Scotland Holiday - Day 4

My blog continues in spite of the deafening indifference of my target audience. It keeps me happy. Grey cloud was, I suppose, inevitable at the start of the day as was the rain which then fell for much of the morning. We went into Edinburgh primarily to reconnoitre where I would meet a friend later. With parking at a premium and the city's topography probably unique as roads pass under or over exactly where you want to be, preparedness was essential. Greg rested at the complicated and busy Waverley station while I ventured on to Princes Street to watch buses. This has to be one of the busiest places I have seen anywhere for buses and the Lothian fleet is distinguished by its apparently young average age and attractive colour schemes. There are two principle schemes with variations, usually route based.

Rain and time won the opening game of the day and we needed to be back at the hotel before my afternoon excursion. I noted the absolutely pathetic lack of progress with the tram system confined, it seems, to an isolated stretch of track along Edinburgh's most famous thoroughfare and for which little , I gather, inordinate disruption took place. Those responsible should be shot. Any who survive should be shot again. We got lost on the way back, recovered, and had a light lunch.

As with many big cities the only way to park is legally, without a limited term unless you are sure of your movements and pay what it costs. I chose the Waverley car park which at least afforded me a view of the station's comings and goings. My friend proved to be a remarkably good guide. This is slightly bizarre as he is Singaporean but knows Edinburgh much better than I do. He has the advantage of me having studied there. The culmination of our walk up Calton Hill for its wonderful views of the Forth and the city was that I became, at last, a fan of Edinburgh. I have never much liked the place, preferring Glasgow and I still wonder why its buildings can not be much cleaner. But today I could only be impressed by the vistas even as persistent cloud dulled my photographs and I left wanting to return.

For my image today, I have chosen an entirely unoriginal but classic view of Princes Street. You have to see it.......