Edinburgh

The most interesting street in Edinburgh is the Royal Mile in the Old Town - consisting of Lawnmarket, High Street and Cannongate. The Royal Mile starts from the Edinburgh Castle and descends towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse (the Queen's official residence in Scotland). It's really worth of wandering and investigating the narrow alleys off the Royal Mile, called closes and wynds. Like opening little gift boxes full of surprises. My favourite is the World's End Close, just because of the name. However as tempting as the closes might look after the midnight and after the 12th pint or so some locals warned it might be unsafe to pop into these dark lanes alone at night.

I didn't enter the Castle, shame on me. It was kinda expensive-ish and when you have seen around 34 European Castles, Cathedrals and Fortresses it sometimes might feel you've already seen them all. If the time is limited it is a must to pay a visit to some of the pubs surrounding the Grassmarket instead of having yet another Castle experience, in my current opinion. Please tell me if this was a great error and I will correct it next time, if there will be a next time in Edinburgh. I promise.

The Calton Hill is a great place to have a view over the city and snap some more or less impressive photos. After stumbling down the hill I ended up to the New Town. I've got an impression the most important areas of the New Town are around the Princes Street. So are the Princes Street Gardens. I spent a long while there lying on the grass - finally got some sun today, actually loads of it. Very nice combined with yet another portion of fattening chips. Btw the New Town is called "the New Town" because it's newer than the Old Town but it is still very old from the Finnish point of view.

Found two commendable museums in the Old Town side of the city. Nicely illustrated The People's Story is located at Canongate Tolbooth, 163 Canongate, Royal Mile. I don't usually like museums too much (apart from the ones with art or photography) but I really enjoyed this one. Also the Museum of Childhood at 42 High Street/Royal Mile is worth of taking a peek. There are old toys in many floors: certainly interests kids and maybe nostalgic adults as well. Admission was free to both.