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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2017 18:46:01 GMT
So this morning I got on a plane in Orly, and an hour an half later I was in Scotland. The weather was not great as we landed, but it wasn't very cold. This is my first trip to this city. The tram went straight from the airport and dropped me in front of my very central hotel, but first we went through some countryside. I read an article the other day saying that the tram is a financial abyss so far because it is only working at 25% of capacity. We passed by the iconic Murrayfield stadium. And finally the tram came into the city after a couple of shopping malls and commuter train stations. The hotel is at Saint Andrew Square. I was given a corner room on top of the building with a wrap around balcony. For £46.55 a night, including breakfast. This is the view from my private terrace. Here is the furniture for sitting out with a glass of wine on the balmy January nights here. There's room for about 20 guests outdoors if I have a reception. I didn't even want to leave the room.
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Post by bjd on Jan 8, 2017 18:49:49 GMT
Ah wonderful. We were supposed to go to Edinburgh in February but have put it off until April. My son claims that it doesn't rain so much in the winter after all and they really enjoy living there.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2017 19:47:19 GMT
I imagine the view from your terrace in June must be stunning. But you didn't go to Edinburgh in January for the fine weather, did you? Really must get there someday, lay some flowers on my family's graves.
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Post by lagatta on Jan 8, 2017 19:55:41 GMT
Lovely views. The days must be very short up there, this time of year. I'd love to go there in June, even if it is foggy, because the days would be so very long.
Why on earth is the tram not more successful?
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Post by mich64 on Jan 8, 2017 20:10:41 GMT
I look forward to your view of Edinburgh! That is a nice hotel room and the price is excellent, do you think it doubles or even more in the summer?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2017 20:23:18 GMT
I would imagine that it close to doubles in the good season, but you never know. I see that if you just walked in tonight, they would charge you £62.
I was also given a gift booklet about the history of the building when I checked in. It was built around 1780.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2017 20:32:56 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Jan 8, 2017 20:37:01 GMT
That is still a good rate, it looks like it is in a good location as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2017 21:10:02 GMT
As serendipity would have it I just read a piece on Edinburgh this morning.
One of the most charming streets I have ever seen was West Bow Street near the Grassmarket.
Alleys known as "closes" reportedly are haunted with legendary spirits.
I do hope you try to go and report back to us.
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Post by fumobici on Jan 9, 2017 4:08:10 GMT
Clever boy missing the throngs of in-season tourists. Any city that size is worth a couple of days I reckon and this one seems pretty steeped in history. You Frenchies are famed for your cosmopolitan dining habits, you should give a haggis a go and let us more provincial types experience it vicariously. Cullen skink stovies too! I saw a sign offering just such a repast up above.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 4:19:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 4:30:32 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 9, 2017 6:07:33 GMT
If this doesn't sound too ignorant, somehow Edinburgh looks more "European" than I'd imagined. It also looks rather lively. Looking forward to seeing more.
Kerouac, considering the travel time, so far does Edinburgh seem like a place to which you'd return?
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Post by bjd on Jan 9, 2017 6:48:54 GMT
Edinburgh looks as dark as I remember because of the colour of the stone. But Sundays are certainly livelier than in the 1970s when Presbyterianism was still influential.
But Bixa, Scotland is in Europe! And there were strong connections between Scotland and France and other European countries for centuries. (Read Dorothy Dunnett's books.)
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 9, 2017 7:18:23 GMT
Oh, I know, Bjd, I know. But preconceived notions are frequently not logical.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 7:32:32 GMT
That is still a good rate, it looks like it is in a good location as well. This morning I'm even happier with what I'm paying because when I was downstairs at breakfast, I saw that the electronic rate board says that the rate is £90 a night. (I booked and paid for my stay in October.) Kerouac, considering the travel time, so far does Edinburgh seem like a place to which you'd return? So far I quite like what I've seen but I've only been here for about 18 hours, so I will not assert a definitive opinion yet. Edinburgh looks as dark as I remember because of the colour of the stone. But Sundays are certainly livelier than in the 1970s when Presbyterianism was still influential. My first impression was that it was as dark as Metz was before they scrubbed all of the buildings in Metz. And the town is really extremely lively on Sunday. I suspect that the last time you were here all of the shops were not open on Sunday as they are now. You Frenchies are famed for your cosmopolitan dining habits, you should give a haggis a go and let us more provincial types experience it vicariously. Cullen skink stovies too! I saw a sign offering just such a repast up above. I will happily eat any of that stuff if I am in the right place at the right time. But it's true that I can find those dishes in Paris.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 7:40:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 7:46:52 GMT
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Post by chexbres on Jan 9, 2017 8:35:00 GMT
I think you caught a glimpse of George Clinton...
I doubt you can find decent haggis in Paris, kerouac - go to a good pub and have some.
Have you climbed up "Arthur's Seat", yet?
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Post by bjd on Jan 9, 2017 9:19:23 GMT
Looking at your pictures, I can understand why I never thought of Edinburgh as being a coastal city. I was surprised when my son said he had found an apartment beside the beach.
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Post by lagatta on Jan 9, 2017 11:06:23 GMT
Mark Knopfler's song "What it is" is a tour of Edinburgh, and its real and imaginary characters.
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Post by onlyMark on Jan 9, 2017 11:50:02 GMT
The first photo after you say - I began to ascend the ramp towards Edinburgh Castle. On the wall it says about a 'Kilt Package' for £100. I trust we'll see photos of you after you've taken advantage of that offer?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 13:14:37 GMT
Once you are inside the fortified walls of Edinburgh castle, it is actually a big collection of smaller buildings that served various purposes: armoury, governor's house, chapel, etc.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 13:29:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 16:35:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 21:04:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2017 21:11:51 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Jan 9, 2017 23:51:35 GMT
Is that statue a sort of "Everyman" figure?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2017 7:43:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2017 8:23:49 GMT
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