A stay in a hostel... In Edinburgh...

I have done it! I got to Edinburgh! As soon as I stepped outside the heavens opened, and there came the snow! :)

So I made my way to the taxi ranks, and was straight away helped to a taxi. They took me to the Halfords where I had arranged to meet the man with the bike I have bought.

I know and re-iterate that I am well aware of the risks I took to get this bike and to fly to Edinburgh. Well aware.

But it was a risk I was willing to take.

After waiting and meeting the guy from eBay, John, he kindly offered me a lift to the Hostel as the snow had picked up and was not getting any lighter and I was so cold I was stiff...

So at the hostel I helped him unload the bike from the roof and walked in to the place... I was nervous!

This is my first stay in a hostel on my own... probably not my last though...

I picked a shared room with 12 beds. I figured those beds would be single sex. 

Wrong.

After putting my stuff in my room, I got talking to some other people, in the kitchen and foyer and we sat down and chatted for a good two hours! We had: An Australian Girl, Belgian girl, German guy and me the Portuguese guy represented at the table. 

After talking about politics, countries, drugs, hamsters, siblings, marriage, books, videos and general life from the countries we have come from and been to, we all retired to the same room!

The next day I took the bike for a spin. I took it all the way back to Halfords and as I did ruined my already old and nearly dead boots. So in I went to Decathlon to get me some new boots!

Best bit was going to two different bike shops and having them all tell me that my risk clearly paid off, as the bike is in very good condition and worth much more money. Tires obviously will need looking at soon, but most else is looking good for training. Then I had assistance with all I will need to wrap my bike up to take on the plane - so its all sorted!

I went to Tesco next door and did my shopping (with the intention to do enough for the week! lol) and bought some vegan cheeses that we cant get back home for Ligia as I know she loves them... 

On my way back my little phone GPS froze and I took the wrong way... lost in Edinburgh.... I took a long route back, on roads I am sure I shouldn't have been on! But I got back in one piece, made an awesome mushroom and vegan sausage casserole with pasta, sat and made a new friend from Colorado USA, and then went to bed early for once... 

The room has since had new lodgers and it smells like a guys room for sure and they ALL snore like helicopters taking off.... There is only one girl left in the room... I am sure she feels overwhelmed... 

Today, the 15th, I am off to the National Museum....

On foot. 

Lets see how lost I get this time!?

What a cool experience so far!