Edinburgh, Scotland (Saturday, March 24)

The sun came out on Saturday, so I decided to make my first trip to the Scottish capital. As I walked across the lawn at my condo complex en route to the train station, the resident groundskeeper, Willie (seriously, that's his name!) casually asked where I was headed. I mentioned Edinburgh, and in customary Glaswegian (and Simpson-esque) fashion, he responded, "the woon good thing aboot Edinburra - the rood ootta toon." Ah, the rivalry between Scotland's two great cities.

The train ride from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverly only took about 45 minutes, so before long I was making my way up the stairs out of the station toward the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle. As I popped out of a narrow corridor onto the Mile, I was struck by the "crackin" architecture and cobbled streetscapes, but also stunned by the throngs of hyperactive tourists racing between giftshops looking for tartan and whisky. I was aware of Edinburgh's reputation as one of the world's most beautiful cities, but I just didn't anticipate those kinds of crowds this early in the season. Adding to the mass of humanity were huge groups of kilted locals smoking in huge groups outside the pubs (Scotland's national football/soccer team was playing Georgia), and lots of police officers busy blocking cars from driving on the street since a parade of 10,000 Orangemen were marching over the Royal Mile (via a parade) to protest the prospect of Scottish Independence. I quickly made my way up to the Castle esplanade so I could take my token pictures and then move to a more subdued part of the city.

Calton Hill provided relief from the crowds as well as great scenery, but I found real sanctuary on Arthur's Seat, a mini-mountain right on the edge of town with a 360-degree panoramic view of the city, the sea, and the distant Highlands.

Royal Mile scene: Statue of philosopher David Hume and St. Giles Cathedral.

Obligatory shot of distinctive Edinburgh Castle.
The Wild West meets Edinburgh's old
world buildings. The mesa in the background forms a portion of Arthur's Seat.

The new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood, constructed within the last couple years.

The stone path leading to the top of Arthur's Seat was a welcome diversion from the throng of tourists, drunken soccer fans, and marching Orangemen.

Northeasterly view over the Firth of Forth and Leith from the summit of Arthur's Seat.

Sunset over Edinburgh as seen from the lower flank of Arthur's Seat. Edinburgh Castle on the left, Calton Hill on the right.