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墨書 Inktalez
The Scott Monument looks particularly beautiful from a distance. This is a memorial tower in the Gothic Architecture style, and its grandeur can only be appreciated up close. Standing before the towering Scott Monument, which seems to pierce the clouds, and touching the dark brown stone structure, one can sense a historical charm.
The Scott Monument is a tall tower supported by four pillars, with hollow spaces on all sides. From any direction, one can see the center at the base of the tower. When Bai Yujing entered, he even saw doves flying around the Scott Monument, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
In the center of the tower stands the white marble Scott Monument. Bai Yujing and Emma took a photo together here, with the monument behind them, draped in robes and accompanied by a lying dog.
"Let's go up together; climbing alone is too boring," Bai Yujing said to Emma, pulling her along with a hint of pleading. They had just walked around for a bit, which helped digest their meal; after eating so much, they should get some exercise.
Emma thought for a moment and replied, "Alright then, let's race to see who reaches the top first."
"No way! That's cheating; wait for me!"
As soon as Emma finished speaking, she took off, and Bai Yujing naturally refused to back down, following closely behind.
However, halfway up, Bai Yujing regretted it. The stairs of the Scott Monument are very narrow, and the entire tower is about twenty stories high. For someone like Bai Yujing, who usually takes the elevator to go up three floors, this was a huge challenge. He was already panting by the time he reached halfway.
When they finally reached the top of the tower, Bai Yujing was sweating profusely. It was mainly because Emma had climbed so quickly that it left him exhausted; as soon as he arrived, he didn't want to move at all.
The fee to access the top of the Scott Monument is 5 pounds, but visitors receive a commemorative certificate. After resting for a bit, Bai Yujing noticed that Emma was still full of energy. Feeling ashamed that his physical ability was not even as good as a girl's made him feel quite embarrassed.
"The price has gone up; I remember it used to be 4 pounds!" Emma told Bai Yujing.
Bai Yujing shrugged helplessly and replied, "It’s probably because it's August; there are more visitors here."
The movie Cloud Atlas was filmed at the Scott Monument. Bai Yujing specifically took out his phone to find the filming location and took another photo with Emma. The two became more familiar with each other as they posed in various ways, truly resembling a couple.
At the top of the tower, they could overlook everything below; the view was exceptional. They could see all of Edinburgh spread out before them, especially in the afternoon light when everything looked just right. The greens and browns intertwined beautifully—green shade from trees and lawns alongside layers of Western-style architecture—while blue skies blended seamlessly with castles. The scene was simply breathtaking.
After some playful antics, they walked down from the Scott Monument together. Emma shared some interesting facts about it with Bai Yujing. The design of the Scott Monument was selected from proposals gathered from all over Scotland; collecting these proposals alone took three years. Interestingly enough, the final choice was not made by any well-known architectural designer but rather by the son of a shepherd—Kemp—who didn’t even dare to write his real name on his design draft.
Prince Street Gardens indeed left a good impression on Bai Yujing. Perhaps because Edinburgh is a hilly city, the scenery and roads here are undulating, creating a layered beauty. Even ordinary views can reflect a different feeling, forming a visually appealing contrast of heights.
As they stepped out, the weather suddenly turned gloomy. In no time, it started to drizzle lightly. Bai Yujing and Emma had no choice but to take shelter under the eaves of a nearby building since they hadn’t brought an umbrella.
Looking outside through the light rain and overcast sky, the entire city abruptly shifted from bright to dreary. "See, this is how the weather is here; you never know when it might start raining," Emma remarked.
Bai Yujing smiled and said, "I actually think this is a pleasant surprise; it allows me to see a different side of Edinburgh."
"You’re not wrong; cloudy days are perfect for Edinburgh. You’ll come to love this city," Emma replied proudly about her hometown.
Seeing that the rain showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, Emma quickly suggested, "The Scottish National Gallery is right nearby. How about we go take a look? They have works by Titian, Van Gogh, Raphael, and Monet."
Bai Yujing immediately responded, "What are we waiting for?"
Bai Yujing took off his coat and held it over his head as both of them laughed and dashed into the rain.
Initially, Bai Yujing thought that such a culturally rich art museum would have an expensive entrance fee. However, upon arrival, he was pleasantly surprised to find that admission was free.
"Backpacks are not allowed inside!" A staff member stopped Bai Yujing as he was about to enter and pointed at his backpack.
Bai Yujing paused for a moment and then took off his backpack. Just as he was about to ask the staff where he could store it, the staff member said, "You can’t carry your backpack inside, but you can bring it in by holding it."
Alright then, Bai Yujing didn’t quite understand this logic of foreigners; what difference did it make whether he carried it on his back or held it? Perhaps Scotland had such taboos or traditional customs.
