Edinburgh!

[gothwalk]

We're in Edinburgh at the minute. We're in the biggest 'netcafe I've ever seen, possibly one of the biggest netcafes in the world, given that there have to be 400 machines in here, at least. inannajones is writing a full account of things, so I'm just going to hop around and highlight things.



I really like the guesthouse. It's unfortunately a long way out from the city centre, but it's really only ten minutes walk in, fifteen out. We have a really nice cosy room right up under the roof, with a fantastically comfortable bed. I normally don't sleep all that well in new places, but I slept for ten hours straight last night, and it was great.

We've signed up for tours and things this time - this afternoon, we're doing a walking tour called the Spirit of Edinburgh, which is a pagan-ish tour, finishing up with Arthur's Seat, and including some geological stuff. Sunday, we're (hopefully) going on an all-day tour of the Highland Lochs and Glens - hopefully because it's not certain yet that it's running.

I'd forgotten how many second hand bookshops there are here - we pass by about five of them on the way from the guesthouse to the Old Town, and that doesn't include any of the new-only ones. We've gotten six or eight books so far, and will probably buy many more; a cataloging of the loot will take place after we get home. And I got a fabulous statue of Thor from the Wyrd Shop in the Royal Mile.

The cider of choice here is Strongbow; it's a little drier than Bulmers, but very very good.

And when we finish up our time here, we're heading for lunch in a place called the Mussel Inn, which does a kilo of mussels in a smoky cheese sauce. *drool*

We ate last night in the Elephant House, and apart from the pretty-but-dumb-as-a-bag-of-rocks waiter, it was very good. It's one of the places that JK Rowling sat in while she was writing the first Harry Potter books, because her house didn't have enough heat.

Anyone would be forgiven for thinking I've gone completely hyper, but it's just an effort to get as much as this as possible *out* as quickly as possible. I'll be more coherent again.

Comments

[ailbhe]

Interesting. I thought I didn't like cider, because I liked Bulmers for its sweetness and didn't like Strongbow at all. Then I had some straight-from-the-farm ones and learned that it's one of my favourite drinks.

Do you find that you prefer Strongbow to straight-from-the-farm ones?

Next time you're around

[cheerfulcynic.livejournal.com]

Try Wicked (http://www.dublinbrewing.com/wicked.htm). It is quite sharp. The difference between it and Bulmers can be summed up by Bulmers own advertising slogan "Nothing Added But Time". The obvious implication being, no apples:) Although it might have seen a picture of one.

Wicked, in contrast, is sharp, applely goodness.

[gothwalk.livejournal.com]

The only straight from the farm one I've had is Double-L, which is so dry you could use it on the dishes after washing. I'm not too keen on it. I think I like Strongbow a little better than Bulmers, but the cider I like best isn't really a cider, it's a perry - Golden Cap. It's too sweet for most people, I think. It's Swedish, I think - I've only seen it in Finland.