Sunday in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The self service laundromat opens at 8 AM. I think...I believe...I hope. It is down to the end of the block and turn left.
We have no choice. We need to have clean clothes. After visiting laundromats in Florence, Rome and Dublin and doing laundry in apartments in multiple cities, I still not confident. There is always the difference in money - enough coins and functionality of the machines.
With my shopping bags of dirty clothes, I walk to the end of block and turn left onto South Bridge Street. I am walking away from the tourist area and towards civilian gentrified Edinburgh.
Nothing is open No coffee. I have an address. After a few blocks, I realize that again streets in Europe constantly change names. I am less confident.
I walk past the laundromat and walk back two blocks. There are a lot of interesting restaurants and stores.
There are two other people already at the machines. I buy detergent packets. Separate the bundles. Pick two machines and load. God, I hope I have enough money. There is no ATM handy. The machines are expensive. This is going to be about 11 pounds sterling. My salvation is that there is an attendant. A "take no prisoner" majordomo is in charge. She tolerates me. I go to a coffee shop as the machines dry. She is in charge.
I love laundromats. I know I stand out among the regulars. But, still it is a great place to people watch. Maybe, Viking Tours could have a river tour of "River Cruises of Danube Laundromats".
I sort and fold the laundry. I decide to walk a slightly different way home. More coffee shops have opened. Now, there are a lot of coffee shops. No tea shops, just coffee shops. Again, as in London, these coffee bars seem to be owned by young entrepreneurs who believe that they have the marketing and branding skills to win over the public.
There are fast food and franchises in Scotland. Your choices include KFC, Subway, Domino Pizza, Papa John's Pizza, Pizza Hut - notice a trend here.
I am back by 10:30AM. I now know that to find "Old Town" and "New Town" turn to the right. Betty has a much better idea of what to do and see in Edinburgh.
We turn right. We are now on Nicholson Street (turn left, it is South Bridge Street). The road is also A7 if you driving up from North West England.
The College of Surgeons was founded in 1505 when the Barber Surgeons of Edinburgh were incorporated as a Guild. Haircut, amputation, tooth pulled - that is Out Patient Surgery in its infancy.
The College of Surgeons and body snatching are notoriously synonyms. Surgeons needed to study the human anatomy and they were short of volunteers. In 1828, John Knox (not that one) paid William Hare and William Burke for 28 bodies that were murdered in Burke's lodging house.
And, yes, Mary Shelley did spend part of her child in Scotland and Edinburgh .
The College's Museum is interesting - sort of . An interesting exhibit is the preserved parts of human anatomy in jars. Want to see a diseased kidney? How about a brain? A penis? All at various levels of health.
There is an exhibit of the tools of the trade - saws, picks and scalpels.
Then, lunch at the City Restaurant across the street.
It is a pleasant sunny day. We are walking towards High Street. This is the Royal Mile (the heart of "Old Town" Edinburgh). The Royal Mile is a series of streets between Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle. Stores that cater to tourists and restaurants line High Street. Scottish wools of different qualities and costs are displayed.
We turn right and window shop. This side of the Royal Mile focuses on tourists and souvenirs. A lot of comparative shopping and a knowledge of fine wool would not hurt.
We walk up the other side of High St past John Knox's Home/Museum (yes, that one) to the faint sound of bag pipes. Bag pipes are remarkable instruments. How does anyone learn to play?
We cross Nicholson Street. The sound is louder. It is one gentleman playing. He is in kilts and making a living as a street performer.
On the corner, is a church converted in a community store focused on local trades. This side of High Street, there are open barricades that when closed prohibit foot traffic. The autos are limited to cabs and buses (tourist buses have to out by 8AM).
We now walking towards Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh Castle is built on an extinct volcano and you climb. Edinburgh is a series of hills and increasing elevation. You are constantly climbing steep streets and walkways. We pass statues of Sir Walter Scott, Adam Smith and David Hume. At the Old Parliament Building, we began our retreat to the hotel.
Tomorrow, What to do on a Monday in Edinburgh.
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