So when I fell asleep at 6:30pm the night before, it didn't occur to me that it was a bad idea. But I woke up at 3am and was up for about 3 hours before I finally fell back to sleep. And accidentally slept until 12. Whoops.
I still managed to accomplish a lot.
I walked up to Edinburgh Castle to grab some pictures. They were setting up a huge stadium of seats right outside the castle. I didn't catch what it was for, but some big festivities, I'm sure.
Took a jaunt around Lawnmarket, checking out all the touristy themed restaurants, Tartan stores, tweed suit jackets and kitschy knick knacks. Then I headed down the Royal Mile toward the Queen's Palace at Holy Rood. On the way, though, I made a pit stop.
Just after John Knox's house, I took a left and stopped in a tattoo and piercing shop to get a vertical labret. The lady who did it was fun and cool, but it hurt like no other. I didn't bleed though!
Then I resumed the trek towards the palace, took a couple shots of it and the Parliament building, then headed toward Arthur's Seat.
Sure, I thought. I can climb that. Yeah, it looks pretty steep, but I can do it!
So I started up. I stopped not far in, realizing that I hadn't eaten anything yet and scarfed down an energy bar and some water. At least 4 stops to rest and considerations of turning back later, I reached the second highest mound. I decided this was far enough, and collapsed into the soft grass for a longer rest and to take some pictures.
By this point, my legs felt like noodles, and I needed a way down that was not just stairs all the way up. So I went down the East side, and it was spongy soft earth the whole way down. Delightful, comparatively. I kept walking, but my feet were killing me, so I stopped in to a little restaurant for some whisky and a bite to eat. The special was salmon, which I love, so I went for it.
After that, my feet needed a rest so I went back to the hostel and threw on some football games in the common room and rested. By the time the games were over, I was getting hungry again, so I ran out for some fish and chips (with salt and sauce, of course!). Really good. And so much fish!