The Scottish National Gallery is not a tall building but is situated on a highland, featuring a very prominent Victorian-style architecture with flags atop. The building isn’t particularly large in scale but still gives off an imposing feeling. The lawn outside looks lush and green; one must say that Edinburgh’s landscaping is quite impressive.
This is a very British-style art museum with an architectural style that predominantly features red tones, primarily based on red complemented by other colors.
Bai Yujing did not know much about oil paintings, but that did not prevent Bai Yujing from enjoying the lively atmosphere. The dark red exhibition walls, paired with exquisite canvases and large artworks, created a stunning impact when viewed up close, allowing one to feel the brushstrokes of the master painters at such a close distance.
There were not many famous paintings in the exhibition, but there were still quite a few works by renowned artists. Bai Yujing recognized only a few, including Titian's "The Three Stages of Life," Claude Monet's "Haystacks," and even a self-portrait by Rembrandt.
Bai Yujing also discovered a painting of Edinburgh Castle, depicting Edinburgh from one hundred and fifty years ago. Compared to the current scene, it evoked a sense of nostalgia for the passage of time.
After taking a round and returning to the entrance, there was a staircase leading to the second floor. It was a very elegant spiral staircase, with portraits of figures Bai Yujing did not recognize displayed on the walls.
The gallery was still quite crowded, with some staff from the Scottish National Gallery explaining exhibits. Bai Yujing learned quite a bit from their insights.
Emma's appreciation level was higher than Bai Yujing's; Bai Yujing preferred to look at portraits of people, particularly those depicting medieval battles and Western figures from before the twentieth century.
"The rain outside has stopped," Emma reminded Bai Yujing as they finished exploring. When they stepped outside, taking a breath felt refreshing, as if their lungs had been cleansed. The air after the rain was slightly damp and very pleasant.
Bai Yujing checked the time and estimated that if they waited any longer, Emma would have to attend today's Military Tattoo event. There would be a dinner provided there. Knowing that afternoon tea is quite popular in England, Bai Yujing asked Emma, "It's about time; would you like to go have afternoon tea together?"
"I know a really nice place for afternoon tea, but it's a bit far. I wonder if you'd be willing to accompany me on this trip," Emma said, clearly intrigued by Bai Yujing's suggestion. Emma did not have a habit of dieting; her physique indicated that she was likely a fitness enthusiast—very streamlined and strong-looking.
Bai Yujing nodded in agreement and struck a knightly pose: "Of course I would! It is my honor to guard the princess's side."
Bai Yujing's pose was quite unrefined, resembling a comical villain from a theater performance, which made Emma laugh uncontrollably: "I am not any princess; I don't need such grandeur."
"Oh, you have wounded a knight's pride."
"Alright then, I apologize."
The two navigated through several winding alleys in Edinburgh. Such alleys were abundant here; there were few flat roads. Each narrow passage offered a sense of novelty, as if leading to another mysterious world.
Bai Yujing followed Emma onto a bus, which wound its way through the city. After a short while, probably less than ten minutes, they got off at an unfamiliar street.
The two of them finally sat down in a shop that was decorated very exquisitely and luxuriously. The interior was resplendent, and although the space was not large, it gave off a very high-end feeling. Bai Yujing picked up the menu and found that there were many categories; just the tea options spanned two or three pages. Bai Yujing rarely had afternoon tea and was not very familiar with the snacks, so she could only pass the menu to Emma.
"Can you help me choose? You're more familiar with this place," Bai Yujing said, looking at Emma, her eyebrows raising slightly as she asked for her assistance.
Emma took the menu and exaggeratedly said, "Alright, it's my honor! Don't worry, I'll take care of anything you can't finish."
Emma immediately called over the waiter and ordered a large amount of food. Bai Yujing noticed that the utensils here were quite exquisite, made of high-quality bone china, silver teaspoons, and complete sets of creamers and sugar bowls.
Since she wasn't very hungry, Bai Yujing ate relatively little. The finger biscuits, fruit tarts, and blueberry cakes that came out were almost all consumed by Emma alone. This made Bai Yujing tease her, saying, "Emma, do you have a mysterious space in your stomach? How can you fit so much food? That's quite an enviable skill."
"This is a talent; ordinary people can't envy it," Emma replied without feeling teased at all, instead appearing quite proud.
As Bai Yujing and Emma said their goodbyes at the door, they both felt happy and fulfilled after spending such a wonderful day together. More importantly, Bai Yujing had obtained Emma's contact information and address.
Bai Yujing flicked the note in her hand with joy but then realized as she stepped onto the street, "Wait, where am I?"
Suddenly, Bai Yujing found herself unable to find her way back. She took out her phone and pressed a button, only to hear a notification sound followed by the screen showing it had shut down, plunging her into darkness.
"No!"
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