I realise that I've failed to tell you about some recent events in my life when I should have been shouting about them from the roof tops in the style of 'finally something exciting is happening in my life!'. I'm going to correct that here and now and tell you about my visit to Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago.
Ah, Edinburgh. They call it Auld Reekie (that translates to Old Smoke) but I think it should be called the Jewel of Scotland or something similar. Edinburgh is beautiful. It's one of the most beautiful cities I've been to, and lived in, too. Och aye. Hence this visit up there to say hello to friends and visit my old haunts. In a way Scotland is home to me even though I'm not from there.
Just getting there from London is very enjoyable. I love travelling by train - you just sit back and enjoy the scenery, what's not to love? Add a good book to the mix and I'm in heaven. 4.5 hours flew by as did towns and cities along the way, people getting on, getting off, everyone going somewhere.
Arriving at Waverley station always makes me a bit emotional. I even love the sound of that name. Waverley. I can't explain it.
There's another thing I love the sound of, something very Scottish. Bagpipes, of course. You truly know you've arrived in Scotland when you hear the first bagpipes. Usually you don't need to take very many steps out of the station for that to happen. That's what buskers play in Edinburgh, dressed in kilts and all accessories. I suspect it's also a good way to practise without driving your neighbours completely bonkers.
I was super giddy from all this when I met up with a friend. I revealed to him a silly ritual I do every time I arrive in Scotland: I go to a Bank of Scotland cash machine to get some Scottish bank notes. Not just because they're the prettiest bank notes (there are three banks in Scotland issuing bank notes meaning there are three different kinds of bank notes in each denomination. How is that for variety? It's brilliant!) but because I'm a BoS customer. Not because I'm a loyal customer but because (brace yourself) I like to give my debit card the feeling that it's back home, too. Yes, it's incredibly silly. It also always makes me smile like nothing else because it's so silly. And because I get lots of pretty bank notes as a result. They're so much prettier than the other banks' that it's worth looking for a BoS machine.
My friend witnessed all this and thought I was a few marbles short, in a good way.
He wanted to know what I wanted to do. A walk down the Water of Leith perhaps? Or something else? I said I just wanted to wander around aimlessly. As you do. So we did. And what fun it turned out to be. I persuaded my friend that we needed to take a selfie in Princes Street Gardens with the Castle in the background. He was slightly cautious about this but really, I shouldn't have worried. In no time at all he was making perfect selfie faces and we were in stitches looking at the results on my phone. It was tricky too, trying to fit two big heads and a massive castle in a photo when your arm is only as long as it is. A kind tourist offered to take a photo of us so that we could fit in the photo with the Castle and what a good photo she took, too. It just wasn't fun at all. Hooray to selfies!
Our aimless wandering eventually took us to a pub on the Royal Mile. It was almost inevitable that it would happen at some point. It was very windy and we were feeling a bit thirsty and wanted some shelter and there was the World's End right in front of us! Would've been silly not to go in, really.
I love the Old Town and its medieval charm. Did you know that Edinburgh Old Town and New Town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites? For good reason. Yes, the Royal Mile is quite touristy but it's got bags of charm. Then there's of course Edinburgh Castle which stands bang in the middle of the city centre, perched high on Castle Rock. It's majestic. You can't help but go up there and take a look at the surrounding city and far beyond across the Firth of Forth to the hills in Fife.
Another ritual I have is going to the top of Salisbury Crags and walking along the rim, taking in the views of the city. I didn't do it this time though, it was really windy (it's often quite windy in Edinburgh), even more so than usual, and it would have been hard work and not pleasant. Besides it was far safer to stay at sea level and, well, go and keep warm in a pub. There's the World's End, again! What a coincidence.
Another thing I always do, and did this time too, is walk along the Water of Leith (a river running through Edinburgh) from Roseburn to Stockbridge. The scenery is beautiful and the path goes under several high stone bridges crossing the Water of Leith.
The highlight of the weekend was of course spending time with old friends, catching up and having fun. That's priceless.
Before I left, there was one more ritual I wanted to do. That was to go and have lunch at Henderson's Bistro on Thistle Street before catching the train back to London. And not just any item on the menu but the nachos. They were delicious as usual and as a bonus were served by a very cute waiter. I seem to remember he was there last year, too.
