1 day of Scottish summer


Obligatory piper, busking.

 Right…2 uneventful flights and a conversation with a young Ausie/Berlin mum going to attend a climate change conference in Exeter, and I arrived in Edinburgh to a warm welcome from Jude ( cousin Hazel’s husband). We caught a tram into the city to do our tour- a combination of visiting the tourist spots and reliving some of Jude’s childhood in the city. So many huge and impressive buildings again…a favourite was St Giles church where John Knox, theologian and reformer, introduced Presbyterianism in the 16 th century.  We were fortunate to hear a choir practising for a later concert…beautiful accompaniment as we admired the church and its stained glass windows ( John Knox got rid of the originals as they were too catholic and ornate for his type of religion, but luckily they have been reinstated. The castle is an amazing presence on the hill but sadly we didn’t have the time (or energy) to go up to it or to the hill next to it-Arthur’s Leap. Instead we got a picnic lunch and sat in the gardens near the new Houses of Parliament. Impressive modern building but designed by a Swedish architect! Many Scots not happy about that.

Went to the gates of Holyrood Palace. It seems the king was in residence, according to the flag flying. The place was awash with police as Jude thought they were probably planning for the annual 5 days of garden parties.

Then back along a higher road with good city views and into Princes street park-an oasis in the city centre on a hot day and awash with tourists.. no more time to linger and back to the tram and car for a 1.5 hour trip to Greenock in Jude’s comfy E car.

Great to see Hazel and enjoy some delicious Scottish salmon for dinner before retiring to my lovely little room in the rafters of their cottage.



Greyfriars Bobby with a shiny nose from all the stroking.. took the same pic in 1982…but I looked better then!



St Giles Church


Touristy street to celebrate J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter


 


Scottish architecture


New Houses of Parliament 

Monument to Robbie Burns

Castle from Princes Gardens










Comments

  1. DelwynAugust 29, 2025 at 3:43 PM

    Catching up on what I missed Rob. I loved seeing Grey Friars Bobby. I remember with lots of sentiment a film I watched as a child. I absolutely think both you and Grey Friars Bobby have aged rather beautifully, he with a shiny nose and you as a lovely shiny person!

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