A Day in Edinburgh

 The Italian cafe at the junction of Leith Walk and London Road hadn't changed since we were here last. We had caught the bus in from Portobello and were enjoying an excellent brunch. Next door used to be a pet food store but is now the home of Topping and Company booksellers and what a find. We could have stayed in there all day and spent a fortune. As it was we escaped with only one book but we shall be back. We wandered down to the National Gallery only to find that it was between exhibitions so we made do with a cold drink looking out over Princess Street Gardens before continuing over the Royal Mile to the National Museum of Scotland. What a treasure house this is. We hadn't been since its refurbishment but I was keen to see the some of the original Lewis Chess Pieces. What a thrill it was to see them. Other exhibitions took our attention after this puntuated by a tea stop. At the end I had to be ejected by the museum staff at closing time having lost/immersed myself in the ancient peoples section. Heather was highly amused!!

We were keen for some food by this time and had already decided on the nearby Mosque Kitchen which is excellent and to be recommended. At one time it was actually in the mosque but now occupies a separate building. It is basic and no frills but wonderful value and excellent food, especially for veggies.

I had earmaked the Edinburgh Jazz Club as being somewhare we could visit but didn't expect it to be open but it was. Not only open but the eraly evening session was free: an accoustic blues session performed by a stunning slide guitarist. All too soon it was time to make our way back to the bus and home after a perfect day.

Portree - Edinburgh

 Three in the morning - fire alarm. In some confusion we all had to vacate the building while it was searched - we suspect vaping!! Despite this we were up early, car loaded and away. We stopped for a lovely lunch high above Loch Loyne before driving down the pass to Invergarry and on to Spean Bridge where the plan was to take the Laggan Road to the A9 and then down to Edinburgh. Unfortunately the road was closed due to a landslide caused by torrential thunderstorms the night before. For us, this was not too much of a problem as we could take our alternative route via Fort William, Glen Coe (much more pleasant this time), and Stirling to Edbinburgh. For others, though, it entailed a 100 mile diversion. Approaching the infamous Edinburgh bypass things went pear-shaped again as there had been an accident which had temporaritly closed the road. Eventually we reached our B&B and wandered down into Portobello for a pizza at a favourite Italian and then wen for a stroll along the beach front looking forward to our day in Edbinburgh on the morrow.

Portobello beach.

Edinburgh, July, Day 2

A perfect day of weather today, at last. 23C and almost constant sun.  We bgan the day with a walk along the sea front and a coffee outside in the sun followed by some window shopping.  Then followed a day of revisiting past haunts beginning with Musselburgh Scrapes, like going back home.  There were the usual suspects present: oystercatchers, redshank, lapwing, heron, mallard and shelduck.  We continued our journey to the Scottish Ornithological Centre at Aberlady where we saw an excellent exhibition of prints linked to the poetry of John Clare.  Revrsing our route we called at Longniddry beach for sea glass searching.  Thomas and I had had a good session here many years ago and it still turned up trumps.  We enjoyed sitting in the sun over a late lunch before a quick visit the the estuary of the tiny River Eske.  This was very rewarding with large numbers of eclipse plumage eider duck, curlew and oystercatchers.  I was delighted to find a small group of superb summer plumage bar-tailed godwit along with a flock of red breasted mergansers and a few common terns.

A great day.

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Edinburgh, July, Day 1

My final photography on Mull was last night when we searched out Tobermoray Cat is a local'stray' but although no-0ne admits ownership he has been adopted by everyone and features in to children's books about him.  He spends a fair amount of time at the Youth hostel recovering from his adventures and this is where we caught up with him relaxing in the common room.  Of course we had to buy a book from the bookshop next door.

In true Tour de France style, a transition stage today, but rather than moving from Denmark to France, in our case it is Mull to Edinburgh.  We woke to torrential rain which continued until we reached Killin and then things gradually improved until , in Edinburgh, we enjoyed a beautiful evening.  The high point of the journey as watching arctic terns fishing by the ferry terminal at Craignure and the ferry crossing itself.  The day concluded with a very pleasant walk along Portobello sea front watching beach volley ball and sea swimming.

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Scotland May 2015. Day 1 and 2, Edinburgh

The beginning of a new trip is always exciting and this one is no different.  We plan to spend the first part of the stay in Glen Shiel and Glenn Affric with my brother and his wife for some Munro Bagging and then head over to Mull for some wildlife watching and photography.  Yesterday started well and we had a good journey until just north of Berwick when we were flagged down by an overtaking car; we had had a blowout on the caravan.  At first all was doom and gloom but the RAC man arrived within half an hour and twenty minutes later we were on our way again, arriving at our site on the edge of Musselburgh only an hour late.  We were soon settled in and enjoying an evening meal.  A beer was, of course, essential whilst cooking.

First thing this morning I managed to get a new tyre fitted and once back on the site wheels were changed round again and by 10.30 we were heading into Edinburgh to meet up with our son who was also passing through.  A very enjoyable day was had including an excellent curry at the Mosque Kitchen.  To finish the day we enjoyed a drive along the coast.

Tomorrow we head north.

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Scotland, September 2014, Musselburgh Day 3

A wet day in Edinburgh today.  Despite the rain all day it was still good to be in the city we love.  I also enjoyed taking photographs with my phone using Instagram and Hipstamatic.

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Milner Court

St Giles Cathedral

Milner Court

St Giles Cathedral

St Giles Cathedral

St Giles Cathedral