The weekend trip to Edinburgh went really well. Maybe strange as stag nights go since there were no strippers, practical jokes or matching tshirts but still a really good few days.

Friday

Things did get off to a pretty bad start with the trains being off as the lines were flooded, but we managed to get the bus and neck our cans of Woodpecker (yes, you can still get it) on there.

On the way into Edinburgh, Scoot (fuelled by 2 cans of Tennents and 1 of ‘pecker) badly needed the toilet so, him assuring that we were only “a couple of streets” away from Princes Street, we jumped off the bus early so he didn’t make a mess of himself. Once sorted out, we started to head over to Princes Street.

15 minutes and a dozen streets later, we started to get the idea that Scoot might be lost but thought we’d give him the benefit of the doubt.

Another 5 minutes and we decided to head into a hotel to see where the hell we were. Turns out we’d be walking away from Princes Street, heading out of the north west of Edinburgh. To be fair to The Boy, we did get off the bus only a couple of streets from the city centre.

Anyways, one quick taxi ride and we were at the hostel. Not exactly what I was expecting but really nice for the money. For some reason, all the staff were Australian. As were most of the guests. Actually, we discovered that half the population of Edinburgh seem to be from down under. Either that or the east coast accent has changed quite a bit from the last time I heard it.

It was getting on by the time we got settled in and unpacked, so we headed down to the hostel shop for a couple of microwave meals to cook in their (“industrial strength - reduce cooking time by half!!!”) microwaves before heading into town on the hostel’s bus service. Met a couple of Aussie (what else?) girls on the bus so got chatting to them. Wez being himself, got their phone number to arrange to meet up later to share a taxi back.

Once in town we went to Bar Kohl (arty-farty and expensive), Greyfriars (dead but had a puggy) and then to Frankenstein’s (excellent music and great atmosphere). I hadn’t been there for quite a while, so was good to see the place again. Think Wez and Scoot enjoyed it as well.

So, after that, went for a kebab (but ended up getting chips) and wandered past what looked like a murder scene - lots of blood and police. We were really shattered by now, so met up with Angie and Jane (Aussies) and got taxi back. We went into the hostel’s bar but was pretty quiet so played some songs on the jukebox then headed to bed.

Saturday

We slept a bit late on the Saturday, so didn’t manage to get out of the hostel till about 12ish. Breakfast was between 6 and 9 so missed that by a long shot.

Headed in on the hostel’s bus again find some breakfast and to meet Aimee (my cousin and Edinburgh dweller). Had breakfast in some European Cafe styled thing and had a laugh at the foreign music videos. I thought it was a French cafe when we went in but the TV wasn’t in French and the waiter sounded Russian so god knows what it was. Next we headed over to The Mound (ha, ha, ha) to meet Aimee and had a nosey in the shops on the way.

Aimee was a bit late turning up but that gave us plenty of time to watch a piper struggle to try and tune his bagpipes for half an hour before giving up. The guy stripped them down, cleaned different bits and tried all sorts of stuff but nothing worked. Don’t think he was too happy with us sitting laughing at him though…

So we met Aimee and had a wander about the Royal Mile to see all the street shows and stuff that were going on. Toyed with the idea of getting a band caricature but they didn’t do groups of three so that didn’t happen.

We went to a pub for a quick drink (The Malt Shovel - great Guinness) and then to some hostel/cafe for lunch. Mine’s was passable. Aimee had nachos that seemed to be welded to the plate with rock solid cheese. Not the best.

As we were booked in to go on one of the ghost tours at night, we had to shoot off back to the hostel to get ready so arranged to meet up with Aimee in the pub later and headed back.

Managed to drink a bottle of Malibu between us in the room before going out, Wez with his suit on (don’t ask me why). Bus back into town.

I nearly collapsed going up the stairs to the top of the Royal Mile but my heart slowed down eventually.

The Mercat Tours ghost walk thing we went on was pretty good - the guide was a bit over the top but it fitted in really well. Only thing that spoiled it a bit were a tool of a woman who kept talking over the guide, shouting to passing people and talking on her phone; and this American woman who liked to pretend she was being annoyed by ghosts (guide mentioned some people would hear a ghost’s footsteps - she stamps her feet; guide mentions a ghost has been known to pinch people - she jumps about as if being pinched). Oh, and the woman who thought she was psychic.

The vaults under the city really are oppressive though - I definitely wouldn’t want to be down there myself. Also very strangely warm.

After the tour, we headed up to Rose Street for some drinks at the Wetherspoons pub there (keep forgetting the name). Had a good few drinks in there before meeting Aimee who took us to Whistlebinkies to hear the band that were on. Just covers they were playing but all good songs and they pulled them off really well.

After that, we got something to eat (fantastic chicken kebab) and then waited for about an hour on a taxi. Got chatting to this mad-ish lassie who shared a taxi with us then headed back to the hostel. Finished off the night with a couple of drinks at the hostel bar.

Sunday

Had to be up early as check out was at 10 so managed to get ourselves down to reception just on time. We got the bus into town and dumped our bags at the train station (sneakily putting my bag into Wez’s huge one to save money) and then went looking for food.

We made the mistake of heading down Rose Street looking for some sort of cafe - nothing there. Then made the mistake of heading up Lothian Road, still determined to find something. After 45 mins we found an open cafe offering a full breakfast so headed in there for some much-needed food.

After that, we headed up Princes Street for a nosey in the shops. Had a shot of Donkey Konga in Game and that was pretty cool. Bought some books, DVDs, usual stuff. We headed into the Wetherspoons pub again for a (soft) drink. We went for a look round about the mall just up from the top of Princes Street but we were pretty tired so didn’t find it interesting.

Headed back to the train station to pick up out bags, took some band photos next to the tracks and then got the train home.

All in all, I had an excellent (if very tiring) weekend. Also spent a lot more than I was planning to but hey - it was worth it.