The New Digs: Patrick Geddes Hall in Mylne's Court

I had to wait more than two weeks, but I finally was able to move into Patrick Geddes Hall of Mylne's Court. It was such a relief to unpack my suitcases after more than a month of traveling. What I didn't anticipate was the incredible location of my flat and the beautiful views I would get. I honestly have the best room in the flat because my window looks out to a quiet courtyard and I don't get sound or light glare from the street. I can visit the street view in the kitchen and then retreat. Pleasant.

Patrick Geddes Hall is the block over from the top of the Royal Mile, so I am literally around the corner from Edinburgh Castle. I go to the top of the street and there it is. I haven't been yet, but I plan on going very soon!

It's quite a bit a ways from the grocery stores and seas of tourists flood the streets when you try to walk up the road with your shopping; the thing that make it all okay, despite the annoyance of someone walking in front of you stopping suddenly to take a picture, is that you can walk by that thing they can only see that once every day. Then it's all okay.

Click the photo of the skyline for the rest of the details (sorry for those of you who were trying to follow the absurdly-paced slideshow)!

September Pilgrimage to the Isle of Mull

Yikes.....this is way overdue!! So, back in September....

I really wanted to do some adventuring outside of Edinburgh before I started at university, and a pilgrimage to the Isle of Mull seemed most appropriate. I hadn't been since 2003 and I'd always remembered it fondly. I'd vowed to return and go hiking, and now was the time.

A quick four-hour train trip through the beautiful Scottish Highlands brought me to Oban, a popular European resort town, and where the CalMac ferry to Islands sets out from.

Duart Castle, the seat of the Clan McLean, as you approach Craignure on the Isle of Mull.

 Click HERE for more photos

From the train straight to the ferry for a beautiful, albeit windy, day scoping out the island and visiting Duart Castle, the seat of the Clan McLean, and my heritage. I took the bus from the ferry to the castle, but walked the three miles back so I could admire the scenery and see if I could find a hidden path up the mountain.

The next day I was on the morning ferry, but after missing the only bus and a miscalculation about a bike, I ended up just walking up the road out of Craignure to see how far I could get to Salen. Well, fate was looking out for me because I discovered a hiking trail at Scallastle, a Scottish Forestry Commission property. The weather wasn't great, with the clouds shrouding the mountain tops and shifting rain eventually drenching me through, but the views when the clouds would clear and the enchanting plants were well worth another trek in the rain.

It was an incredible, but sadly brief trip. But I'll be back soon!