Day One and Two

We arrived in Edinburgh yesterday morning to sunshine. In fact, most of the students have remarked on what it is like to have sunshine about 18 hours a day. Very nice, they say.

We spent our first morning getting our bus passes and checking into our beautiful accommodation, adjacent to the Royal Botanical Gardens. From there, we had our first group lunch at "The Elephant House," a cafe on George IVth bridge just off The Royal Mile. This is where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the early Harry Potter books.

Several students tried their first can of Irn Bru or their first serve of Shepherd's Pie. There is still much delight and novely to the Scottish accent. Two have decided to move here someday, and most have discovered a local Italian eatery with "the best Italian food I've ever had." They've eaten there twice already:)

Today, we had class in the morning, (an introduction to the study of personality and the idea of mental mapping) and are spending our afternoon on a team photo scavenger hunt to learn the layout of the city.

Below is the hunt. The students have three hours. Think they can do it?

Edinburgh Scavenger Hunt

“Want a monument to the Scots? Look around you.” Arthur Herman, author of How the Scots Invented the Modern World

Rules: You can use your feet or a bus, but not a taxi. Photos must be taken of the entire group, so you will likely have to ask someone to take your group photo. You can utilize people along the way to get directions, but not technology.

I’ve divided the clues into the New Town, In-Between and Old Town areas. Each team will go to all three areas, but will start your hunt in the section corresponding to your team name. You have until 5:15 p.m. to get all the pictures taken and questions answered. You’ll likely need to be on the bus to return home by 4:50 p.m. (16:50 on the 24-hour clock system utilized in Edinburgh.)

New Town
1. Take a picture of your group INSIDE the Botanical Gardens
2. Take a picture of your group in front of the Old Entrance to Stockbridge Market; what does it say below “Stockbridge Market” on this entrance?
3. Take a picture of your group on the entrance to the Dean Bridge on Queensferry Road

In Between
4. There is a monument to Lord Nelson on Calton Hill. Take a group photo in front of this monument and record what is written on the plaque on the monument here:

5. Take a picture of your group in front of the monument to David Hume
6. There is a floral clock in the Prince’s Street gardens; take a picture of the clock, but not your group in front of the clock
7. There are six monuments in the Princes Street gardens: Take a photograph of three and name the person to whom the monument was erected:

Old Town
8. There are two castles/palaces and at least two separate museums on the Royal Mile—take a group photo in front of each and name the two museums you find
9. Find Maggie Dicksons in the Grassmarket and take a picture of the sign; no group needed in this shot
10. Take a picture of your group’s feet standing on the Heart of Midlothian. There is a book by the same name, and a monument to its author in New Town. Take a photo of your group in front of this monument on your way home.
11. Find the University of Edinburgh and wander around just a bit. Take a picture of Teviot Row House once you’re there; this is the first student union in existence.

Finished! Head back to find Dr. Long in the Moinet Room or Room 11. Winners determined by EITHER the first to return with the hunt completed OR with the most sites discovered at 5:15 p.m. If you are later than 5:15 in arriving back, your work will be appreciated but not eligible for the prize.

Tomorrow we're in class and then touring St. Giles!