Edinburgh, a city rich in history and culture, is a wonderful place to visit. However, due to its uniqueness, there are numerous opportunities for you to embarrass yourself. If you intend to follow the adage “when in Rome, do as the Romans do,” you may be surprised to discover that many people in Edinburgh do not behave as you might expect.
In general, the worst consequence of making any of the following mistakes when visiting Edinburgh will be a common cold and perhaps a few weary looks from the locals. However, preparation could help you save a little money and avoid some confusion, as well as make your time in the Scottish capital more enjoyable.
1. Mispronunciation of place names
It’s not “Edin-berg”!
The name of the city is also not pronounced “Edin-burrow.” It is pronounced “Edin-bura” or “Edin-bra” if said quickly enough. Locals will be extremely irritated if you get this wrong. There are also some street names that tourists frequently misspell, which can lead to navigational difficulties. Princes Street is referred to as “Prince’s Street” (not “Princess Street”), Cockburn is pronounced “Coe-burn,” and Buccleuch is pronounced “buh-clue.”
2. Not carrying a raincoat
Even in summer
The weather in Scotland is notoriously unreliable. It is said that neither a clear nor a cloudy sky should be trusted because you can never predict what it will do. Even if you’re visiting Edinburgh in the height of summer, you should bring a good waterproof raincoat or risk getting soaked. Don’t bother attempting to use an umbrella, as it won’t last long in the frequently strong winds.
3. Not utilizing buses
And not having the exact change
Several companies offer hop-on-hop-off bus services in Edinburgh, making it tempting to use them to get around the city. However, Lothian Buses, the local municipal bus service, is arguably superior and considerably less expensive. You can even use a mobile application to determine which bus to take to reach your destination. The only downside is that you need to have the exact change to buy a ticket. Obviously, walking is even less expensive, but Edinburgh is extremely hilly. If you wish to avoid exhaustion, you must investigate the bus service.
4. Ordering a single malt whisky with ice for the fourth time
Or worse, with Coke
Scots are justifiably pleased with their whisky. A complex libation as refined as any French wine is the result of generations of experience and years of aging. If you order your single malt on the rocks, a knowledgeable bartender will advise you to first try it neat (as it was intended to be served) and then add water if necessary. Those with less discernment will place the ice in the glass while judging you. If you ruin a perfectly good dram by mixing it with Coke, the judging will be that much more severe.
5 Underestimating the length of the summertime
And long winter nights
It is easy to forget how far north Scotland actually is in a metropolitan city like Edinburgh. It is not exactly within the Arctic Circle, but it is not that far away. Even the Northern Lights are visible in certain regions of the country. In any case, being so far from the equator causes significant seasonal variations in day length. Sunset can occur as late as 10 p.m. in the summer and as early as 3:40 p.m. in the winter. In other words, don’t be surprised if stores are closing, people are eating dinner, and the city’s nightlife begins well before it’s actually dark.
6 Only frequenting tourist bars
They can be fun, but they’re not “local”
Scots are notoriously heavy drinkers, so the pub is the best place to start if you want to connect with the locals. However, the majority of the establishments on or near the city’s major attractions and streets are tourist traps that Edinburgh locals typically avoid. Even getting served, let alone having an authentic local experience, could be a challenge. Listen for the sounds of Scottish folk music emanating from the doors of the smaller establishments tucked away down unassuming side streets.
7 attempts to imitate a Scottish accent
Or claiming that you’re part-Scottish
You wouldn’t attempt to imitate a Chinese or Indian accent, so please don’t try to imitate a Scottish accent – you’ll only embarrass yourself and everyone else. Claiming to be one-sixteenth Scottish does not make something acceptable. As a result of the massive amount of migration out of Scotland over the past few centuries, a large number of people can claim to be a small percentage of Scots. The Highland origin of your grandmother’s cousin’s nephew’s step-sister is of no concern to the locals. They have heard it a million times and have been equally unimpressed each time.
8 Eight slaps to Greyfriars Bobby’s nose
It’s not lucky
Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier, was so loyal to his owner that he waited by his grave for fourteen years. Outside Greyfriars Kirk, a statue was erected to commemorate this heartwarming tale of canine loyalty. Unfortunately, someone started the myth that rubbing the statue’s nose would grant good fortune. Locals have never believed this, and they’re actually irritated by the practice because it’s wearing down the statue’s bronze.
9 Purchasing the clan’s traditional tartan
It’s probably not traditional
Numerous stores boast that they stock the tartans of hundreds of distinct clans. Regardless of how far your home is from Scotland, there is almost certainly a tartan with your family name on it. In reality, only a small number of Highland clans ever had their own design, and the rest are fabricated to boost sales. Moreover, wearing a kilt of that tartan around town is…well, it’s not technically a mistake, as more and more young Edinburghites are doing it, but it’s certainly courageous. These items are extremely drafty, and the climate of the city will not be kind to you.
10 Lack of readiness for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
It’s almost the whole of August
Edinburgh Fringe is one of the largest cultural festivals in the world. August is not the month to visit the city if you’re looking for a simple, peaceful vacation. Expect the streets, hotels, public transportation, theaters, and bars to be crowded on the majority of days. What if that is the purpose of your visit? You must be prepared for the sheer magnitude of it. There may be more than 53,000 performances in 300 venues; it is physically impossible to see everything, so choose your priorities carefully.
Topic: 10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Edinburgh
Participate in Our Community “I Left My Heart in Scotland” .A place where members can open up to one another, share their travel stories and photos, and experience a new way to travel Scotland – together.
By InfoNewsLive
