To say today was a long one is no casual turn of phrase. At a conservative estimate it’s about 45 hours since we last slept lying down, and it probably comes as little surprise that as I write this, I am the only one who isn’t now reminding themselves what it’s like. Don’t get me wrong, that will happen soon enough, but for a little longer I am happy to sit here in our apartment just off the fabled Royal Mile, drinking a locally brewed but Roman themed beer and staring out the kitchen window at Edinburgh Castle – which appears to simply emerge from the grassy hillside.
Or, more precisely, mostly at the 
otherwordly cantilevered grandstand that now inhabits the esplanade, and where the annual Tattoo takes place. It really does just look like a low budget flying saucer has carefully landed bang in the middle of a medieval castle, and it is a little hard to know quite what to think of it. Across the road and out the adjacent window are two red painted British Mail telephone boxes that just scream “QUAI
NT!” as far as possible, but the flying saucer effect doesn’t lend itself easily to singular adjectives.
Another thing that has been immediately striking in Edinburgh is that bagpiping buskers don’t seem to fare any better here than they do at h
ome. It’s not that I don’t like bagpipers, I actually quite like that really – its just that they make such an intense noise that no one can comfortably walk within 20m of them, and so I don’t see how they ever hope to make a buck. Anyway, at least around here there is a sense of likely authenticity that is lacking most other places.
I certainly have formed a good first impression of Edinburgh, the domineering busking aside. Every conversation we’ve had has been warm and welcoming and friendly. The city seems interesting and authentic, and I’m looking forward to getting out there tomorrow and doing the 24 hour immersion. Good nig
Everything in one place 