Edinburgh.

Lynne and I have spent two days so far in Edinburgh and thoroughly enjoyed it. Initially we were booked in for three nights with us having to move to another pitch for the third night because at the time of booking that was the only way we could get three nights. On the first morning we spoke to the young lady at reception and she promised to try to work it so that we wouldn’t have to move after the second night. We caught a bus and for our first visit to the city. First impressions were of a vibrant, big bustling city and walking around, it only got better. The first thing we saw was that there is a large Christmas market. We’ve been to a few Christmas markets in our time including ones in Germany and we agreed this was the nicest one we’d been to. It’s really well organised and not too crowded. Having said that it would be interesting to see at the weekend. We actually ended up buying three different cheeses from a stall called the Cheshire Cheese Company, yeah, I know, not really classic Christmas fayre! Lynne wanted to see the Royal Mile so we set off to find it. It wasn’t hard to see what was the best-selling product on the Royal Mile. There was wall to wall Cashmere everywhere. To be fair it is wonderful stuff but hellishly expensive. We walked up and down the Royal Mile and came across a gents outfitters where a Harris Tweed Jacket in the window caught my eye. I decided to go in and try one on. The lady in the shop was very helpful and it wasn’t long until I agreed to buy the jacket. I don’t know where the idea came from but I was expecting it to cost about £140 but the she rang it up on the till and it came up £275! I almost fell over! I seriously wasn’t expecting that. Lesson learnt, ASK! For a millisecond I considered saying I’d changed my mind but a nod from Lynne suggested I just carry on and buy it! Well at least there will be a day in the near future where I (the lifelong scruff) will look smart for a change. 

Back at the campsite we paid for our first two nights with cash and asked if there was any chance of an extra couple of nights including Saturday. At that time they had no vacancies but the following morning (Friday) we went to reception and we were told there had been a cancellation which meant we at least didn’t have to move pitches. Not long afterwards they rang to say there had been another cancellation and that we could have the same pitch for Saturday and Sunday nights if we still wanted. Hence we are staying in Edinburgh until Monday. Later in the day we returned to the city. This time I carried a camera and tripod and the first thing we did was to walk up Calton Hill which gives wonderful views all over the city. Once more I found myself photographing a subject that’s been done many times before. The weather looks pretty bleak although the day was a huge improvement on the previous day when it rained almost continuously.

Afterwards we wandered back down to the Christmas market where I had a German sausage to stave off hunger pangs after the exertion of climbing Calton Hill. Lynne had a veggie burger which they cooked fresh while we waited. Later we walked to the other end of town to an area called Dean Village which has a river running through it called Water of Leith. It’s a pretty place with lots of old 19th century buildings. I like to think the following couple of photo’s capture the atmosphere of the place. It’s a good job there’s no sound though as while I was setting up to take this photo there was someone with a petrol leaf blower making a fair old racket which was just a little bit irritating!

Returning to Princes Street which seems to be the heart of the city, we went back to a shop where Lynne had seen a woolen coat that she liked. After a little toing and froing (?) and trying different styles she eventually bought the one she’d liked in the first place. As it was now getting dark we decided to make our way back to the campsite. It took a while getting a bus because we’re never quite sure which one to get. Also at rush hour the area around the bus stops was more than slightly chaotic! On the bus with no clear idea of exactly where it would drop us, I followed our progress on Google maps looking for clues where to get off. In the end the bus driver was really helpful and told us exactly where to get off for the most direct walk back to camp.

Later that evening we decided to take a walk to the local Morrisons which turned out to be a good 25 minutes away. Life on the edge eh!