A Scottish gentleman.

Came to my rescue today for a blip!

After two days of clear skies today started off cloudy and as we set out to the West End the first moisture was felt. It turned into a steady rain that lasted all day. (Thankfully not the sleet though that we saw in one forecast!)

We wanted to check out the restaurant we have been to before in this area and make a booking and also find Edinburgh Gin. The guy in Valvona and Crolla yesterday who
was re arranging the Gin shelves said they had a shop and you could visit, telling us approximately where it was.
The shop was tiny but it had the miniatures we wanted (they only had the standard gin at V and C) and it was cheaper than we had seen it elsewhere. Notices said the tours were fully booked till the end of January and whilst we hadn't intended doing one it was good to note that we should book ahead should we wish to do so in future.

We were heading for the Old Town but ducked into Waterstones out of the rain. Always a great place to browse and we got a coffee in there. My friend wanted Scottish rugby shirts for her grandsons and many of the 'Scottish' shops are on the Royal mile but we spotted this one a little further on, on Princes Street. The first person we saw was our saltire turbaned friend. My friend needed help to reach the boys tops on the high racks and when she asked she also said 'Can my friend have a picture of you?'. He was most obliging and after I took this insisted an assistant took the three of us. Didn't want me with piggy eyes for the blip. He told us how he had created his headgear to wear when competing against the English with Kirpan (steel swords.) He had a thick Scottish accent but the assistant was definitely Spanish. Christmas music was playing - in Spanish - Felice Navidad- surreal.

Onwards and upwards, up The Mound to the Museum of Scotland. We were here on our last visit but it was dry and free with a shop and cafe where we had Cullen Skink and a cheese scones for lunch. Perfect for such a day. The table next to were all speaking Spanish!

Braving the rain again we went out of the Museum passing a poster of events. One was Embroidered Stories. I thought it was on next year but realised the exhibition was now so we promptly went back in and spent a good hour looking at the collection of 70 18th and 19th century Scottish samplers on show. It was very informative and most of the work quite incredible. Tiny stitches for such young children it became apparent that many quotes and patterns were similar from particular eras. Because of the details on the samplers many of the stichers and their families have been identified. The collector is American and started because of samplers found from her own ancestors.

It was practically dark when we came out but it was a good way to spend a damp afternoon.

Hope it eases off before we head back to the West End for dinner - Italian this time. Lots of Italians in Edinburgh too.