We were strolling home late last night after meeting with some old friends and some new friends, and were struck by how truely stunning Edinburgh can be. The streets were alive with people, mainly young (but to us, who isn't??), and the bars and restaurants were hopping. There was a vibrancy in the Grassmarket area and looking up the castle, lit up by soft purple lighting and looming over us, you couldn't ask for a more special experience. This city is proving to be quite special to us. It is wonderfully compact so that we can walk to almost everywhere we need to go, which is just as well as finding parking if one drives is almost an impossible task. The transit available is outstanding and we can easily get anywhere we need, if either our feet or desire wanes. As you can tell, we are quite smitten.
But...
...and this is a big but. Three big buts, anyway.
Dispite the glowing review, there are some things that are just simply annoying. The first is that, as a pedestrian, you have absolutely no rights, as drivers would quite happily treat you as a speed bump if you happen to be crossing a street. I wouldn't call it agression, just an assumption of the right of way, and coming from Canada where we do, in general, give that to the pedestrian, it seems very strange. Still, we are becoming very vigilant and fleet of foot.
Secondly, people in Edinburgh aren't exactly smiley's people. Very few people make eye contact and seldom, if ever, give you a smile. When dealing individually with someone, they are a friendly and helpful lot, but out and about you can rarely raise a smile. Come on Edinburgers, it can't be all bad!
And lastly and most grossly, people of Edinburgh please pick up after your dog!! I will only target our neighbourhood for this one, as it is where we walk the most, but you have to be ever watchful to not step in anything foul. There, got that off my chest, and off the bottom of my shoe.
In the grand tally board of Edinburgh though, it comes out with a very high, winning score. We are very happy and lucky to be here.
Cheers for now!
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