The Garret

I agree, Edinburgh rocks. I'll be spending New Years there, so I do intend to climb the Sir Walter Scott monument (hereafter in my mind the "weird gothy monument") at some point. Geek that I am, I of course had to look at the half-finished copy of one of the Acropolis buildings to see if they'd angled the columns properly outward (I couldn't tell if they had). Great view, though, like you said. The observatory was closed when I was there, but I noticed it too.

All you talk about hostels reminds me that I have to renew my youth hostel membership, as I'll probably be needing it.

Have fun with that science proposal!