Days like this
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 11:17 It's on days like this that I wonder why I ever left Edinburgh.
Blue sky, bright sunshine and a very light breeze that is keeping the temperature exactly how I like it - warm enough to stroll around without a jacket but cool enough not to (how shall I put this?) perspire. Perfect.
I am currently sitting in Caffe Lucano on George IV Bridge surrounded, as ever, by newspapers, books and assorted notes.
It wasn't my first choice of cafe but I had forgotten that The Elephant House across the road (I am looking at it as I tap the keyboard) now promotes itself as the 'Birthplace of Harry Potter'.
As a result there is a long queue for seats and the place is heaving with tourists. What a pity. It used to be one of my favourite cafes. I'll come back in January, perhaps, when it should be less busy.
As it happens, Edinburgh is blessed with lots of great cafes, pubs and restaurants. Living in Cambridgeshire it's one of the things I miss most about the city.
Last night we had dinner at The Ship on the Shore in Leith. It's possibly one of the best seafood restaurants in Britain. Friendly staff, great atmosphere, and the adjoining pub served a great pint of Old Speckled Hen!
What is noticeable since I left Edinburgh in 1999 are the enormous number of outside tables - a direct result of the smoking ban. Fine on days like today but not much fun during those long winter months.
Anyway, there's a simple remedy whenever I have thoughts of moving back to Scotland - I amble down the Royal Mile and reacquaint myself with the Scottish Parliament and all that it symbolises.
Never say never and all that, but for the foreseeable future I'll stick to regular visits.
Reader Comments (2)
Was on a General Practitioner website and noticed a very recent comment (24 July) posted by Herr Paul Bartlett seeking advice. The Herr is unrepentant and hasn’t given up the “cause”; he still wants “to make history” with an outdoor smoking ban. He doesn’t seem to have a clue concerning what he refers to as “so-called” civil liberties.
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/newsarticle-content/-/article_display_list/12443396/gps-urged-to-encourage-smokers-to-quit-over-ramadan
Check out the Captains Bar
http://captainsedinburgh.webs.com
It often has good entertainment on the menu