Walks of Edinburgh

There is a vegan walking group who meet regularly, and I joined them Saturday morning for a stroll between Stockbridge and Leith Markets. It was an easy 5km, with plenty of opportunity for bird and squirrel watching. The kicker was the vegan goulash served at the markets, followed by a cheeky biscuit from Missy's Cupcakes. I said I'd eat well...but then I remembered how good those biscuits can be, and that was the end of that!

I met Alex, my old workmate, in the afternoon. He'd driven from Glasgow especially to spend some time with me, which was such a

lovely thing to do. We visited the Rosslyn Chapel, which is a 15th Century chapel in Midlothian. It costs a pretty penny to get in, but all of the profits go to maintenance and restoration. Given that the original building and repairs left water running down the inside walls, there is constant work to be done in looking after such a detailed building.

By detailed, I mean there are carvings, bosses, pillars, and engravings on every surface of this place. Green men mixed with gargoyles, church leaders, and angels, along with various grains and flowers, and stained glass images. Photos aren't permitted on the inside, but we had a good wander around the outside, and took a rainy, muddy walk through the gardens and found the remains of Roslin Castle above the river. We have since discovered that Wikipedia is far more informative than the brochure supplied, and I'm inclined to contact them and offer to rewrite their material!

Back to Hector Russell to say a quick hello to Amy and the staff, then out for a coffee to chat the afternoon away, while Scotland did what Scotland does best, and rained consistently.

Sunday was a much drier day, and the sun even came out for a while on my walk to Stockbridge Markets. The markets are a combination of local crafts and food, squeezed into a tiny space in which people were politely shuffling along the stalls, all trying not to bump into the displays or each other. Some of the local artists are incredible, but sadly I was there for looking, not buying. I didn't stay too long - I value breathing space.

With plenty of time to spare, I took the hill to High Street and went exploring the smaller museums. First up was the Museum of Childhood, which was mostly a collection of toys over past decades. Some of it was a pleasant throwback to my own childhood, and a lot of the rest consisted of train, car, and doll collections. There's little so creepy as a group of wax dolls staring out from a glass cabinet.

The museum is fairly interactive, and the children there had a fabulous time. The shop also stocks "old time" toys, some of which I remember from my mother's own childhood collection, others from own.

Down the road is the Museum of Edinburgh, which appears to be a modern continuation of The People's Story, with an additional feature on WW1 commander Earl Haig. There was an interesting section on the multicultural background of the city, and some notable stonework in the garden. It's not the most interesting museum I've visited, but it was a pleasant enough way to pass the afternoon. The most standout feature of this museum was the old wooden flooring. There was not a square inch of floorboard that didn't squeak or creak when stepped on. In truth, I didn't test every section, but I did have a good walk around each level, and am willing to back the claim.

Not far from the museum is Cockburn St, home to the Baked Potato Shop. This place is 100% vegetarian with a wide selection of vegan toppings. I took a small spud home for lunch, and at 6pm was still full. The cafe's definition of small is different to mine; their servings are overly generous.

Hard to believe I only have a week left here. So much to do, so little time!