We visited Edinburgh over the bank holiday weekend. What a beautiful city! We stayed in a lovely backpackers in the Victorian suburb of Marchmont, just south of the Meadows. With a population about one third of Dublins', a few Universtities, a varied and undulating topography plus a few lovely parks and surrounding green areas - I wonder if I should make a move some day...

I've always been attracted to Europe for it's historical and cultural richness, and I've always felt an affinity towards the Irish and Scottish - perhaps due to the legacy of English colonialism in my own country, South Africa. So I would love to remain in Europe indefinitely without ever having to swear loyalty to Queen Betty or King Charlie.

Unfortunately, Dublin has been experiencing a property bubble for a number of years, which makes it nearly impossible for us to get a foot on the property ladder here. So perhaps Edinburgh might be an option for the future... besides, I had some Haggis while we were there and I really quite like it! I'm just not so sure about those bagpipes - though I guess they are mostly heard around tourist traps in the Old Town.