an old friend in a new city

A lovely church we found while exploring some neighborhoods in New Town, across the Meadows from my flat

This past weekend I received a lovely visit from my friend Jeremy. We met on the first day at Penn and have been buds ever since! He's currently studying abroad in Lyon, France and decided to swing by Edinburgh during his travel week. He graciously allowed me to drag him all over the city, showing him my favorite haunts and crossing off a few items from my Edinburgh to-do list. We enjoyed a relaxing, fun-filled five days, full of Crunchie chocolate bars and pub hopping.

The back of the Edinburgh Castle, taken from yet another Farmers Market. You know my style.

Goldenrod infinity scarf knitted with care by the cutest Little I know <3

One morning we hopped on a Lothian Bus and headed to the Royal Botanical Gardens, a spot I've been dying to visit since I arrived! The outdoor park was lovely, as the trees in Scotland are currently boasting rich hues of red, yellow, and orange. To escape the cold, we purchased tickets for the greenhouses, an incredible collection of twelve buildings, each housing a unique set of flora (and, in the aquarium, fauna!). Per typical British style, the grounds and greenhouses are immaculately manicured and bursting with color, offering us the perfect escape from a gray October day.

While Jeremy is a budding antique map connoisseur,  I myself am a book lover at heart. As we spent an afternoon walking through Old Town, we popped into a few collectible book shops. We found ourselves in bibliophile heaven as we flipped through the golden-edged pages of leather-bound first editions and picture-filled 19th-century children's books. I couldn't resist taking the following photo, with which my equestrian friends certainly identify all too well:

We sampled Scottish delicacies (haggis: check!), dutifully tip-toed through the National Museum, and spent many an hour losing ourselves in conversation. I loved sharing my city with an old friend, and Edinburgh was certainly on her best behavior for Jeremy's visit:

Thanks for visiting, J! See you on beige block!

L