Camera Obscura

On our day off last week we went to the Camera Obscura in Edinburgh. Perched near the top of the Royal Mile we had seen it many time but never ventured in. Then one of the regulars from work gave it a rave review so we decided it would be worth a try, even though it is a bit pricey.

 

We loved it! It's all so interactive and exciting, and the views from the top are amazing. From the camera obscura itself to conducting electricity and all of the magic mirrors, we spent well over two fun filled hours there. I would definitely recommend it as a great spot to visit.

 

 

 

Christmas Time In Edinburgh

I've been absent from my blog for the last few days, and I've really missed catching up on all my favourite blogs too. I've finally got a day off tomorrow after 6 days of work, and I can't wait! Until then, I thought I'd put up some pictures I took on Sunday when I went to Edinburgh Castle and then spent some time at the Christmas market with my friend Rebecca and my boyfriend. It was icy cold and there were huge crowds, but it was wonderful and I can't wait to go back again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From top to bottom: Christmas tree on The Mound, view of the Christmas market from the castle, the ice rink (I can't wait to go!), mulled mead and mulled wine, a reindeer who smelled particularly delicious, and an adorable polar bear.

An Edinburgh To Do List

I love lists. That's probably an understatement. I constantly produce lists. Shopping lists, things I need to do lists, songs I want to listen to lists, movies I want to see lists, lists of books I want to read, lists of perfumes, lists of recipes, lists in notebooks, lists on scraps of paper (which I then carefully transcribe into notebooks), lists in my phone... Needless to say, there are a lot of lists in my life. And there's so many lists in this paragraph that the word list has now lost all meaning as I read it over!

Sitting on the National Monument on Calton Hill (with very messy hair!)

In February I moved to Edinburgh, and there were so many things that I wanted to do, see and experience in this great city. Some I have done, but there are many I have not, so now, as my first six months in Edinburgh comes to a close, I'm making a list of all the things I want to do (and including the things I have already managed, crossed out). Ideally, I'll try to do a few things each month and share them here. I'm sure as time passes more things will be added! And of course, there is the rest of Scotland to explore when we have the time and money. Any ideas would be much appreciated!

Outside the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

Edinburgh To Do List

Climb Arthur's Seat
Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens
Visit the Museum of Childhood
Visit the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Wander around Calton Hill
Get to the top of Scott's Monument (I chickened out last time)
Explore Cramond
Visit Greyfriars Bobby
Visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse
Spend a sunny day at the Meadows
Visit Duddingston Loch and have a drink at the Sheep Heid Inn
Cocktails at Dragonfly
Whiskey tasting
Visit Jupiter Artland
Try some haggis

Looking over Edinburgh at night

Painting The Town Red

Jumper from thrift store in Brooklyn, bag from Nine West, skirt from River Island, shoes are Hush Puppies

I got the idea for the picture above from the wonderful Fashionable Collections

Cocktail Hour: The Dragonfly, Edinburgh

Raspberry Ripple

If you visit Edinburgh, you should go for a drink in the Dragonfly Cocktail Bar, located in the Old Town. The cocktail menu is incredibly inventive and even the classics are given a new twist. We went there a few weeks ago, and I instantly fell in love with The Raspberry Ripple, partly because it looks so fabulous! It is a mixture of Absolut Vanilia, Absolut Raspberri, cream, milk and fresh raspberries, served, of course, with a hundreds and thousands rim. Others tried were the Raspberry Berry or "the cocktail formally known as Prince" which is made up of Martin Miller gin, Chambord, Grand Marnier, lemon, sugar, basil and cracked black pepper, and the Burntisland Iced Tea, which is one of the best takes on the Long Island Iced Tea that I have ever tried. It contains Absolut vodka, Beefeater Gin, Cointreau, Xanté pear Cognac, Koko Kanu coonut rum, and lemon juice, which is layered on Coke with a Disaronno amaretto float. Utterly delicious.

Burntisland Iced Tea

Raspberry Berry Or "the cocktail formally known as Prince" and Raspberry Ripple

Edinburgh in Bloom

I moved to Edinburgh in February and I visited for the first time in October last year, so this is my first time seeing the city in the spring. Right now there are flowers lining Princes Street and the adjacent Gardens. The cherry blossoms are wonderful, and on sunny days the street is full of tourists taking photos. Since I still feel like a tourist most of the time, I thought I would join in.