Bee in my Bonnet

Our hotel, the Radisson Blu, is right on the Royal Mile, ‘The Street’ to be on. The street runs along the rocky ridge of the craggy mountain from the heights of Edinburgh Castle to the base of which culminates in Holyrood Palace. It was evening by the time we arrived so we wandered around looking at shops and pubs and sites along the Royal Mile. Finally decided to take a tour of the Mary King’s Close. It’s a Warren if old alleys and dwellings under the street of the Royal Mile.

It was pretty creepy but interesting as a guide dressed in period clothing gave us a tour and showed and explained how people used to live in the historic 17th century Edinburgh. It’s no wonder people died of such horrible things as the bubonic plague. Tight quarters, bottom floors had dirt floors, rats, no running water, slip and waste just tossed out with a bucket into the street. The waste running down the street into the loch. Yuk. Where the loch used to be is now the train station.

Still some time to experience Edinburgh so we headed to Sandy Bell’s. A pub where you can mix with the locals, listen to a jam session of Scottish folk music and enjoy the evening. We were delighted with the impromptu music as we listened to players of the Irish pipes ( Uilleen), a tin whistle, two fiddles, a wooden flute, a mandolin and a guitar. There was also a bagpiper with his pipes laying cross his legs and not playing but rather brooding as the reels and jigs were being played. He looked like he just stepped out of a Scottish novel. Dark curly hair, large and muscular, high forehead, and concentrated gaze. The clientele was a mixed group of middle age folks, lovers, reggae types, ruffians, business men, and a few Americans. All crammed into a little tiny pub. Noisy and fun.

As we left and headed up the dark mostly unlit cobblestone Street we were pleasantly surprised to come across the statue of Greyfriar’s Bobby.

Greyfriars Bobby, a little Skye Terrier, became known in the 19th century in Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his dead master till he himself died in 1872. He is well known in Scotland and many sales are told of him.