This post is a bit overdue, but I wanted to share our New Year's Eve experience - we went to Edinburgh, Scotland to celebrate Hogmanay, one of the world's largest New Year's parties. We flew into Edinburgh from London, and it was a quick 40 minute flight. Once at the airport, we took the city's airport bus which provides transportation into the city center.
Once we were checked in and settled we decided to spend our day exploring the city - we started with visiting the Edinburgh Castle, which provided amazing views of the city and beyond, and from there we headed down the Royal Mile to explore. That evening, we headed to Princes Street to view the Torchlight Procession which served as the official kickoff to the Hogmanay weekend - the turn out was great which made for great photos of all the torches!
We grabbed dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe (yes, I know this is so American of us, but we were CRAVING some American style food!), and to our surprise ran into some fellow Americans who live in England - great times and dinner with everyone! That night, the two of us enjoyed the Winter Market in the city centre, all of the sights, and took a ride on the ferris wheel - it was a bit cold but we enjoyed it and took some great pictures.
On New Year's Eve, we toured the Royal Yacht Britannia, did some shopping and rested up for the big night. We enjoyed a great celebration meal at our hotel, and then headed out for the evening. Hogmanay is a huge street party with people from all over the world in attendance, concerts, food vendors, and really excitement and some pretty hilarious people everywhere you look. The big countdown and fireworks show was what we were all waiting for and it did not disappoint - I cannot tell you how special it was to bring in our first New Year as a married couple in such a great atmosphere!
As you might expect, we were a bit exhausted on New Year's Day, so we slept in and toured the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence while she is in Scotland, and then headed back to London! One thing we did fall in love with in Edinburgh is Thai Orchid, a delicious and very popular Thai restaurant - we ate there twice! We had a great weekend and it was not nearly as cold as we expected, which is always a plus!
Here's to a happy, healthy, and productive 2011! Up next....Athens, Greece!
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