Trip to Edinburgh - Day 6

So Wednesday was my last day in Edinburgh. Lucinda was at work but we were travelling back down to my house so she had packed the night before and we had put a bunch of stuff into my car so that I had less to do by myself (I find packing a car really difficult and painful, so this was really helpful). I left the flat at about 11am and got the tram to Haymarket. I was meeting my friend Zoe for lunch! But I was really early so I found a cafe to sit in for a while. 

I had a hot chocolate which was delicious and then a chai latte which was NOT great, sadly. I read my book for a while and then set off for Fava where I was meeting Zoe. She works near there so was able to meet me for lunch. We have known each other online for about twenty years but had never met in person! We met on Xanga! We had some friends in common. We lost touch for a couple of years but then a mutual friend died and she got back in touch with me. It's weird how friendships happen! It was really nice to meet her! 

She had suggested a Greek restaurant that she had wanted to try so we went there. I love Greek food and they generally have delicious vegetarian food so that was fine. We shared a platter of different bits - falafel, hummus, roasted vegetables, dips, pitta bread, all of that good stuff. Then we added some feta with olive oil. It was all so nice! I like sharing those platters because then I don't have to make a choice! 

We said goodbye at about 2pm and then I walked round to a couple of shops near West End tram stop. I went into a fancy gift shop but didn't buy anything, and then into Fopp to look at records. I had noticed it on my way past on the tram so wanted to go in. I didn't actually buy anything though. 

By this time it was about 3pm so I got back on the tram and got off at Lucinda's stop. I sat in her flat for about twenty minutes, reading twitter, and then I packed up the last of my stuff and left Lucinda's flat just after 4pm. I drove to her workplace to pick her up, at about 5pm. I got stuck in some traffic getting out of Edinburgh which wasn't a surprise. But I was there in time for Lucinda, with the car filled up with fuel, too!

We set off down the A1. It's so boring! There's just nothing there! And it was dark. We were listening to music and chatting though so it was fine. About 7pm my body was killing me, so we stopped to go to the loo and bought sandwiches and swapped drivers. Putting Lucinda on our insurance was really helpful and she did brilliant! My sandwich was disappointing but never mind. We got back to my house about 9.45pm I think. So not too bad! We didn't run into any traffic thankfully. 

I got straight into bed and Lee and Lucinda both sat on the bed and talked to me. I was so glad to be home but it had been a very long day!

I went past this war memorial near Haymarket station which I liked

Greek platter - oh yes it had courgette fries on it as well which were delicious! 

And the feta, I do love feta

And another picture of a pretty crescent near where I got back on the tram

Trip to Edinburgh - Day 5

I got up and out earlier on the Tuesday than I had previously, and was on a tram by 10.30. It was quite busy but thankfully I got a seat after a couple of stops, and then got off at Princes Street. When we went to Edinburgh last year we walked up a lot of Prince Street so I didn't bother doing that again. Instead I walked up The Mound towards the Royal Mile. It's quite a steep walk for me but fortunately there's a bench halfway up The Mound so I stopped there for a few minutes but actually it wasn't too bad. Then I walked up Lawnmarket and up most of the Royal Mile where I watched a bagpiper for a little bit. I walked up all the way to the castle. I didn't go in but I did take photos of the views, which were lovely. I again sat down for a little bit (I was really glad it wasn't raining!) and enjoyed all the hundreds of tourists from all over the world who were also at the castle. 

Then I started back down the Royal Mile and went in some of the tourist shops. My mum wanted me to take her some tablet, which she loves, so I bought some of that and some chocolate for Lee. I was incredibly tempted by a Harris tweed bag but didn't indulge... I might buy one on Vinted soon though! I went into a huge whisky shop and looked at whisky that cost £125000! There was one at £20,000 too! Can you imagine! My stepdad really likes whisky so I bought him a mini bottle of twelve year old Loch Lomond for £10 which he drank later in the week and really enjoyed.

Then I was trying to find a restaurant I had had recommended, and it was in the middle of two "closes" - the narrow alleyways that run between buildings and often open out behind and which are found a lot in Scotland so I walked down one on to Cockburn Street, and then the map assured me that the restaurant was up the next close - which was all steps because it moved between two parts of the hill. I walked halfway up, laughing with a lady as I did so... and then the restaurant wasn't there! Boo! I walked up 118 steps in total to get back on to the Royal Mile. I didn't count them but a small child near me did so I can be sure of it!

I was then a bit unsure as to what to do for lunch. It was past 12 by this point and I hadn't had anything to eat. So I walked past St Giles cathedral which I also went into last year, and then settled on an Indian Street Food restaurant. I ordered food and had to wait for ages; other people did too and weren't too happy about it. I had my book so I just read that and drank my bellini. My food was delicious when it came - I had basically three slightly different dishes of chickpeas and yoghurt, and they were all great. 

