A bit unsettled by yesterday's public transportation fiasco, I headed out to catch an early bus to get me to the train station, this time to go to Edinburgh, Scotland. My time in England had ended and I was to begin a new adventure. I wanted to make sure I made the train so I could properly begin it. The Rutland Arms Hotel has been a wonderful treat to stay at, with down to earth hotel elegance and comforts, not to mention feeding my whimsy for Jane Austen and her work.
I grabbed a quick breakfast, heaved on my backpack, and waited for the bus. To my relief, it came. As we plotted along, a horrible smell started filling the bus like that of an overworked heater. I didn't know if this was 'normal' for the buses but began breathing through my scarf and sleeve so as not to pass out! Thankfully, a gentleman complained to the bus driver. A few minutes later, the bus driver pulled over and announced the bus was overheating. We were being kicked off. There was another bus available so he made an arrangement with the other bus driver to take us to Sheffield. That was fine as long as we all could get our stops.
I began to get anxious because I wasn't familiar with the stops. I finally asked the driver if this was the stop to the train station. He said his route doesn't go by the train station like the one I was kicked off of. This stop was the closest he'd get to the station. Time was of the essence so I had him point me in the right direction and I set off.
Heading towards stairs and a train station I could not see, I stopped a lady on the street who gave me more guidance. In about 10 minutes, I arrived, got my ticket, and set out for the platform the screen said to go to, platform 2. I saw platforms 2a, 2c, and 2e in one direction and 2b and 2d in the other direction. Was platform 2 the same as these or was it separate? I had about 10 minutes to spare so I waited but then I saw a directional sign across the tracks that said platform 2. Platform 2 must be separate from these ones! I grabbed my things, hustled up the stairs and followed the signs to platform 2, only when I got there, it wasn't clear where to go. I climbed more stairs and went down more stairs until finally, I asked a clerk at the information desk where platform 2 was. "Just over the tracks," she says. This was where I started out.
I hustled up the stairs again only to see my train to Edinburgh had arrived. I hustled even faster, found car C and hopped on. Whew! I hope I read the sign correctly and hopped on the right train!
A four-hour train ride later, I arrived at Waverly Station in Edinburgh. I walked out of the station at Market Street to catch my bus to the hotel but couldn't find the connecting street I needed to be on. I looked and looked, went back into the station and came out again, nothing. This time, I looked up and saw a bridge. That's what I need to be on but how to I get there? I asked a parking police officer this question who pointed me to a circular set of stairs. Ugh...More stairs. Determined I picked up my suitcase and climbed and climbed and climbed finally reaching the top. It was a personal victory. I found my bus but couldn't find the exact change. The bus driver nicely told me not to worry about it. Once I sat down I was able to find the exact change and gave it to him when he told me my stop.
I was here! Sandy arrived yesterday and met me shortly after my arrival. What a nice sight to see. We quickly got caught up on the past two days of adventures then set off to explore a bit of Edinburgh while we had time, walking up and down the Royal Mile, popping in and out of shops, taking lots of pictures, passed the Sir Walter Scott monument, and even when into St. Giles Cathedral, the architecture being simply exquisite.
We walked the length of the mile to Holyrood Castle and the modern Scottish Parliament building, peaked at people hiking to Arthur's Seat, then began looking for a place to eat. We found a pub close by, the Tollbooth Tavern where we tried haggis and to my surprise, I liked it! We split a steak and mushroom pie as well which was good. We headed back to our hotel for the night, a nice Victorian b&b with a lovely sitting room which we enjoyed the rest of the evening.
My arrival to Scotland was a bit like entering a haggis... not pleasant and full of ingredients you wouldn't consider eating, but the end product turned out quite nice. I haven't completely wrapped my head around being in Scotland being that I just came from England but hope to mentally embrace this new part of my adventure shortly.
No comments:
Post a Comment