Smultron mellan blåbär: Edinburgh

Hello again! I spent some beautiful days in Edinburgh this week. I could call this trip a reading week, because I brought along three books and finished them all (children's books). I also visited at least four libraries and several bookstores just to browse. Did you know there's an IKEA in Edinburgh? It's likely one of the least crowded spots for dinner; anyway, that's where I went after a delay caused a longer train journey than I was expecting. I love walking through IKEA because it's like an art gallery full of things to touch—and you can buy them, too! Plus, you know part of the reason I go is to get to look at the books they have in their displays.

I stayed at an inexpensive hostel in Edinburgh's old town, located in Parliament Square next door to the Supreme Courts and St Giles Cathedral in a building that used to be a courtroom and jail. It was convenient for walking to the places I wanted to visit including the Castle, the National Library, and the National Museum. It was also not far to Holyrood Park, where I hiked the summit path to Arthur's Seat, the site of an extinct volcano. The first view here is from the yard at Edinburgh Castle. Click on the pictures to see them larger.

View from the Castle

Edinburgh Castle

I really enjoyed the exhibit on folklore at the National Museum of Scotland. I feel they did a better job with their exhibits here than at the British Library. It was very attractive and interactive. For wall decorations behind the exhibit information, they used watercolour drawings by John Francis Campbell, who was an artist as well as a collector of folktales. Everything was in English and Scottish Gaelic—and sometimes even Scots. One of the best features was a cosy reading nook full of books on fairy tales and legends! I like how the café and shop are set up, too. Some seating for the café is inside the shop, and it really feels like a neat meeting spot. Edinburgh's Central Library, including the Children's Library, is right across the street.

National Library of Scotland

John Francis Campbell

Reading Nook

Reading Choices

One book I miss from home

'Let There Be Light'

I found so many vintage clothing shops and charity shops while walking, including a pocket of what must have been five or six in a row along one street! I also stopped for a browse at Blackwell's Booksellers before crossing the bridge to Princes Street and seeing the gardens and Scott monument. Then, it was on to the Writers' Museum. This is a museum dedicated to the Scottish writers Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. The Stevenson exhibit was all about Treasure Island; I don't really like that book, but I do like A Child's Garden of Verses. I'm glad I went on Burns Day/Night because they had a special presentation with music and poetry for his birthday. I got to hear a few poems recited in Scots. Outside the museum on the pavement are quotes from other Scottish writers including John Muir and Nan Shepherd.

Blackwell's Booksellers

Scott Monument

Princes Street Gardens

View from Princes Street Gardens (distant bagpipes)

The Writers' Museum

Edinburgh Street Lamps

No rain (fortunately), but very windy for a morning walk at Holyrood Park. The icy, arctic blasts at Arthur's Seat felt almost as cold as in Wisconsin (still only wearing my spring jacket). I liked the peak next door called Crow Hill better. There was also the ruin of a chapel to visit. I rested my tired feet in the library at the University of Edinburgh that afternoon—visited a couple more of my favourite Scottish writers (don't feel left out, J.M. Barrie and George MacDonald!) and browsed the Scandinavian literature collection. There's also a Swedish rune stone at the university. It was transported to Scotland in the 1700s, though, not left there by the vikings! Not that Scotland doesn't have plenty of its own ancient stones. I saw several of those at the National Museum of Scotland, as well as Dolly the cloned sheep. I had a lovely cream tea there and returned that evening for a Burns Ceilidh where there was dancing—including a demonstration of highland dance—singing, poetry, a few too many men in kilts, and a craft table to make creative bookmarks.

Holyrood Park in Edinburgh

Summit Path to Arthur's Seat

Firth of Forth

Steep!

View from Arthur's Seat

View from Crow Hill

Crow Hill

St Anthony's Chapel

(Reminds me of this!)

University of Edinburgh

Viking Rune Stone

National Museum of Scotland

Dolly

National Museum

Question: cream first, then jam? Answer: spoon!

Scottish bookmarks

Highland Dance

Ceilidh Dance

The soundtrack out of Scotland was another Scottish writer: Donovan, of course! (HMS Donovan and A Gift from a Flower to a Garden) I visited Cambridge again before returning to Norwich. I usually seem to be passing through over a weekend because I often plan my trips around visiting the Lutheran church there. But since places are not always open on Sundays, I still haven't gotten to visit the David Parr House, Kettle's Yard, or the Fitzwilliam Museum. I'd like to see the upcoming exhibit on William Blake at the Fitzwilliam which opens in February. That could be a good day trip for next time. This time, I had tea at Fitzbillies and tried the famous Chelsea Bun! It's an interesting twist on the sticky bun, with raisins, and it even tasted a little maple-y. I had time to do a lot of window shopping and more book stores—finally seeing the children's section at the Cambridge Waterstones, Heffers, and the Cambridge University Press Bookshop. The hostel in Edinburgh really was quite nice for a hostel, but it felt good to be at my lovely air b&b again in Cambridge.