I arrived at Edinburgh in a charming sunny weather. It was unfamiliar to me at this part of the world, though I was happy about it. I got an SMS from a couchsurfer host that I can go to his place, because for my first night (Wednesday) nobody accepted be before. This guy way - surprisingly - Polish. Great! :-) He asked me if I took this wonderful weather from Poland because it had been raining all the time till the day before. I met his friends and we enjoyed some snacks and a movie together. In the morning he left for work early so I started to rediscover the city.

Evening at North Bridge, next to the Royal Mile

Yes! I am here. I've just realized that I arrived back to the capital of a country we had been dreaming about to come back for 5 years. The structure of the city is still in my mind, so I started with the old town. The Royal Mile is a long street going down from the royal castle to the new Parliament and the Holyrood Palace.

Then I left my backpack in the centre and hiked up Arthur's Seat, which is a nice hill over the city with stunning panorama. I took a great amount of photos to show I am well for those who worried about me at home.

Coming down the hill I entered the Scottish Parliament that was built in 1998. I liked the way they welcomed the visitors, there were free entry to several places, and thanks to the summer vacation I could freely enter the hall where the elected politicians work, vote and make laws.

Olympics everywhere

I left the city for Ratho, where my second host was waiting for me. They were from Canada, but have spent some years in Scotland. We had very nice talks about many topics, mainly history, current events, and the connections among those. I was happy to hear their travel experiences, and so were they: well, for me it is not so interesting but I think I could tell them something new about low-cost flights. They offered me a cider that was great (here we don't have that, though they have appeared on the shelves of hypermarkets recently), and a simple but really good pasta with tuna fish (we eat little fish so I liked that very much as well).

It is always nice to enjoy the sunshine in Scotland

On Friday morning I tried to wake up before the Sun do, and I almost succeeded.

I walked to Tormain hill viewpoint where I could enjoy nice view of Edinburgh with the rising sun in the middle of the morning landscape. During the day I walked around Ratho's footpaths, and even farther (tanks to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, which says you can enter any place, climb any fence till you don't disturb the owner of the land).

Tormain hill viewpoint

I was searching radio stations, and found BBC3, where I could here Hungarian music from a Hungarian Pianist: Franz Liszt from Czifra György. :) It was windy, but I enjoyed the sunshine and the sight of cow groups aound.

Later I took the bus X12 to Edinburgh and went on to see more. I said goodbye to this nice city and went back to my host - as the one I was supposed to stay at declined in the last moment. So I went back to Ratho, and enjoyed a pizza with my lovely hosts (I missed my bus so I missed the making of the dough, but we put the things on it together).

I should have woken up at 3:30am to walk 5,5kms to the airport to catch my only possible bus to the centre to reach my coach... yes, it is impossible to go to city at Saturday morning. I overslept a bit, so I ran to the main road (4km), it wasn't funny with a 17kg backpack, but I did it! :) I tried to hitchhike, which - surprisingly - worked great. (I printed some papers at home previously like Centre, Airport, etc. so these made great job). An Englishman took me and dropped off next to the bus station.

A square next to the Royal Academy

We were about 10 people on the big bus, most people got on in Newcastle. I got off at Scotch Corner, where there is nothing but a parking place and a service station, but it is an important traffic junction, and I hitchhiked to Darlington, which was still easy (OK, there was great weather, perhaps drivers don't prefer soaked hitchhikers).

Darlington

Darlington's importance comes from the rail: in 1827 this was the place where the rail we have today was born. I visited the Nort Road Station that was built in 1846, and today this is a museum. I could read interesting stories about he station's ghost and technical data about the first rail line. I had a cup of tea with the museum educator, who was happy to tell me stories about the place.

Head of Steam

I took my train to York, where there is a much bigger place: the National Railway museum.

National Railway Museum, York

I could see engines, famous carriages of kings and queens, and the hours I spent there were very few but I enjoyed the place very much, because there were so much to see.

Famous carriages in the National Railway Museum, York

I was about to meet my host at 10pm, but I often get surprises from the life: I came across a lady who had been similar to the person I saw on the profile of my host. Yes, it was her, what a surprise! She was going to watch the rehearsal of he York Mystery Plays in the Museum Gardens, and se took me through security check with fast steps so I got in! :-D

rehearsal of York Mystery Plays

What a unique experience it was! The lights, the actors, the atmosphere of the place. I am grateful for my host she took me in.

In the morning I visited York's old town. I walked in real middle-age streets (Shambles), admired the old little houses that were in great conditions.

The Shambles

Then - when it was started raining - I took my rain to Manchester.

The Minster, York