Scotland v USA Rugby Match in Edinburgh? Direct flight from Stuttgart to Edinburgh? Check. Match tickets bought well in advance? Check. Another trip to Scotland? Always!
We flew in with Eurowings on Friday, arriving just in time for a proper Meat Pie lunch in Haymarket.
If we can’t own a million-pound flat in the Stockbridge neighborhood of Edinburgh, we can at least borrow one for a weekend via Airbnb. A perfect spot, 10-minutes walking to the Royal Mile, with cozy pubs and great local restaurants along the way.
Friday also happened to be Halloween, how perfect to be in Scotland, home of the ancient Celtic festival Samhain (sow-in)! We kicked off the night at The Black Cat on Rose Street, with a top-notch whisky selection, and then wandered down a shadowy alley to the speakeasy Never Really Here. Great Halloween vibes, with fun and interesting costumes out and about.
Scotland v USA Rugby Match
Saturday was Game Day! We were so lucky on the weather, the sun stayed out, even when it was raining sideways, and the cold was brisk but bearable. We had time to see the sights around the Royal Mile in the morning, and then geared up in kilts and warm sweaters, we set off on the hour-long walk to Murrayfield Stadium.
Enjoying the atmosphere of Game Day, we wandered through neighborhoods, exploring a few pubs along the way. We found more and more crowds as we neared Murrayfield Stadium. The pubs became more and more busy, so we were happy to find a nice small pizza spot to grab some lunch.
Murrayfield is both beautiful and well-organized for managing the 60,000 fans in attendance. Inside the gates, a ring of food and beer trucks circled the stadium, ready for fans with a fun pre-game atmosphere.
We were in our seats well in time to see the teams run out on the field, and for the national anthems for both countries, both really beautiful moments. We had a great time at the match, and luckily we were cheering for both countries, as Scotland won most decidedly in a 85-0 score.😳
Even in the midst of their celebrations, many Scottish fans stopped to speak kindly to us when they heard our accents. Besides the score, this was a fantastic international sports experience, a warm welcome for the visitors as well as a lot of national pride for all.
Family and Whisky
For our last day in Edinburgh, we met some of Rob’s family at the Port of Leith Whisky Distillery, a perfect finale to the weekend. A great time of laughs, stories, and whisky flights with lunch, admiring the beautiful views across the choppy waters of the harbor.
All too soon, it was time to head back to the airport. Leaving Scotland is never easy, but we’re thankful for this wonderful weekend full of making memories with great friends and family, and with our friendly winning Scottish fans!
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