Back on the trail of the Lords of the Isles with a 4 day stopover in Edinburgh for Hogmanay. Sadly, the festivities were cancelled due to adverse weather and high winds. I had purchased my tickets for the torchlight procession and the street party but alas it was not meant to be. Perhaps that means I have to come back next year. One of the locals told me that you can’t cancel Hogmanay, it’s a day! He also said that you wouldn’t find the locals at the street party but in pubs throughout the city!
The city is beautiful though at this time of year and the Christmas market along Princess Street is great to wander around. I especially liked the mulled wine with a shot of brandy and the unusual mulled gin! The Royal Mile has been crowded but not overwhelming – it seems it was more chaotic when I was here during Fringe a couple of years ago. There are the usual street pipers and other street performers even in the rain! Last night I came across a drum band with quite an assortment of drummers and a huge crowd around them. There is something about the drums with just a drum band or a pipe and drum band. Temperatures have been in the upper 40’s and low 50’s though they have dropped today into the 30’s and I am in for a cold stretch once I reach Ardtornish tomorrow. While Edinburgh has been a bit of a disappointment this time because of the cancellation of the festivities it has still been a great place to wander and I have discovered a part of the city I didn’t know – The Meadows.
