ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.
A return to Edinburgh after 5 years. It was Alan's suggestion as he wanted to visit the Surgeons Hall museums. I've always liked visiting Edinburgh but for a variety of reasons it's been 5 years since my previous visit. Covid lockdowns, minor health issues, a long list of interesting places to visit in Edinburgh already ticked off.... and an almost 3 hour bus journey to get there and another 3 hour one back the same day... all played a part. Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station destination board above.
Coming from different districts on the outskirts I'd arranged to meet Alan here at Buchanan Bus Station around 10:30am. Travelling clock above. I was slightly concerned that in the 5 year interval pre-booking bus journeys online would be the norm now as that was already creeping in years ago but thankfully you can still turn up on the day without a ticket and get a seat, especially if low in numbers. ie 2. Under an hour to get to here by bus from the city outskirts and around another hour and a half to Edinburgh, depending on traffic. 30 mins to one hour onwards to Leith, (No 16 bus York Place) Portobello, Musselburgh or Seaton Sands, (No 26 bus. Princes Street.) Having caught covid two weeks ago from one lone short bus journey to my local retail park that was also a possibility on a busy city to city bus as the latest variant of covid is spreading UK wide this autumn apparently. But I thought that having already had it... 4 times in 5 years now... I would be fairly immune.
Passing the stylish and grand Donaldson's National School for the Deaf on the Edinburgh bus. Founded mid 1800s and opened by Queen Victoria. This building is now upmarket flats apparently as the deaf school moved to more modern updated facilities in Linlithgow over a decade ago.
Although Edinburgh is always a great city to visit at any time of year it did look slightly diminished on this occasion, Especially for a keen photographer like myself. North Bridge, seen above, was covered in scaffolding as was the ornate and iconic late 1800s Jenners department store on Princes Street which is getting remodelled into a hotel. On the plus side the old 1970s St James Centre, which I remember well, next to the main bus station, which was a building site on all previous visits, is now finished and rebranded into St James Quarter.
What we were both here to see however was the Surgeons Hall Museums which is on Nicolson Street just up from North Bridge. £10 entry Adult. £6 concessions. No photography allowed inside. Both museums showed the history of medicine and surgical advances since the 1800s and some of it was pretty full on. Serious injuries, extreme abnormal growths and treatments were all covered. It was interesting and Alan really enjoyed it but one hour in it was enough for me. I waited outside in the garden area where you could take photographs.
Flower border getting plenty of rain.
Flagstone detail.
Fish mural across the street.
Museum outdoor sculpture and entrance. I also had a walk around the local neighbourhood and an hour later Alan emerged having examined everything to his satisfaction.
Not far away on the opposite side of Nicolson Street the entrance gate to the University of Edinburgh invited us in for another exhibition of sculptures and artworks.
This is the inner courtyard and as you can see it was a day of bright sunshine and heavy downpours.
On the way back we took in some more of the classic Edinburgh highlights. I liked the blend here of old and new buildings matching together. Same colour.
Not too sure about this one though. The classic early 1900s North British Station Hotel ( now The Balmoral Hotel) on the right and the very modern bronze spiral of the W hotel on the left. I have a triple album cover 'Decade' by Neil Young featuring this 1902 built hotel when he stayed here while touring and J.K. Rowling famously finished her Harry Potter Series here.
And while we are on that subject not for the first time I started to wonder if the author of those well known books took direct inspiration from the art work and buildings surrounding her in Edinburgh when she started out. For instance ... anyone observant will notice snake and rod (or staff ) symbols all over Edinburgh as an ancient symbol for medicine or healing. i.e. potions, snakes. wands.
And lastly Dumbiedykes is a real nearby local district of old Edinburgh as well... Professor Dumbledore not that far away from that name...all just pure coincidence?
As there's so much to see in Edinburgh we went back by a different route but in the city district it is almost impossible to take a people free photograph due to the sheer number of tourists milling around. I did try my best though to get classic views of the city without people in them.
The mound area from the National Gallery.
The Balmoral Hotel clock tower, Princes Street and the triple black spires of St Mary's Cathedral in Palmerston Place which I visited on a previous walk.
Edinburgh trams. The clang clang of which is a continuous sound around parts of the city. Just as well as they would creep up on you silently without that bell ringing every few minutes.
Back at the bus station which is located just behind Princes Street next to York Place and St James Quarter Alan and I parted company. He had to get the bus back to Glasgow but as it was turning into a lovely sunny evening I stayed on in Edinburgh to continue walking. I eventually got back to Glasgow around 9:00pm... hand in hand with darkness over the city. And a 7:00am start. But it was worth it....
Calton Hill .....to be continued in part two.
Over 50 classic old paintings in a slideshow from all over Europe and Scandinavia. 98 % of which I've never seen before. An outstanding landscape gallery from the golden age of oils. Enjoy.
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