On the first day of our plein air painting and photography trip to Scotland, we began our adventure in the Medieval capitol city of Edinburgh. Filled with energy, fascinating architecture and history, we were all struck by its uniqueness and beauty. While the photographers shot and explored the city, we set up our easels close to our hotel to paint the lovely Princess Gardens that run through the center of the city. I set out to capture the lush hydrangeas lining this intricate stairway with just a glimpse of the ferris wheel in the background while some of my students did the same and others set out to recreate the interesting architectural details of the buildings. That evening we all gathered for a delicious Michelin restaurant dinner and compared our stories from the day. With sunny skies and great company, our first day in Scotland turned out to be a great start to the trip!