Edinburgh

Arriving at Edinburgh airport you know straight away this is a golfing destination. Standing at the baggage pick up I’m looking at anxious faces of the golfer wearing their golf labeled attire , fingers and toes crossed that the next thing to come through the convey belt is their clubs. Then the sigh of relief as they see their clubs coming, a broad smile and off they go.
Edinburgh also has a home of a very famous resident often seen wearing a tiara and walking Corgis. It is a very stately home indeed.
Like any tourist destination the town has the usual shops that cater for those wanting to take home a little piece of where they have been, and Edinburgh has its fair share. The Tartans of all the clans in wonderful rich colors. You have your choice of just about anything made of tartan. Jewellery made of the beautiful green marble from the highlands and the rich Browns from the Hebrides. But peel back the layers and I find it to be a very intriguing city.

Edinburgh has you might say quite a violent past. Not only the battles of the clans but a story that did intrigue me from the early 1800’s was of Mr Burke and Mr Hare. Back in the days Edinburgh was renowned for its spearheading of medical science. So Burke & Hare went into business. The body business. Unfortunately bodies for research were in short supply so Burke & Hare would follow the undertaker and after the corpse was buried they would then dig it up and take it to the head of research where they were paid very handsomely. When supply in that avenue went down they then used their own means to suffocate victims from the boarding house areas of Edinburgh . They were caught when a witness found a body under one of their beds. After they were charged Mr Hare turned on Mr Burke and was given immunity and Mr Burke unfortunately was hanged.  Mr. Hare then shot through to London to reside.

Off the main High street, intriguing little lane ways meander to secret little pockets of the residents. Historians have discovered areas where Edinburgh has been built on top of it’s self over time and now tours are given to these discoveries. Walking into these areas the first thing you notice is the quietness , and you have only walked a few meters away from the street performers,tourist, buses etc. Secret little gardens loving worked by the hands of the community. Stone benches next to tall neatly trimmed hedges for a quiet spot to rest those weary feet. The hedges entice you to go one or two steps further to look around the corner.

Two of the most imposing tourist attractions in Edinburgh are Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat.

Edinburgh Castle

Arthur’s Seat

I chose the latter and walked to the top. An easy trail. Quite a stunning walk in fact with little pathways shooting off in different directions. The soft grasses waving in the winds. Foxgloves and wild flowers dotted throughout the area.

Towards the top of the climb the path becomes quite rocky so you do need to watch your step, especially  if it’s windy. The views are amazing of Edinburgh , the Firth of Forth, the Pentland Hills and beyond.
Edinburgh is an intriguing city,

Looking at the view on a windy day at the top of Arthur’s Seat

I found Edinburgh a vibrant city, wonderful local people. At first glance Edinburgh looks quite sinister with its dark buildings and moody grey skies . There seems to be a struggle in some of the shopping areas of new verses old . Shops fronts being big glass panels instead of the beautiful old facades. Some call it progress I call it a shame.
All of that aside Edinburgh certainly is a city that entices you to peel back the layers.
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