 4:30-5) and have been on the internet- which I had to pay a pound an hour. I also had a Subway sandwich for dinner in my room, even though there is no eating in the rooms. I figured I would be very neat and clean. Plus, I already had fish and chips, with salt and vinegar in my room for lunch...