Scotland Old and New Towns of Edinburgh

“My second stop was Jury’s Inn in the Old Town of Edinburgh, right off of the Royal Mile. Like I had mentioned right after my jaunt over, there is a palpable difference between the Old and New Towns. Instead of Harvey Nichols and H&M, you’ll run into St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle and shops that are home to kilt makers and Celtic jewelry. The roads are less perfectly paved and have more of the cobblestone and narrow alleys that you would expect of the old world.”

“Walking up the hill and through the massive castle gate, I find buildings all around me, each representing a different chapter in Scotland’s history. By veering right and spiraling up the outside wall and then cutting up the middle, I can see most of the castle and many of its buildings, including several military museums.”

“From the castle, I walk to the Palace of Holyroodhouse along the Royal Mile. On either side of the street are towering tenements. Due to space restrictions imposed by the street’s narrowness and the desire to stay safe within the defensive walls, the buildings were built higher as housing needs grew.”