Victoria Street

It is the best of times; it is the worst of times. To have the freedom to walk in the centre of a deserted city is life enhancing but it is tragic that for this to happen we have to live through a lethal pandemic with shops, hotels and leisure facilities closed down.
It was so quiet on part of my walk that I met no one at all and saw few cars. People try not to walk their dogs in the city centre, gym fanatics tend not to do their exercises in urban streets, families on bikes prefer the Meadows and green spaces and so it is a great way to do the permissible exercise but still keep away from other people.

The Edinburgh of today is rather like I remember it back in the day, except for all the parked cars there are now. There were hardly any cars at all when I was but a lass. The parking wardens are walking around in pairs with nothing to do as everyone is parked legally outside their own house.

A lady walking in Princes Street Gardens shouted from 3metres away that she felt guilty in a way about the lack of tourists, but wasn’t it great to have our city back. I know that she and I are not alone in thinking that.

EcoDad made it a special mission to say hello this morning at 8am.
We met in an open square 50yards from the Dower House and while keeping the regulation distance apart, I deposited a FairIsle beanie for him on one bench and he deposited a pot of homemade jam and money on a bench 6 feet away. It felt like a ritual meeting and greeting display as we did the giving and receiving actions. It was so lovely to have a real face to shout to rather than a virtual face on a screen.

And we have the weekend tomorrow although everyday is like a long weekend at the moment. It is reported to be warming up which is very welcome as my phone told me today it felt like 2° when I was out.

My morning walk highlights are in the extra