It's Christmas!

It's official, Christmas has started in Edinburgh, although the Christmas markets opened on Friday the official light night was today when the Christmas Tree and street lights were switched on, to be honest the street lights aren't that exciting, they're quite subdued. I was running a little late but got into town in time for the switch on only to find they had closed the east end of George Street to pedestrians and everybody had to walk around the block. George Street was mobbed, I didn't get a program so wasn't sure where the "main stage" was, last year it was in front of the Assembly Rooms, but this year it was at the East End, there was also a small fireworks display when the lights were switched on, well small by Edinburgh standards but they still looked good.

After the fireworks there was a mass exodus, with obviously a lot of people heading to Princes Street Gardens for the markets and rides, I headed up The Mound to see the Christmas Tree, which looks pretty good this year, I noticed quite a few people carrying small flags with the Scottish Saltire on one side and the Norwegian flag on the other (Edinburgh's Christmas Tree is donated by donated by Bergens’s Hordaland Community Council). I then went back down and wandered around East Princes St. gardens, I avoided the market on The Mound as it was really busy but I went into the gardens and checked out the stalls there, they have expanded it a lot this year, there are stalls on three levels instead of just the top level, they have even built a set of stairs to go to the bottom (instead of having to go the end of the gardens).

I then wandered up to St Andrews Square where the "Scottish Market" is located, this also appears to be bigger with more stalls this year, they also have an ice rink that goes around the bar in the middle (they've got little bridges that go over it to reach the bar), just a shame the bar only seems to serve Heineken and Guinness on tap, they also have spirits and Drambuie Hot Toddies. After wandering around the Square I headed to the Guildford Arms for a pint before going home.

There will no doubt be many more Blips of Edinburgh's Christmas fun over the next few weeks but you can see more photos from this evening here.