To be fair the wind started to blow really hard when I was
in Edinburgh. I was up and called for a
taxi to come collect me at the flat at quarter to 10. The time was dictated by a promise I made to
the flat owner. His cleaning lady had to
get in the flat around 10, so I needed to be out by that time.
The cab got there just as I got my bags downstairs. Loaded up, it was a short drive to the train
station, but too far to walk with the bags.
As soon as I got to the sidewalk, my GIANT suitcase almost blew into the
street. I wrangled my bags, paid the
driver, and headed to the station.
Luckily, the next train was at 10:35. I got a foldy down seat in the back where
large luggage and bikes go and sat with my back to the window, with my legs and
arms wrapped around my rolling bags for the next four and a half hours. It actually wasn't too bad and I did get to
watch the scenery from time to time.
My new host met me at the station, thanks to a text message
I sent shortly before my arrival. He
started ribbing me about the size of my suitcase almost immediately. Apparently, my suitcase is almost bigger than
my room. But, we got it up two flights
of stairs and I settled in. The suitcase
now lives under my bed. I have a sink, a small dresser, a tiny wardrobe and a
twin bed, along with a bit of room to turn around in. The bed is a bit hard, but we’ll see how it
goes. At least it doesn't have a sweaty
rubber backed mattress pad like the last place.
I changed into warmer clothes and my new waterproof windbreaker
(it was being typically Scottish today and went from bright sunshine to needle
like rain in the space of 10 minutes. It
was a good thing I did.
I headed off to city center…the down to the River Ness. Much of the riverfront is undergoing
renovations, so photo opportunities are not that great. I did walk over a footbridge that bounced in
the high winds. There were a TON of
churches along the river and I didn't get the name of half of them.
This photo was taken from the bouncing bridge. Looking toward Inverness Castle (less a
castle, more a court building). I
think that gray block of a building in front is one that Bill Bryson complains
about greatly in one of his books
One of the many unnamed churches. The construction doesn't show too badly from
across the river
This is a view out to the mountainous Highlands down a city
street
This is a church further down the Ness
This is the only church I’m sure of the name of. St. Andrews Cathedral
And Gargoyles at St. Andrews
I crossed the street on another swaying foot bridge and got
another shot of St. Andrews from across the river
Even though Spring is not as far as advanced as in the
Borders, the daffodils are blooming all along the Ness
The River and the walk beside it winds below the Castle.
And the hill the Castle is on is riddled with Rabbit
holes. Bunnies are all over the place as
nobody will disturb them here. There
seems to be one stray black one in the bunch and all the locals mention him.
The whole time I was walking this side of the Ness, it was
drizzling and windy, which made for more of that needle-like rain. It was also time for dinner, so I followed
the advice of the owner of the B&B and went to the Castle Tavern.
As soon as I sat down at a window seat with a lovely view,
the sun came back out. Ah…Scottish
weather. I settled in with a pint of
local ale and ordered macaroni and cheese.
OMG it was awesome! There was a
small (when I say small, I mean practically microscopic) salad and a ton of garlic
bread with it. I was stuffed afterwards.
I headed back to the B&B, making a short detour to check
out the mall. I am getting Easter Candy
at Marks & Spencer. Although I do
need to find where to buy Cadbury as well.
Tired, settled in bed and getting up semi-early to get the
shared shower...
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