We really are creatures of habit, aren't we?
If you want to visit a beautiful city, go to Edinburgh. And no, I'm not sponsored by Visit Scotland or the Edinburgh Tourist Board (if there is such a thing). Yet. ;)
Just remember to take something warm to wear. It'll be windy.
Ah, Edinburgh. They call it Auld Reekie (that translates to Old Smoke) but I think it should be called the Jewel of Scotland or something similar. Edinburgh is beautiful. It's one of the most beautiful cities I've been to, and lived in, too. Och aye. Hence this visit up there to say hello to friends and visit my old haunts. In a way Scotland is home to me even though I'm not from there.
Just getting there from London is very enjoyable. I love travelling by train - you just sit back and enjoy the scenery, what's not to love? Add a good book to the mix and I'm in heaven. 4.5 hours flew by as did towns and cities along the way, people getting on, getting off, everyone going somewhere.
Arriving at Waverley station always makes me a bit emotional. I even love the sound of that name. Waverley. I can't explain it.
There's another thing I love the sound of, something very Scottish. Bagpipes, of course. You truly know you've arrived in Scotland when you hear the first bagpipes. Usually you don't need to take very many steps out of the station for that to happen. That's what buskers play in Edinburgh, dressed in kilts and all accessories. I suspect it's also a good way to practise without driving your neighbours completely bonkers.
I was super giddy from all this when I met up with a friend. I revealed to him a silly ritual I do every time I arrive in Scotland: I go to a Bank of Scotland cash machine to get some Scottish bank notes. Not just because they're the prettiest bank notes (there are three banks in Scotland issuing bank notes meaning there are three different kinds of bank notes in each denomination. How is that for variety? It's brilliant!) but because I'm a BoS customer. Not because I'm a loyal customer but because (brace yourself) I like to give my debit card the feeling that it's back home, too. Yes, it's incredibly silly. It also always makes me smile like nothing else because it's so silly. And because I get lots of pretty bank notes as a result. They're so much prettier than the other banks' that it's worth looking for a BoS machine.
My friend witnessed all this and thought I was a few marbles short, in a good way.
 |
| Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens |
Our aimless wandering eventually took us to a pub on the Royal Mile. It was almost inevitable that it would happen at some point. It was very windy and we were feeling a bit thirsty and wanted some shelter and there was the World's End right in front of us! Would've been silly not to go in, really.
I love the Old Town and its medieval charm. Did you know that Edinburgh Old Town and New Town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites? For good reason. Yes, the Royal Mile is quite touristy but it's got bags of charm. Then there's of course Edinburgh Castle which stands bang in the middle of the city centre, perched high on Castle Rock. It's majestic. You can't help but go up there and take a look at the surrounding city and far beyond across the Firth of Forth to the hills in Fife.
Another ritual I have is going to the top of Salisbury Crags and walking along the rim, taking in the views of the city. I didn't do it this time though, it was really windy (it's often quite windy in Edinburgh), even more so than usual, and it would have been hard work and not pleasant. Besides it was far safer to stay at sea level and, well, go and keep warm in a pub. There's the World's End, again! What a coincidence.
Another thing I always do, and did this time too, is walk along the Water of Leith (a river running through Edinburgh) from Roseburn to Stockbridge. The scenery is beautiful and the path goes under several high stone bridges crossing the Water of Leith.
 |
| Water of Leith |
Before I left, there was one more ritual I wanted to do. That was to go and have lunch at Henderson's Bistro on Thistle Street before catching the train back to London. And not just any item on the menu but the nachos. They were delicious as usual and as a bonus were served by a very cute waiter. I seem to remember he was there last year, too.
We really are creatures of habit, aren't we?
If you want to visit a beautiful city, go to Edinburgh. And no, I'm not sponsored by Visit Scotland or the Edinburgh Tourist Board (if there is such a thing). Yet. ;)
Just remember to take something warm to wear. It'll be windy.
Great writing, I haven't been to Edinburgh since the 90's, remember staying in the youth hostel, which from the outside looked like a castle, a very grand place to stay the night in the city. I enjoyed reading this, it brought back some great memories.
ReplyDeletePaula, you have a great style!
Thank you very much! Hope I've convinced you that it's been far too long since your last visit to Edinburgh and maybe it's time to go again.
ReplyDelete