Edinburgh Hogmanay Part 2


Photos 19 - 36 out of 59 | Back to Albums
It doesn't take long and everyone in our group pretty much looks like a 'movie extra' from Braveheart... And for some reason, in every photo of me wearing face paint, it looks like I've been pashing the person next to me, with face paint rubbing off on them...? Haha Malfroy looks the same - and judging by these two faces, I think she might have been pashing too ;)
I'm buggered if I know what time I got home from Draculas nightclub, but I know that Malfroy wasn't there, and even if she was, she wouldn't have been up as early as I was. Maybe it was the fresh highland air, or the greasy chipsand mushy peas I had on the way home, but it was New Year's Day 2009, and I was feeling like a million bucks! (We'll compared to most New Years Days in the past I felt good.) Not wanting to waste the day, I'm up, showered and fed, and it's off to explore the rest of Edinburgh that I haven't yet seen! And hopefully sweat out some of the piss still in my system along the way. First stop - Edinburgh Castle, perched on top of a huge cliff overlooking the whole of the city. It really was a fantastic sight! This is the Royal Mile - and yes, it is pretty much what it says it is. A 1 mile stretch of road that leads from Edinburgh Castle, down to Holyrood Place where the Scottish Parliament building and Royal Palace resides. Further in from the castle and the old town, is this area called the 'Grass Markets' and the 'Cow Gate'. Again, it is pretty much what it sounds like, historically anyway. This was the place where herds of cattle and sheep or whatever were hearded into the town for whatever reason. Maybe to sell, market or feed them. They were herded through the 'Cow Gate' and into the 'Grass Market' where they could feed. Now the Cowgate is a paved road and a pretty cool area with all sorts of pubs, clubs and pretty shops. It's also kind of where the catacombs are located, underneath the Southbridge and Northbridge.
New Year's Day - there was vomit everywhere as I walked around the city. I walked down the length of the Royal Mile and was treated to all sorts of wonderful sights, old buildings, twisting passages and closes, and lovely shops. The further down you went, the less gawdy they were too (a lot of tourist souvenier shops selling cheap imported tartan products, much to the lament of the traditional Scottish kiltmakers!) This pub is called The Tollgate Tavern. It is an original building centuries old, and just like everything else in Edinburgh, it is named after what it once was. This used to be the gate where people entering Edinburgh paid their entry toll/tax while passing through the gate. It starts off as not a particularly tough climb. In fact the most annoying thing is all the tourists (lots of Asians just got off a bus!). I found myself walking very quickly past them whenever the path was wide enough, but as soon as I stopped somewhere to take a photo and admire the view, I'd always somehow seem to fall behind them again, and have to plan my next overtaking assault. Slow walkers frustrate me!
At the end of the Royal Mile is the Scottish Parliament building - a rather moderna and controversial structure that looks a bit like the architect was playing 'pick-up-sticks' one day and that decided on the design. It's also surrounded by grassy landscapes, fountains and round-a-bouts. It wouldn't have looked out of place in Canberra... Anyway, it's still an intriguing building - you'd either love it or hate it I guess. From here, I looked up, and saw that I'd come all the way to the edge of town, right to the foot of Arthur's Seat - the massive mountain/plateau that - not unlike Edinburgh Castle - dominates the skyline to the east. Well, it's here, so I might as well climb it... It doesn't take too long to get a goot view high up over Edinburgh. I was lucky to have a passer by offer to take this photo of me overlooking the town. Not far to go now I'm thinking. I should be about 1/2 way to the top? I've been walking uphill now for about half an hour, and even though it's chilly at about 4 degrees, I'm starting to peel the layers off. Up a bit more...
And up some more... damn will I ever get to the top of this bloody hill? I reach what I think is the top, but just over this ledge, it is clear that this is only the second highest peak. I potentially have anohter 15 minutes in front of me. Finally I reach the top! After starting off wearing 3 layers and a wool jacket and scarf, I have stripped down to the last layer, well and truly sweating last night's booze out. And though my fitness is pretty good at this point, I've still got the heart rate up! (Or that could still be a side effect from too many red bulls). Not surprisingly, not everyone makes it to the top before turning back. Like that bus load of Asians that kept getting in my way. At the very top however, are some hardcore hikers, a lot of locals and other keen tourists like myself. I found out that this group of Scottish locals have a tradition of climbing Arthur's Seat every New Year's Day, wearing their kilt get-up. Bringing along their wives, they crack open a bottle of champagne at 12 midday and have a few cheese and crackers to boot. Not a bad way to spend the day if you lived here I suppose.
Climbing Arthur's Seat on New Year's Day doesn't beat going to Cronulla Beach for a swim in the surf, however it sure as hell provides a spectacular view for miles and miles. There were a few clear sky moments, and a few clouds at times, as I spent about 20 minutes unwinding at the top of the mountain, thinking 'how good is this'. Or as Malfroy would say, 'taking it all in'... On the way back down, I needed to piss pretty bad. Thinking I'd found a nice out-of-the-way side of the mountain with some privacy and nobody to bug me, I trundle behind some bushes. Oops! Big mistake, these pretty but prickly shrubs are Scottish thistles! I whack it back in quicksmart and gingerly manouever out of the thistle patch I'm stuck in. Nobody hears me scream... Wow, this is a view worth the climb!
   
Photos 19 - 36 out of 59 | Back to Albums
Description: The second part of this album pretty much covers the best street party that was ever held, some sightseeing around Edinburgh on New Year's Day (by myself as I was the only one tough enough to get before lunchtime from the HUGE night before) and then the pub crawl which finally defeated me. Yep - five nights on the 'water of life' and I was knackered...
Location: Scotland

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