Today was our day to head into Edinburgh to do some exploring. Anne had been there many years ago and I had been there on our last trip before Covid - to Ireland and Scotland - some 5 years ago. It was dead easy to get in on the tram and only 2 pounds!
The tram stopped just down the street from the Walter Scott Monument, so that is the first thing we checked out. I was gobsmacked by it the first time I saw it and the feeling was no less this time. The sheer size and intricacy of the structure is truly awe-inspiring. Wandered over to the information centre to grab a map - yes we are Luddites who prefer to rely on paper guides over Google maps!!
We noticed a lot of roads blocked off by traffic cones which turned out to be for the Edinburgh 10K being run that morning. Saw lots of people walking around with numbers on but never did come across the race.
We headed over to Calton Hill, one of Edinburgh’s main hills set right in the centre of the city. It is a bit of a grunt up, but provides a wonderful 360 degree view of the city and surrounds. It is also home to a replica of the Acropolis, the National Monument of Scotland, originally intended to be a full replica of the Parthenon in Athens as a memorial to those who died in the Napoleonic wars. However, money ran out and all that was finished was the acropolis. Calton Hill is also home to the Nelson Monument which has a timeball mechanism by which mariners used to set their chronometers.
We popped into a tea and coffee shop and had a great chat with the young lady who let us smell lots of great teas. Next stop was to see the statue of Greyfriar’s Bobby, the famous little dog whose story was made into a movie. We also walked around the graveyard at Greyfriar’s Church. We then ventured over to the National Museum of Scotland and checked out part of the history of Scotland display. It is an amazing place, but really requires at least a day to properly see it all.
Our next destination was St. Giles Church which is a beautiful structure both inside and out. While there, we found out there would be a piano concert at 6, so we decided we would have an early dinner and return for the concert. A trip over to the Writers’ Museum to see if we could find one of the Edinburgh Book Sculptures, but unfortunately, contrary to the sign outside, it was not open. Off then to find the Surgeon’s Museum, but on the way popped into the courtyard of the University of Edinburgh where there is a very interesting piece of art created by stitching together thousands of pieces of reused aluminum. Anne was keen to explore the Surgeon’s Museum, but I was not. So I decided to see if I could remember how to find the place Irv and I had stayed when we were here, and from there get down to the Scottish Parliament Buildings. I managed just fine and remembered the way with no problem! By the time I got back to the museum, Anne was just coming out.
We decided to eat at a pub that Allie recommended from when she lived here - the Albanach right on the Royal Mile. Had my last steak and ale pie and cider. After dinner we headed back to St.Giles for a wonderful piano concert by Brian Davidson who played two Chopin pieces, one by Grieg and a Scottish Suite which he had composed. The latter was my favourite. It was a great way to end our time in Scotland.
Hopped on the tram and home to the hotel to get packed up for tomorrow’s early morning departure.