My Edinburgh Experience

By Jan True on Nov 7, 08 02:12 PM

Scott Monument.jpg

Scott Monument and Princes Street shops

I WENT to Edinburgh for the first time last weekend. In fact it was the first time I have ever set foot in Scotland! I was there for a hen night with my sister and two friends and I have to say it was a laugh from beginning to end.

The girl who is getting married at Christmas, Hazel, booked us into an apartment especially for hen nights. I didn't even know there was such a place. Anyway, there were 16 of us and we all stayed in the same place. Me and my three companions were in an onsuite room which was cosy (well it really only consisted of four beds) and clean. I wouldn't have wanted to stay for a week but we were only there a couple of nights so it was perfect. The trip started at Southport station, late Friday afternoon with tickets already purchase to take us to Edinburgh via Wigan. Unfortunately for us the 'person' (I can't tell you what we were really calling him but I bet you can guess!) who sold us the tickets gave us zero time to get from one Wigan station to the other to catch the Edinburgh link. We actually touched our train, on which we had reserved seats by the way, only to hear a booming voice come down the platform saying "Get your hands off my train". It then pulled away without us. We then had a 90minute wait for the next train so had to while away the time drinking in a Wigan pub. Now that was an experience in itself. We eventually headed off and arrived in Edinburgh at about 10pm, full of wine and absolutely starving. Next day we hit the Princes Street shops. What a beautiful place Edinburgh is despite the abundance of roadworks. This half mile stretch has been described as one of the most scenic streets in the world. And I have to agree. While the north side consists of an array of tastefully designed shops, you have to admire the excellent views on the south side of Castle Rock and Edinburgh Castle. My particular favourite was the dark neo-gothic Scott Monument dedicated to Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott. Now you may be wondering by now where is the shoe connection but I promise you there is one and it's not what you think. I didn't actually buy shoes for my feet .... I bought shoes for my Christmas Tree!! While out shopping we went into one of those really old-fashioned department stores called Jenners. It looked like something out of the 1940s with grand staircases and wooden balconies. And it was during my browsing that I spotted them. There in the Christmas decorations section of the store was a set of three black stiletto shoe ornaments to hang on your Christmas Tree. Well I just had to buy them didn't I? Now all I need is the tree to hang them on.

Don't forget to read my blog next week when I will tell you all about the Hen Night itself including the naked waiter who definitely wasn't wearing any shoes!!!!