Edinburgh

Spent Wednesday and Thursday in the wonderful town of Edinburgh. Apart from Prague, I don't think there's a European city that gives me the same sense of happiness and tranquility as this.

The Fringe festival was on, and so the city centre was teeming with people, from the eccentric to the clinically insane. We didn't see any of the many shows on offer and instead walked around the Castle for a little while and then down to Grassmarket and Holyrood. Wednesday evening we went to see the Military Tattoo, which was awesome, although to be completely honest I'd have hoped for a little less peace and love and a little more war and bang-bang.

Thursday I went to see the new Mary, Queen of Scots exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, while Siri went to shop her greedy little heart out, as is the wont of womenses all over the world. We rounded off our cultural activities by walking around the National Gallery, complaining all the way about the relative lack of Scottish scenery on display. Honestly, when you have real estate like Scotland around you, who the fuck needs to see another Dutch stilleben?

Few cities make me as happy as this. Edinburgh, I heart thee.


The Scott Monument. I still haven't climbed it.


The utter hideousness that is the new Scottish Parliament.


Join the Dark Side. We have cookies!


Some of the sheer insanity that is Edinburgh at fringe time.


At exactly 1PM every day, come hell or high water, this cannon goes off with an almighty boom.


From the exhibit at the Castle, with the Crown Jewels; the infant Mary and her formidable mother, the French noblewoman Mary Guise. She ran Scotland for years, while Mary was off getting a proper Royal education at the French court.


I think I have mentioned before that the ceiling of the Great Hall in Edinburgh Castle (incidentally, the only "original" part still standing) was made from Norwegian timber.


Two old favorites with the tourists - yours truly and Edinburgh Castle.


People taking their places at the Military Tattoo.


The guest of honor that night was some American Lieutenant General. As is custom, he participated in a ceremony in which whisky is drunk and Gaelic is spoken. I think the first is a prerequisite for the second.


A lone piper doing his stuff. It gives me chills just to think about it. I love bagpipes.


From the finale.