I booked myself here for five nights, and I have one left, so that makes this day four? I don’t count arrival days, cuz too much of my time is spent in transit and getting situated. So, in the end, it’ll be four days in the city, and I could have stayed at least four more before I felt the desire to move on. There are so many places to see, things to do, and people to meet and chat with.
I spent Sunday (which would count as day three, for those counting) walking around with Aaron, first up to the top of Arthur’s Seat, and then around the town, waiting for what seemed like forever for the annual Riding of the Marches to come past. (Narrator: he gave up waiting at 4:00 pm).
As unhappily expected, the last wee dram of whiskey1 did indeed trigger an episode, so the trek to the top of Arthur’s Seat had more on the line than simply the view. Happily, though, the AFib was quashed early on, and I was able to spring nimbly up the trail. If I hadn’t been wearing denim, I’d have given it a nice run. It reminded me of some of the trails I ran in the past around Tahoe. Not too steep, and occasionally rocky. Perfecto.
Regardless of how I made it to the top, I did. and the view was worth it.
The weather gods have been rather cooperative — especially for Scotland in the late summer — and we didn’t get rained on while out. Quite nice. When I return, I’ll spend more time down below the summit out in the open fields and trees trying to add a few more birdies to my list. It’s a decent environment, but the season for it was wrong this time. I’ll probably stay somewhere on this side of the Old Town to make it all more convenient for me, too.
On our way down, Aaron and I discussed the possibility of seeing Dagmar, as she was going to do the same hike we did, but starting later. We knew she was somewhere on the route, since she’d let us know she was starting from her hostel when we were atop the hill. And, as we reached the bottom of the trail, we saw her standing and making a 360° video.
As she panned across where we were, we waved like a couple of morons. She stopped recording and looked up to see what kind of idiots were waving at her while she was recording. Of course it was us. We chatted a bit and parted ways. She and Aaron will have time over the next week to talk if they want.
After the hike, Aaron and I walked back to the old town center, passing the really unusual architecture of the Scottish Parliament building. I really couldn’t capture it, but take a look here. It really breaks the mold of staid, classic architecture I expect for a parliamentary building. I’d really like to take a look inside on a return visit.
I did have the time and opportunity to get inside St. Giles though. I do love me some vaulted ceilings. I can’t fathom building them without cranes and modern equipment. Tom Builder and company: hats off.
Lunch was at a local Mash restaurant where, even though we got there twenty minutes before it opened at noon, we were probably twentieth in the queue to get in. Still, we got in when it opened. Mash is in reference to mashed taters. They have all kinds of mash options to put in. I went with horseradish and I think garlic. So good with a bit of beef shoulder on top. I also had to give a Scotch egg a try too. That was wonderful, if a tad expensive: $8 for an egg.
Aaron had haggis and he let me get a taste.
I can now say I’ve tried it. I can also say I don’t particularly like it. Kind of a foul (to me) aftertaste. I was happy to slam some horseradish mash in my mouth soon after. But, that gives me three biggies on my Scotland list checked off. I’ll have to do the remaining three on another visit.
Scotch egg ✅
Haggis ✅
Single malt in a Scottish pub ✅
Visit the Highlands ❌
Don a kilt ❌
Dip my toes in Loch Ness ❌
The rest of the afternoon was chats, and a walk through a park. We finally parted ways, and both gave up on seeing the riders, but we did see some of the early entertainment of ginormous horses.
I’ve got a ticket into the castle today to end my visit to Scotland, along with a couple of other stops that I’d discovered along the way, so one more full day before heading east tomorrow morning and out of the country. Onward, soldier!
Be kind and take care of yourselves. If you can, care for someone else, too.
Slang, out.
Hindsight being 20/20 and all, I should have simply given the whiskey a taste, and left the bulk of it to my companions. That would have probably done it for me. If I get the urge at some point in the future to taste it again, that’ll be my plan. Hold me to it, eh?
And gee, I just discovered the footnote feature. Yay.
Would love to hear that organ in qualified hands. +1 for cloistered groin vaults.
I saw groin and organ and hands in the same comment and I snort-laughed. I guess I am 13 forever.