Day 18, Cont. Friday October 28th, 2011
I arrive in Edinburgh at night, a beautiful sight. The lights on the castle and the Princes gardens make me hard. Then I realize my hostel is 30 minutes away from the city center. Fuck me sideways.
Then, due to construction and a lack of brain power, I actually overshoot the hostel, walking even more than I had to. Eventually, I flag down a taxi and get to Belford Hostel, which is in a converted church. It’s pretty fucking cool, actually. I check in, drop my stuff, and join the “halloween party” in the downstairs bar. I buy a Strongbow and a Krolsch, down them, don’t talk to anyone, and go out into the night.
I end up at a place called the Red Squirrel for a cider (good trick: ciders have more alcohol and cheaper than nice beer). I felt like a douche alone surrounded by groups, so I chugged it and went on to…Ghillie Dhu.
It’s a Scottish live music venue, and free to get in. I order a beer and a shot. Of vodka. Yeah, I forgot I was in the land of whiskey. The chick next to me, Linzi, admonishes and makes fun of me as she should, then invites me to join her group. It’s her and her friend, and two dude co-workers. I didn’t know if they were couples or what (they weren’t, they said). But they were pretty friendly, even if it was kind of awkward. Soon, the band was playing a traditional Scottish song for couples, and Linzi led me. It was really fun, even if I was shit, but this time I at least had an excuse to. The two guys cockblock me by bailing, bringing the girls with them, leaving me alone again after that dose of fun.
I’m about to bail when I see the two hottest girls in the bar. I figure, what the hell, and go up to them, and offer to buy them a drink. They said I don’t have to, and I told them I would anyway, provided I got a good 7 minutes of conversation. I got a good 43, I’d say, and they even bought the next round. One was named Linda, couldn’t tell ya the other one’s name, and they were TWINS. Amazing. I join their group, and did a huge scottish dance number with the whole bar, where you swing your partner around in circles, then hook your arm with the next girl, circle again, next girl, etc. It was brilliant.
But, I can’t have too much fun: I find out Linda has a boyfriend and they live 2 hours away and had to leave to catch the train. While I was really fucking mad on the walk home, no matter: that night was a turning point, and one of the most fun I had. It was a sign of things to come: Scotland rules.
Next: Halloween weekend in the most haunted city in the world.