Oops!
Forget Rick Steves—Here’s Some Real-World Travel Advice:
“When Google Calendar asks if you want to sync your calendar to local time (Greenwich Mean Time), click ‘No.’ Otherwise, you might have your group of three pack all their stuff, empty the fridge & freezer, strip the beds, and take an Uber to your new place—only to be told that you don’t move until the next day. Then you might have to get an Uber back to your old place, remake your beds, and unpack again.”
After a rather stressful morning, we decided a calming lunch was in order and took the bus to Maki and Ramen, where we had some warm, comforting ramen bowels (and maybe some sake too!).
Afterward Pam and Amanda headed off to do some shopping while I had my first haircut and (first ever) beard trim at Razor Sharp, just down the street from our house.
Looking sharp, I crossed the street and had a mocha at Valvona & Crolla. Despite its close proximity to our place, we had completely missed the shop these many days. As a truly authentic Italian deli, it is well known locally. The only way I found out about it was several characters in 44 Scotland Street visited the deli and had coffee in the café in the back. Gotta love books!
I had that mocha a little late in the afternoon, so I decided to walk about town and ended up taking some pictures of buildings that were nicely lit for the Christmas holiday season. Enjoy!
Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh—The Caledonian
The Johnnie Walker shop had dynamic 3D graphics across the entire building. Don’t know how they do it, but it’s pretty amazing! (The same building above and below.)
The Huxley Bar & Restaurant—”Inspired by our friends across the pond, we’ve taken our favourite American dishes and recreated them with a Scottish twist.”
Edinburgh Castle, of course.
A festive heeland coo.
The Cold Town House beer shop (see—they do actually like their beer cold).
Cleverly ironic name for a pub adjacent the old Grassmarket Square public execution site. (Not particularly festive, but I thought it was interesting nonetheless.)
The iconic Victoria Street.
Don’t know the name of this building on Cowgate, but thought the lights looked cool.
Looking up the cobbled (and slightly spooky) Old Fishmarket Close.
The top of Cockburn Street, as seen from the Royal Mile.
Tron Kirk and its famous clock.
