London is dreary today, but at least the rain has stopped. Forecast is for scattered showers all day, but clear tomorrow. Bundled up for temps 16-18 C.
Today is the beginning of my new adventure and I have a 10 am train (you lot are probably still in bed) to Cornwall.
I will catch up the heavier part of my trip as I go along as we were so consistently getting in late and having busy next days scheduled as well. Susi went home on the 31st and I haven’t heard yet if she made it but figure if a Virgin Airline went down they’d have mentioned it on the BBC Breakfast (think Good Morning America with an accent) by now.
I’m currently checked out and waiting in the lobby for a cab. It’s morning and London like all the cities you’re use to is frantically rushing about so it my take him up to 35 min. to reach me….got plenty of time so……
The lobby is small here but cute—and I can see and hear Belgrave as it moves past my waiting place.
REMEMBERING 5/21 (York to Edinburgh)
5/21 Departure to Edinburgh at 9:53 on yet another Virgin Train…to a city of castles — in fact the city is named after a fortress built by Edwin King of Northumbia in the 6th century: Edwin’s Burgh.
Some scenes from the journey:
We arrived and caught a cab (they’re actually lined up here so capture is much easier) who first went to the wrong hotel and then finally to the right (I don’t always speak Scottish well despite my ancestors).
we checked into the IBIS just off the Royal Mile where the lobby is a bar (an restaurant too) and the bar hardly ever closes.
Then out onto the Royal Mile–there was live entertainment going on in the square our Hotel was on.
Edinburgh has a long history of warfare–King Edward I (think the king in Braveheart) conquered the castle here and fortified it. Then it was Robert the Bruce’s turn in 1313 and he destroyed much of it in the effort but he did leave St. Margaret’s Chapel. Then Edward had a successful go at it again and finally the Scots had it back in 1341.
A close by the way is what the alleyways that run off the Royal Mile are referred to as.
We checked out shops and went about the closes. The old town is a particular love of mine with its narrow winding streets clinging to the huge volcanic outcropping beneath it.
Because the city grew up within the King’s Wall (built by James II in 1450) which was very much restricted by the stone outcropping it was on, it grew up in tenements, with some going up to 14 stories high and which were probably the first skyscrapers. The restrictions to the city were continued due to the unrest between England and Scotland until the 18th century when things became more settled and then New Town was born.
BACK TO TODAY 6/1
OMG what a difference a place makes…I left London at 10:06 this morning on Great Western, which was a great relief as they have been having issues with some service delays and strikes and I was worried that it might affect my getting from there to here, but all went well and I left a cold dreary city to wander into a similar country side.
On the train I had one of the table cars where I set with a young couple who spoke English as a second language and a very interesting English man traveling a bit on family business and bereavement. We talked and took pictures of the scenery going by—the above being one of them.
On arrival at Bodmin Parkway station there was a cab in the line (there’s usually 3 so I got lucky) and we were off for a 46 pounds plus tip to Tintagel where it was much warmer and very sunny. The hotel—again check in at bar–is old an rambling and wonderful….though very kirky. I was checked in and ordered a drink in just a few. I met a wonderful lady who was ordering coffee and we sat in the outside area with a great playground for the kids and talked about everything and anything.