Tea & Carlton Hill

For Sarah's last full day in Edinburgh, we spent the morning at school while I did some work, before heading to Eteaket for a traditional afternoon tea (Sarah had requested we go here before she got here, with a message along the lines of 'can we go to that tea thing you did that post on'?). 

As usual, it was an absolute delight with way too much food. We both got Bre and Cranberry sandwiches. And I continue to spell sandwitches like they are magical beach sorcerers.

PHOTO DUMP

So this post is just gonna be a random collection of a bunch of little things I've been up to the last couple of weeks. 

I want that teapot so much.

Went to Eteaket again the other Wednesday - it was just as awesome as it was the first time! If it wasn't so expensive, I would so be there every week.

Becky and I shared this particular tower of yumminess. We also both just sat there for a minuet taking pictures of it.

Brie and cranberry man.

 This wednesday was Robert Louis Stevenson day - a Big Deal in Edinburgh. As a class, the day before, we got a group picture taken with us all 'stached up.

Alix and Michele looking hella dapper

Suits me, no?

That same day/night, I was volunteering at a book launch, which was quite fun. Also we got to eat all the leftovers AND take home the leftover bottles of wine (speaking of, I still have my bottle of white in the fridge...). However, Sergio was the only who liked red, so he got to take all the red home...

#class

 Then, after that was over, because I am a social butterfly, I went out to the bar to meet up with Group C who were hanging out at The Fountain.

My main takeaway from this entire thing is that I cannot spell moustache. And everyone pronounces it differently.

Alix's only friend.

Becky pretending to be a dinosaur. 

 While out looking at flats yesterday, I ended up with some time to spare, and spent it wandering around this cemetery and taking pictures. If you remember from my last graveyard-heavy post, the council is fixing the gravestones, so the ones deemed unsafe or unstable have been laid on the ground. This graveyard in particular really looked like it had been hit by some sort of heavy storm.

Also walked past the Caledonian Brewery on my way home. 

And this is just a really lovely look down the canal near my flat.

Tea & Cake

Last Sunday Kate and I decided to have another go at the massive institution that is the National Museum of Scotland. Its a good thing its free, because I think there is still a good two visits worth of things we haven't touched on.

After leaving the museum, we both decided we were quite hungry, though it was the awkward time of 3 pm - too early for dinner, too late for lunch. We reached the conclusion that stopping for cake and tea on our way home was really the only option. While we briefly discussed the possibility of going to The Elephant House (the most famous location in JK Rowling's writing career), we decided to instead check out lovecrumbs, a cake shop that several of our classmates had recommended to us. However, when we attempted to enter the shop, we discovered it was unfortunately packed, and we were forced to abandon it for another time.

Instead, we ended up at Loudon's Cafe, which, while still very full, still had a couple of seats free. When you entered, you were faced with a selection of cakes and pastries, which you served yourself to, before continuing in line to order your drink and pay. I decided on the delicious blackberry and apple cake (a difficult decision), and a very delicious drink called "Wild Elderflower Bubbly"

I love this country.

Afternoon Tea

While classes are picking up (there seems to be quite a bit of group work) we are still enjoying a rather light course load, which we took advantage of to meet up for afternoon tea at 2:30 on Wednesday. Candice, Eve, Harriet, Michele, Kate, and I met up at Eteaket (isn't that the greatest name?) for a proper Scottish tea. Which was ridiculously big. It included a sandwich (I ordered brie and cranberry), mini patisseries, a scone with Devonshire clotted cream & Scottish strawberry jam, and a pot of tea. However, when we went they were out of patisseries, so we instead were given a selection of their cakes. 

Our waitress brought all of our tea pots over at once, then proceeded to identify the majority of them by simply looking into the tea baskets, which was amazing, and the ones that she couldn't tell by sight alone, she just smelled the lid and then was able to identify them (still crazy impressive).

The big stand in the foreground was shared between Kate and I, as we both ordered the Brie and Cranberry sandwiches. The smaller stand in the background was Harriets, as she was the only one to order the salmon sandwich.

So much food! We were all very full afterwards. 

After we ate, Eve took us on a meandering walk home, pointing out her favourite shops, which was really awesome - not exactly the kind of information any tour guide is going to give you!

A really lovely day off. Still don't have internet at home, but hopefully we will by next week!