Sunshine on Leith

Ok, Technically, I was not in Leith (though we did wander along the Water of Leith), but for the sake of the Scottish allusion (and a little poetic license) I went with this blog post title.

Yesterday and today found us in Edinburgh, and the car hasn’t moved since we arrived on the evening of the 19th.

Part of the fun (read: challenge) of pre-booking accommodations without a really good map of your destination is that you find yourself a block from your accommodations, in a busy city on a series of one way streets all seemingly leading you further and further away from your intended target and being forced to ask a cabbie for directions. 

This is what happened in Edinburgh.  The cabbie thought about how best to direct us, started to explain, stopped, thought, started again, stopped, “Och, that’ll be too complicated, give us 4 pounds and follow us there.” 

“Follow that Cab!”  I thought to myself and we headed off – we turned left, went under a road,  turned right, up to a round-about went three-quarters of the way around it, right at the next road and then right again at the next road and half way down this road was our destination (a little further down this road was the overpass that we went under after our first turn) – did you follow any of that?  I didn’t – I just followed the cab!

So as result of our navigational challenges to get to our accommodations, coupled with the fact that we were within walking distance of everything we hoped to see, we left the car where it was for the duration of our time in Edinburgh and did the rest of our exploration by foot or by bus.

Our first destination was the impressive Edinburgh Castle – impressive partially due to it’s size, but also due to the fact that it is built on top of a rather large “hill” of rock – I imagine it was a rather imposing sight, back in the day.  As we arrived (having taken,  quite by accident, the scenic route – since it is built on the top of a large slab of rock there are limited approaches to the entrance – funny that) they had blocked off the area in front of the main entrance about 500m from the gates and a marching band (in full Scottish dress) marched out followed by a group of “soldiers” and for the next five minutes or so we were treated to the changing of the guard.

We wandered around the castle (the entry was part of our Historic Scotland passport) for a couple of hours and then I parted company with my travelling companions to wander about half-lost for the remainder of the day.

To my credit, I had downloaded a couple of walking tours before I left for my trip, however, they didn’t come with maps (though they were supposed to) so I got a bit frustrated since I had to stand in one spot for several minutes with the very knowledgeable voice on my MP3 player told me more information than I could ever hope to remember about Site A, before giving me quick and a bit vague directions to Site B (which most likely, would have been easy to find with the non-existent map that was allegedly supposed to be provided in my download). 

So after awhile of going in fits and starts down High Street also known as the Royal Mile (the main street down from the Castle which has, heading off at right angles from it, tiny narrow alleyways which slope away from the main road in a series of narrow cobbled allies or stairs, some of which I’d wander down and back up as my narrator told me more things to not remember) following Tour 1 – I found myself at Hollyrood Palace (where the Queen and other royalty stay while in Edinburgh).

Lying behind me and to my left was Edinburgh and my next Walking Tour, to my right Salisbury Crags, so I did the obvious thing, I turned right and went for a two hour walk on the Salisbury Crags.

I was, partially, in search of Arthur’s Seat.  But the tourist map I did have didn’t get me that far away from the shops and “main attractions” of Edinburgh, so when I should have tended to the left, I went right and away from my intended destination but quite enjoyed the quiet and almost-solitude of the high steep hills that end (on the Edinburg side) in cliffs.

After a nice wander and a light lunch of Oatcakes and cheese on the go (I resisted the urge to lie down in the grass and just enjoy the very warm and sunny day), I felt sufficiently fortified to head back into the City.

Having listened to all the tracks of Walking Tour 2  as I wandered around the Crags.  I decided to wander back up the other side of river via the main shopping street, Princes Street (which parallels the Royal Mile and is lined with all the main shops on one side and by a park and the river on the other side.

I popped in and out of shops a few shops in search of the perfect Scottish jewelry souvenir  – jostled with the crowds on the sidewalks as I made my way back in the general direction of the Castle and my way back to the furnished apartment that was our accommodations for the three nights.

Passing, on the way, a pair of unsuspecting policemen who I managed to talk into posing with Tigger for his blog. 

Me; “may I ask a favour of you?”

Cop1, wearily; “Okaay?”

“Would you mind posing for a picture with Tigger?”

Cop1: “With Tigger?” 

Me: “He’s been to New Zealand and Peru, and he has his own blog” 

Cop1"; “So he’s famous then.” 

“Sure!” I say. 

Cop1, to Cop2 (who had, until this point just stood silently and looked disapprovingly at me – personally, I think it is a skill they teach to cops); “What ‘ya, think?” 

Cop2, rolling his eyes: “Fine but you have to hold him.”

Me all giddy: “I know it’s a bit daft, but I appreciate it!” I quickly snap the picture before they change their mind, retrieve Tigger and begin to walk past them.

Cop1: “So what’s the address of his blog”

I told them, and practically skipped away down the path. Grinning like a goon the whole way back to the apartment.

Today, having had no success yesterday finding my jewelry, we decided to make our first stop the Castle gift shop.  Having learned our lesson and found a more direct route to the Castle we were on the other side of the main gates to see the changing of the guard.  Standing in the perfect place, slightly to the right of the main gate I watched and as it finished I watched the soldiers march towards the Castle gate, then through the Castle gate – then the one in charge ordered “Left Wheel” and they all turned towards me and I had to scurry backwards to avoid being run over.

Opting to stay with my parents for the day, we wandered through shops (still in search of various souvenirs) before getting fed up and heading for the New Town area.  An area of narrow streets (mostly pedestrian only)  lined with shops.

After tiring of the shops we headed towards an area of Edinburgh known as Dean Village – along the Water of Leith before tiring of walking altogether and headed back to a park called the West Princess Street Gardens where we sat for a hour or so enjoying the wonderfully sunny and warm weather (I had originally thought of calling the post – Sunburned in Scotland, but changed my mind) and enjoying a 99 Flake before heading  back to our accommodations to prepare for our night out with friends of my Mum.