Enchanting Edinburgh

The Scottish Monument - I still have yet to climb it.

Yes I have been here many times before – Edinburgh that is – and every time I love it as if it were the first time.  There is so much to see and it is all so accessible.

The ornate Jenners building - went up in 1837 or something.

Unfortunately this time around, they have decided to lay/replace the tram lines down Princes Street, as well as do some changes to the main central train station.  So the main drag and transportation centre is all under construction.  I had a hard time finding my way out of the station from the train.

The mess at the main intersection looking past the church my parents were married in towards Edinburgh Castle - it was much nicer last August

The irony is that they tore up the tram lines after the war believing that it would be better to just have a road for bus, taxi and regular traffic.  And now, surprise, surprise, they need to put tram lines down because it is better from an energy and transportation standpoint.  And to top it off, they put the new tramlines in before winter and they buckled in the cold weather because the installation had not been completed – who the heck was the engineer?? How short sited our politicians are.  Does this not seem to occur in every city.  Like look at Canada where they are pulling up railway tracks.  Do you not think sometime in the future they will regret that as petrol continues to rise and  people turn back to trains to get from point A to point B.

I just liked this sign. "Foul" :o) Leave it to the Brits.

Hey who's that chick in the mirror?

You see, that is what I love about Europe.  Well anywhere for the msot part in the old country.  The rail system.  You don’t need a car.  You just get on a train and it takes you to the city centre.  They are comfortable, fast, enjoyable and a great way to see the country.

Enroute to the city centre, as I go down Dean's Path (my favourite little hideaway) there is this path that takes you down to the Leith River and to the Modern Art Gallery - still have yet to explore

But I digress.  Back to Edinburgh.  Loving it again as per normal.  Last time I was here at this time of year I was anxious over some relationship and didn’t embrace it at this time of year.  Although perhaps colder, it is nice.  I love the festival season in August but it is not great on some levels because of the crowds of tourists.  Today, for instance, the Royal Mile – one of my favourite stretches – was devoid of masses of tourists and the associated street vendors.  It is so much more palatable.  But what can you do.  High season is high season and they have to maximize on it.

Construction down Princes Street

Also one of the side benefits of the construction is that there is not traffic on Princes Street, just pedestrian traffic, so it is much more peaceful.

My favourite idyllic village - Dean's Village - right adjacent to the city centre - I would love to own a flat here.

So this lovely city of about 400,000 still pulls at my heart strings and I am still drawn to it as one of the destinations I might try to live in for a period one day in the future.

This funky old building from the 1600s is at the top of Dean Village - right on the end of Dean Bridge and is called Kirkgild House or something - it's cool

Right now I am sitting in the Beehive Pub which is a pub my Mother’s Father used to bring her too.  How cool is that?  I would have gone to the oldest pub in Edinburgh, the White Hart, but they had no wifi.  All over Britain, the Cloud is available which is great.  Free and in most places.  I think all cities should make wifi pervasive.  It gets me in public houses to do work and give them business to boot.

The sign at the oldest pub in Edinburgh - not sure if you can read it - but it is from 1516 or thereabouts

So where have I taken this post?  All over the place no doubt.  Lovin’ the Scottish accent and the incredible history.  Would prefer more sunshine but I brought enough layers so I am doing well.  Next post – Arthur’s Seat.

Me favourite Scottish cookie - the Empire Biscuit - yum yum - could eat a tonne