York's great, no doubt about it, but D and I were on a mission to get to the Athens of the North via Vauxhall Tigra. Would the four wheeled runabout make it up the hills of the scenic route? It did, mercifully, and we stopped at Bremenium, a Roman fort north of Hadrian's Wall. Not much remains today but you can see traces of its walls and triple ditch. It once held a significant force of 1000 men.
Then on to Edinburgh to meet an old friend who, among other things, is President of the fabled Ghost Club. He gave us a great tour of the city, New Town, the Royal Mile and much, much more. Excellent, what a great place until...
You get to the Scottish Parliament building, which is hideous and cost 400M GBP. They say architecture reflects the soul or spirit of the people who build it; northern parliamentarians, take note.
That aside, I was struck by the place, street after street of Georgian houses in New Town and then the old medieval city by the castle. Beautiful now but it must have been a noisome place in the days before plumbing made its way into the tall tenements and courts, gardyloo.
So go to Edinburgh if you can and enjoy the architecture, history, pubs, restaurants, museums and galleries of the city. It was great to be back after nearly 30 years and great to meet up with our ghostly friend, what a good man.
Was haggis involved? Yes. Were there pipers? Everywhere. Did I wear a kilt? No, I did not. Were there ghosts? Possibly at the Arthur Conan Doyle Center. Next stop? Back south to Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Aberystwyth.
Cheers,
LSP
16 comments:
Color (colour) me disappointed that you did not appear in a full kilt in any of the photos. Yes, anyone can claim to eat a haggis, but did you even TRY to catch the fabled and elusive flying haggis? Since it was not mentioned in dispatches, I will have to assume that you did not.
Since I lived in Edinburgh for a little over a year, I have a soft place in my heart for the city. I could live there still. My girlfriend from those days moved to the states after I broke her heart, but that's another story for another time.
Good look on your sojourn south.
It is a LONG walk to the top of the hill and the castle! :-) Glad you're enjoying yourself!
The Parliament building is definitely a disappointment, Parson. The other pictures were great!
You all be safe and God bless.
That's a.....rather....hideous parliament building. Looks like some horrible buildings I've seen on American college campuses.
Why are there images of G-Locks on the parliament building?
As a native of South Texas, I've been to Edinburgh many times. Different Edinburgh, of course. But when we went to Glasgow on one of Mrs's work things, there was unfortunately no time to visit the REAL Edinburgh, but we did learn very well why haggis is served with a glass of Scotch. We also learned that the bigger the glass, the better the haggis.
Their parliament building is reminiscent of the butt ugly Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels which Cdl. Roger Mahony inflicted on that poor city.
Beautiful places.
Did they explain the difference between the Lowland haggis and the Highland haggis and which way you have to chase them round the hill? DD went to university in Edinburgh and loved telling that story to tourists.
LL, the Haggis came with breakfast and of course we shot it. Soak that beast in brine and watch the BBs fall out.
Man, I'd forgotten how much I loved that city and with you, I'd stay there.
Legs like, errr, tree trunks, NFO.
The PB's hideous, Linda, but everything else was beautiful. What a neat city.
Infidel, how could those heathen build that excrescence opposite Holyrood House? Similar, when you think on it, to the "liturgical movement."
Wild, the Whiskey/Haggis confluence is no small thing. But seriously, visit Edinburgh, I love that place.
I'll wager same stable, DOS.
Hideous.
They sure were, Kid, and I have to return, soon.
BadFrog, see above. We shot the ferocious haggis right out of the sky. They're like grouse but slower. And yes, a 20 does the trick all day long without bruising the shoulder.
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