Local Expert
Andy Hayes
Hello! I am a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. When not out having travel adventures (or dreaming of new ones), I am hitting the walking trails near home.…
Hello! I am a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. When not out having travel adventures (or dreaming of new ones), I am hitting the walking trails near home. I am also the Local Expert Guide for Edinburgh here at PlanetEye.
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This past weekend I visited the National Musuem of Scotland - free and always a treat - and headed upstairs to the top floor to see the exhibit Kingdom of the Scots. Talk about impressive!! The exhibition covers everything, including:
- Scotland in Sports (highlight football mostly, of course :P)
- Scottish Economy (from the history of shipbuilding and tartan to today's financial powerhouses)
- Immigration/Migration (remember all the Scots who got £10 flights to Australia and Canada?)
- Politics
- Music and Art (I had no idea how many international musicians were Scottish)
The best part is a long running video that asks Scottish people - including people who are dual citizens - various questions like 'what do you like', 'what don't you like', 'your favourite Scottish words'. It is SUCH a good video, for Scots and visitors alike, that I can't recommend it enough.
If you've not been to the National Museum before, I'll warn you - it's huge - so have a look at the website and choose just a couple of exhibitions to visit. Pop into the shop on your way out - it is small but often has some neat things to see.
If you find yourself in the posh neighbourhood of Stockbridge and fancy a café meal, look no further than Patisserie Florentin.
This small café just on the edge of the neighbourhood proper hides behind a plain front wall; inside the décor ranges from funky to fabulous. With a glass case full of pastries and baskets stuffed with croissants that look fresh from Paris, it is difficult to choose one of the tasty options from the short but sweet menu.
The best part - it is inexpensive. Teas and coffees are only £1.50; a slide of quiche with salad and garlic bread only £3.50.
Enjoy the ambience, the crazy décor, and the tasty food: get yourself down to Patisserie Floretin today.
Don't fancy the crowds at Princes Street Gardens for Hogmanay this year? Might I suggest you check out the ceilidh at The Queen's Hall. For £40 (somewhat expensive, but less than you'll pass elsewhere) you get a ceilidh band, champagne on arrival, a snack portion of haggis/neeps/tatties, and a dram of whisky at midnight. It doesn't get much more Scottish than that.
The event is called Afore the Bells and tickets can be booked on the venue's website.
I've got my tickets already - book soon before they sell out - and see you there!
PS - Don't know what a ceilidh is?
Café el Greco, noticeable only by its tiny burgundy awning along Morrison street, is a hidden boutique of gastronomic perfection.
The owner and head chef is Greek and serves up authentic, delicious Greek meals, coffees, and snacks. He refuses to use a microwave, sources authentic and quality ingredients, and serves quality dishes that you will not find elsewhere in Edinburgh.
Dishes like his light and tasty moussaka are to die for, not to mention the orgasmic feta and tomatoes in the Greek salad. But this little café doesn't stop with mastering Greek - you can also order a haggis dish with drambuie sauce. Creamy and flavourful, it is better than most Scottish-owned pubs can do.
Although the café has no alcohol license, you will not notice as there is a wide selection of fresh juices and brilliant coffee drinks.
The best part is that despite how hard you try, breakfast or lunch at Café el Greco will not break the budget. In fact, you won't believe how inexpensive quality food can be.
The café/bar Negociants is situated just off the University of Edinburgh campus; thus it is with no surprise that this funky venue is wildly popular with the student community. Although during the Edinburgh festival, this place is a hot spot, cramped and packed from opening to close (which is nearly 5AM during August).
The ceiling, walls, and tabletops are covered with various posters, flyers, and other bric-a-brac that blends into a wonderfully soothing melange. Low lighting and various plants come together to make a uniquely strange but comfortable space. Huge sofas in the back are extremely comfortable.
The menu includes all sorts of bar snacks, including delicious nachos and burgers. Plenty of beers are on top, including both UK and continental beers. Proper lattes and espressos are also available.
Stop by and check out what all the excitement is about.
PS - A negociant is a French word for someone who buys up grapes from others to make wine. Go figure!
Scotland appears in Frommer's latest travel guide, 500 Places to See Before They Disappear.
While most of the Scottish entries are a bit out of reach for a day trip from Edinburgh, they are still interesting sights to be seen for those exploring the far reaches of the rest of Scotland. One place though that is nearly within reach of Edinburgh is the the alpine wildflowers of Ben Lawers, in Perthshire. I've talked about Perthshire before; it is wonderful hamlets full of pubs with wood-burning fireplaces are a lovely backdrop to the unbelievable mountains and forests of this area of Scotland. On Ben Lawers, a rugged peak popular with hikers and campers, one can find what botanists say is the "UK's richest display of alpine wildflowers." Grab your camera now, though, as climate change has resulted in more violent storms; combined with dramatic temperature changes, the rare plants residing here are under threat.
The nearest train station is Dunkeld, but it is best to rent a car to explore this area. If you make it an early morning with a late finish, you will have plenty of time to see the sights and enjoy the breathtaking views before heading back to the pub for supper.
For other interesting ideas of places to see around the world, hurry - as the title suggest, you don't have forever. You can pick up a guide on Amazon.
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