I went in a couple more shops but walked back down to St Andrew's Square where I waited for a tram for just a few minutes. Then I got off near Lucinda's and went into a coffee shop there and had a latte and an Oreo brownie. I was reading my book again. I went into a charity shop before I went back to hers and relaxed again before she got home. Her partner Linden made pancakes for tea because it was Shrove Tuesday. We had savoury ones with garlic, mushroom, spinach and cheese, and then sweet ones, some with banana and chocolate and some with lemon and sugar. They were delicious! 

I was wearing my apothecary stretchy dress which was perfect for wandering around in as I was warm enough with that on and my coat, but no cardigan. 

This is such a typical Edinburgh crescent; it was just round the corner from Lucinda's house and was so pretty. Each time I walked past it I was happy

Walking up The Mound

Looking up towards the castle when I got to the top

Looking down from around Market Street I think

Looking up the Royal Mile; I didn't know at this point that I was going to walk up all the way to the castle! I did thousands and thousands of steps on Tuesday, including the literal 118 steps. I did pay for it on Wednesday, but I think it was worth it

I absolutely love all these little closes near the Royal Mile. A lot of them had information about famous inhabitants. This one was just very cute

Looking up to near where the bagpiper was

See, this close had some information in it which I liked

I loved the peeks at what was at the other end. These things are so medieval! Imagine swishing down one of these in a fancy frock!

The castle! 

View from one side of the castle, down the way I had just walked

And views from the other side, where apparently all the coaches park!

Another view going back down

Here's sime very expensive whisky

And this wall of labels, which I loved

More information featuring Samuel Johnson!

That plaque was next to this little close 

How gorgeous are these buildings?

This is the close I walked down, which didn't have too many steps in it

Cockburn Street, which also had a lot of nice restaurants and cafes on it

And here I am in the middle of the 118 steps

See, look at all the ones behind me...!

But I made it, and then I had a bellini

And lots of chickpeas, tamarind, and yoghurt! Delicious!

Looking up another close off Cockburn Street when I made it back down that way again after lunch 

The monument in St Andrew's Square as I waited for the tram

Latte! I really needed the loo by now so I was glad the cafe had one!

And my delicious brownie

And here's the other half of the crescent as I was walking back, several hours later

Finally here's my apothecary dress before I got changed in my pyjamas to hang out!

Trip to Edinburgh - Day 4

As I said previously, Lucinda had to work while I was still in Edinburgh, so I did things without her during the day. I also had a trustee meeting in the afternoon on the Monday so I couldn't be out too long. I slept in a little bit as I was tired from the weekend, but then I got in the car and set off for Portobello beach.

I actually went there last May when I was in Edinburgh with my family, but I didn't realise I was in exactly the same place to begin with. Instead, I parked by the river and went into a cafe there for coffee and a very big brownie which was absolutely delicious. 

Then I went next door into Portobello Bookshop. I got a book token for my birthday from my book club and I knew I could spend it there, and Lucinda had told me what a good bookshop it was. I bought four books and saw about five more that I would like to read at some point. 

Then I walked down on to the beach and had a wander on the sand. It wasn't freezing but it was very windy so I got blown about a bit. I walked right down to the sea and found out that my Dr Marten boots are quite waterproof because the sea came in faster than I thought it might! I asked a person walking a dog to take my picture and we had a nice chat. Then I sat down on the prom near where my family was last year, when my mum and I paddled. By this point though it was past 1pm so I had to go back to Lucinda's flat for my meeting.

When I got there I heated up the leftover Dishoom food for my lunch and then laid on Lucinda's bed and paid attention to my meeting. It wasn't the busiest day but it was really lovely to see the sea and blow the cobwebs away. The worst thing about where I live in South Yorkshire is that the sea is so far away!

My huge brownie - I hadn't had any breakfast so had this instead

The river next to the car park

And further down where it reaches the beach

Look at it - so beautiful. The sky was stunning

And looking a bit further afield

I was sitting down at this point taking a selfie of myself huddled in my coat. Have I talked about this coat? Lolly gave it to me and I totally love it because it's not too long or too bulky but keeps me really warm 

Rock pools - I love rock pooling and have happy memories of doing it with my mum when I was little 

Looking further along the beach

And here's me! Yay!

My shadow right by the water's edge

It came in further than I thought

Closer to the rock pools

I love this photo of the breakwater

Here's the books I bought - I'm looking forward to all of these!

And finally here's Lucinda's cat Merlin who was very careful to keep a close eye on me!