2023 Scotland – 3

And now we are in Edinburgh, and beginning all things Dunnett!

For all we were wedged into the train like a cattle car, it was an interesting trip. We didn’t get to see as much scenry as we would have wished, but we could see some. It looked just like it had from the air. Huge flat kelly green fields just beginning to grow as we left London. Lightly rolling hills, and the lines that I had though were hedgerows from the air, were, indeed, hedgerows. Lots of hedgerows and some stone built walls. The countryside gradually changed and became rougher, hilly, and dotted with sheep.

The last couple of hours, the train ran near the coast. I was surprised at the strengh of the surf of the coast. I shouldn’ t have been as it was the North Sea! There were whitecaps out and the water was slate gray. The further north we went, the rockier and craggier the coast became. But at the top of the cliffs, the ground was green and rolling and contained grazing sheep. It was spectacular, and made me realize how big the British Isles actually are. I think ‘Island’ and the channel off Calais with the Chunnel running under it, but that is really a misnomer. This is a huge landmass, set in the middle of a wild sea. This came alive to me as we went by the coastline.

We arrived in Waverly Station, and like everything else, the station itself and the buildings surrounding it were magificant. The Prince Street Gardens underneath the the Edinburgh Castle were right next to station, and we walked along the length of it to get to the hotel on Charlotte Square to register for the conference. That sounds like such a nice stroll, but it was really a hike. The walk up from the station to the street level was a long, pretty hefty ramp that was about 2 blocks. Then we headed towards the end of the Prince Street Gardens.

I have a tip for you should you try this. Do not wheel luggage along the streets of Edinburgh. The sidewalks of Edinburgh old town consist of cement tiles, which are as uneven as the street itself. They are fine to walk on, and look incredible, but wheeled luggage are not fond of them!

But we got there, got registered, collected our swag (wonderful!), then broke down and took a cab to our B and B.

We are staying the Mayfield Gardens area, south of the castle. It’s an area of lovely Victorian row houses. The Kingsway Guest House was highly recommended by Rick Steves, and it lives up to it’s reputation. The owner, Lizzie, was delightful and very helpful. I’ll get some pictures in the next few days, because it’s really lovely. Our room has high ceilings, amazing molding, and a huge window. This will be a wonderful place to stay for the next 7 nights.

After a few hours to settle in, we headed back to the Klimpton for the Dunnett Welcome Dinner. This time we took the bus. The bus system is terrific, with lots of buses running until about 11pm. Then they have a Night Bus system. (And here I though the Night Bus was just something out of Harry Potter!). We got off at Georges Street and walked a couple of blocks over to the hotel. Have I mentioned that a block in Edinburgh is MUCH longer than a block anywhere else, except maybe Paris?

I tried to refrain from taking pictures, but I couldn’t resist a couple. We would reach a street corner, then see the castle looming up. It was just spectacular.

The Welcome Dinner at the Charlotte Klimpton hotel was amazing. The food was terrific, and we met people from Sweden, Ireland, and from other parts of the US. There was a lot of people there! It was an enjoyable start to what is already proving to be an amazing week!

Below are some miscellanous pictures. Tomorrow I’m meeting my friends Wendy and Ava who live here is Scotland, and Julie is attending the lectures. I’m sorry to be missing the lectures, but very excited to see my old friends for the first time in a very long while.

The above is a painting on copper at the Klimpton hotel that I just loved. The picture does not do it justice!