Christmas time in Edinburgh

Tonight the Christmas Fun is about to begin in Edinburgh city centre.  The fair opens this evening, and it generally starts the Christmas Buzz in the city.  Will this happen tonight?  The mood of the city is grim - big financial centre, and the money squeeze is most certainly about.  Our self catering market still seems busy, but we do await the future and what it will bring.

Just yesterday I let in a visiting researcher from Oxford University into the self catering apartment on Rose Street.  They seemed excited to be in Edinburgh.  And I suppose the cost of the holiday break is quite inexpensive- train to Edinburgh, split the cost of sharing the self catering apartment - so maybe that is the way of the future for awhile.  Maybe people will stay more in the UK, and not fly abroad.  If only we had the nice weather we would never want to leave this country but that's another story.

Back tomorrow with some photos of the lights in the city centre - hopefully the weather will clear up a bit by this evening.

Col, windy and a good pub

Today was cold. My daughter loves snow and there were rumours of snow. So we went off to the Pentlands with the dog looking for snow. There was very little - but some on a walk up from Flotterstone. This walk is well recommended if you are well wrapped up and feeling fit - it is steep in parts. We found small patches of snow, much to the delight of my daughter and the dog.

The best bit was ending up at theFlotterstone Inn for steak and ale pie and chips. This is one of my fabourite pubs, because of it's position in this great area for walking, good food, good service, and they are happy to have well behaved dogs. Do try it.

Janet

Gerhard Richter on at the National Galleries

Beautiful Tuesday - cold, fresh and sunny - one of my favourite types of weather.  Edinburgh's weather can be very windy, which I hate - but today had none of it.  Crisp Blue Sky, I love this weather, wish that winter could be like this every day.

I walked by the Rose Street Self Catering Edinburgh Apartment ,  cleared up for the next guests, and then headed to the National Galleries (on Hanover St and Princes St), to view the Gerhard Richter exhibition.  Having seen the Tracey Enim exhibition earlier this year, I was wondering what would be on display in this exhibition.  The paintings were very modern, and each room exhibited a completely different style.  Definitely an artist to be discussed, and my 'mathie' background did not understand it all, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.  He is a modern artist, born in Dresden, Germany 1932, and I am guessing that his experience of having a childhood in Germany during the second world war were part of the make-up of some of the more disturbing paintings.  

This exhibition is certainly worth a visit, and I would imagine that it would keep many art students busy in discussions.  

Wet November Day

The rugby week-end has past, and you could feel the buzz in the city centre -unfortunately, I don't think that is was the Scottish that were on a high.  Still, there was much to be heartened for the Scottish Rugby fan, as the game was exciting, and showed marked improvement from last weeks performance.

Today certainly felt like the 'day after'.  The weather is cold, and a bit wet - at least it is not windy.  The city centre, this morning certainly felt like the buzz has gone.

What to do in Edinburgh at this time of year while visiting?  Believe it or note, there is still plenty on, and plenty of people are still here to see the city.  Holyrood Palace is a firm favourite in our family.  A nice stroll from the centre of city, and down to the end of the Royal Mile.  You will pass by some lovely shops - don't miss out on the Christmas shop, where you can finally allow yourself to start feeling the Christmas spirit.  Down at the end of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyrood, The Queen's Galleries and the Holyrood Parliament.  All 3 are worth a visit, and as I noted above, our family love the Palace of Holyrood.  Maybe it doesn't glow the way it does in the summer months, but there is a charm that the Palace has is this overcast damp weather, that helps you envisage life back hundreds of years ago in the Queen's Residence.