Climb

Today, I walked past the castle. Then, I climbed the side of the cliff up to the castle, at which point I proceeded to walk down the other side. To top all this excitement off, I bought 6 pairs of socks and found a yarn supply inside a John Lewis department store.

Yes. I'm that exciting.

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Oh, wait. I lied. I also went to the "Scotch Whisky Experience" which was sort of like a haunted house ride...through the history of whisky. The bonus was a free sample of the cheapest whisky they had on offer. Which is great, because it burns.

I befriended an Indian couple who bought the 4-region whisky sampler, and was obliged to finish off their "Island" whisky. If they could put a BBQ into liquid form, whisky from the islands is it.

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Photos from today's walk about town:

Old Town over Waverley Bridge

Waverley Bridge doesn't cross a body of water. It used to cross swamplands that have since been turned into the Princes Gardens...along with Waverley train station.

New Town from the side of the Castle's cliff. That front row of buildings is Princes Street (I've posted photos of it before...). Behind you see the water. Maybe some weekend I will head out to Ocean Terminal...

Lots of people headed to Edinburgh Castle near the Whisky Experience

To market, to market

I finally found a good day (rather, a good two hours. It began pouring immediately afterwards) in which to take a photo tour of the city. Or rather, more specifically, a photo tour of my route to the grocery store. As the summer wears on, perhaps I'll actually spend some time in a few of these tourist traps. Or perhaps not.

I've drawn out the grocery route above. It starts at the bus stop along Princes St. (after work)

Royal Scottish Academy and National Gallery

Princes Street

Old Town (I like the way it looks. It's very Edinburgh)

The view of Old Town over Waverely Bridge

Market St., with the Edinburgh Dungeon on the left.

We took an early turn, need to take a side-street/stairway up to Cockburn St. There's usually a restaurant or two tucked away along these "closes".

Cockburn St. Kitschy shopping (a lot more open & full when not on a Sunday).

Cross the Royal Mile which leads to Edinburgh Castle, but I take it the other way. To South Bridge/Nicolson St.

South Bridge/Nicolson St. It gets progressively more residential and city-ish.

Tesco Metro Supermarket!!

A (former?) church, as I walk along the Royal Mile.

Victoria St. has some more small shops, and it leads directly to Grassmarket.

Grassmarket, the place of many pubs and former hangings.

Another angle of Edinburgh Castle, peering over Grassmarket.

And that's it! (Grassmarket is literally a 2 minute walk from my doorstep)