LarryMullen's_POPAngel said:
Have a great time no matter what you do, sis!
It's a shame Ewen still isn't hanging around...
Speak of the 'devil' and he shall appear...mmwwahaha
I got 'directed' here kicking and screaming.
Well, would be nice to meet a U2 fan from abroad and show him/her around the fair city but I don't live there no more...hmm, I live 4,500 miles away now (hmm, how did that happen!?
) in the US of A.
anyways...
Rose Street, parallel to Princes Street, is a definate must for pubs but if you're up for some clubbing then ask a friendly Edinburger the way to The Grassmarket, but stay away from Espionage...it's a cattle mart full of seedy men (some being my friends). You might want to try a classier place such as Stereo (
http://www.clubstereo.co.uk/gallery.php) but I may be a little biased since I did build their website.
If you're feeling energetic then take a walk up Arthur's Seat, it's great...I took Pax up it when she first came over. And while you're in that area visit Duddingston Village, behind Arthur's Seat, and pop into the Sheep Heid pub (oldest pub in Scotland)...try the Sheep Heid ale and order their superb Haggis. I love this pub but it's very very popular and therefore can be very very busy! Apparently Bonnie Prince Charlie planned the battle of Prestonpans with his fellow Jacobites in that pub. umm, what? read up on yer British history!
An important note: Smoking is banned in ALL public places in Scotland.
Definately visit the Zoo (think its £10 entrance) and witness the Penguin Parade around 2pm.
The Royal Yacht Britannia is homed in Edinburgh...at the docks of course. This was the Queen's private ship and was was put out of service several years ago.
Another important note: don't pronounce Edinburgh as "Edinborrow", it irks people, it's pronounced "Edin-burra".
Buy yourself a day ticket on the Lothian busses for about £2, I think. Busses are regular to most places around town.
Visit the new Scottish Parliament building, if you're into that kind of stuff...you can go in it. It's located at the bottom of The Royal Mile next to Holyrood Palace (the Queen's Edinburgh home). At the top of The Royal Mile is the famous Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels. Ask the soldier on guard duty his name, if he says "Jason" and "So are you doing anything tonight?" then it's probably my nephew...run far away. In between the castle and the Parliament building are lots of fun things, souvenier shops, churches, museums, pubs (including the World's End).
Yet another important note: umm, us Scots can get very upset when people don't realise that Scottish people are British people too, that Great Britain is not England but Scotland, England and Wales. The United Kingdom is Great Britain and Northern Ireland. You probably already know this but just saying...I've been surprised by how many people over here in the US don't know that.
Umm, have I missed anything?
probably.
ohhhh, shite! You said "apart from the obvious touristy things"...oh well, I'm not going back and deleting all that!
Have a great trip!
over and out.