Bring out 'yer bagpipes!

Yes this morning we left the wonderfully beautiful and quiet surroundings of Cornwall for the busy, crowded streets of Edinburgh. It was a busy travel day and we were thankful for a Sat Nav system that got us where we needed to be on time and without delay. We got to experience the small airport of Exeter (please do not read quaint into this small) and flew straight on to Edinburgh. 

We're staying on the Royal Mile and it was a brilliant sunshine-filled day here as well so the crowds were out in droves. We think this far surpasses the busy-ness we experienced in London. It's not quite as tidy as London and there are lots more smokers here, all hanging around outside the pubs. When you hear someone leaving one of the pubs it won't be just one person, it's likely a group of a dozen or so young men. We also had no idea this is such an international city. 

It's really interesting to people watch and see so many young people, so many bars and restaurants, and cashmere shops, and all of the talented buskers out on The Royal Mile. We did lots of walking around today to try and get our bearings and will make a plan for tomorrow. 

Our big excitement for today was getting dropped off by the taxi-driver on The Royal Mile when he pointed to a tiny arched cobblestone opening and said, "See that sign that reads, The Close," he said. "Just walk on through those steps and then you'll find your hotel". It was a really unique experience for Sir If and Meg. We suspect these are all throughout certain parts of Europe but it was our first time with the architectural feature. The Edinburgh "Closes" date back to the 1700s and you never really know what lies beneath the entrance of any of them. Some like ours pretty much just open to a courtyard for our hotel - others have a series of shops inside them. Right beside us is The Real Mary King Close but I don't think we'll enter that one as it is a scary, horror-filled tour of the subterranean version of Edinburgh, not exactly my cup of tea. We're able to open the windows onto the courtyard so even from our room we get a sense of what's going on at all times. Just now a group of young women came strolling in, all dressed with kerchiefs on their heads, singing and carrying candles and such. Edinburgh is the home of The Fringe Festival so we do anticipate lots of unusual things to see and watch at all times. Should make for a fun and interesting few days before we head off to the quiet of The Highlands.