Today started bright and early with a final farewell to my little boat hostel in Stockholm. I’ll genuinely miss the gentle sway of falling asleep on the water (10/10 ambiance).

I put on my now very familiar outfit (shoutout to my emergency wardrobe) and headed to the airport. Security and customs took forever, but I eventually made it to my gate, grabbed some breakfast, and boarded the plane. I scored a window seat, so I got to watch Sweden fade into the clouds and Scotland come into view.

Once I landed, I made my way through customs and hopped on a tram into the heart of Edinburgh… and wow! I didn’t know quite what to expect, but stepping into the city felt like walking straight into the pages of Harry Potter! Cobbled streets, Gothic architecture, moody skies… total storybook vibes.

I found a cozy little café and grabbed lunch: a haggis panini (a Scottish classic) and a cappuccino to warm up. It’s not freezing here, just a little chilly and very overcast, so basically peak cozy-weather mode.

After that, it was time to check in to my hostel… which just so happens to be right across the street from the Edinburgh Castle (I’m not kidding, I can see it from my window; so wild!).

For this leg of the trip, I booked a 12-person mixed dorm (gotta love a budget win in a prime location), and after dropping off my stuff, I headed straight to the castle for a full audio tour. I spent several hours wandering around, learning all about its history and defenses. It sits high on a hill, so the views from the top are absolutely stunning: all ancient stone walls and dramatic skyline.

And just as I was finishing up, a full rainbow stretched across the sky (the timing was very cinematic). It made me stop for a minute and just take it all in: how lucky I am to be here, to be doing this, to be on this wild solo adventure.

After that, I wandered through the winding streets of Old Town and New Town, taking in the sights and sounds. I even caught a street performer playing the bagpipes, because of course I did; prime Scotland aesthetics!

As the sun started to set (read: the sky got slightly darker than it already was lol), I grabbed some fish & chips from a little shop and ate them on a bench in a tucked-away courtyard. Simple, warm, and perfect.

Eventually I made my way back to the hostel to chill and recharge. I’m calling it an early night tonight; more Edinburgh exploring tomorrow! Still no backpack (tragic), but I’m holding out hope it’ll safely make it to Glasgow on Friday so I can finally reunite with my cute plaid skirt and lean fully into the Scottish look.

Until then, I’ll just be here, rainbow-chasing and castle-admiring!