Edinburgh, day two

This is not a vacation I will soon forget for both lovely scenery and more memorable reasons.

I'm staying in a lovely four star hotel. I got a great deal! My first night, the power went out for ten minutes. Last night, the fire alarm went off at 1:30. I had to grab layers and go down six flights only to stand out in incredible wind with everyone else on the hotel while the fire department came. Fortunately, after about twenty minutes, we could go back inside. Rather than wait for the lift, I took the stairs back up six flights. Crawled back into bed. Woke up at 3:00 to the fire alarm AGAIN! We were experiencing intense wind at this point, and when I got to the lobby, the staff directed us to a large room rather than outside. Once we were allowed to head back to our rooms, I heard one of the firefighters explain that it was faulty wiring complicated by the wind. I'm note sure that answer actually comforted me! Again, walked back up six flights of stairs. So ready to crawl back into bed again. I pulled off one boot and the alarm went off again.

I groaned. It was turned off. I went to bed and didn't wake up until ten. Got ready to head out the door and wouldn't you know, it started pouring. Maybe pelting is a better word. It was painful rain. I ran across the street and found shelter in Starbucks, figuring I would wait out the rain. After a little while, it seemed to clear and I headed to the Scottish national gallery. It started pelting again. It almost felt like hail. I reached the national gallery in desperation and then found out that I had come to the paid exhibit. The free gallery required going outside again. So I did. By this point, I was nearly jogging across the courtyard.

The gallery was worth it though. It was really nice and also let me warm up.

Then I headed out and made the bold choice to go to Calton Hill, a public park wth great views over the city. Great views because, as the name suggests, it is a hill. it was deserted due to the wind. The sky cleared enough that I could get some pretty pictures but then the rain came back with a vengeance. I started to head back down the hill. Literally the wind was moving me along. Then the pelting rain reached monsoon levels. And started to include snow. By the time I needed to cross the north bridge, I had to stop at one of the bus stops for shelter and a reprieve from the wind. Let me tell you, the BBC headlines include "Gale force winds batter Scotland.". No joke. This is not just my flair for storytelling. Winds have reached 53 miles per hour here in Edinburgh, and 90 miles per hour in other parts of Scotland. I felt like a physics calculation crossing that bridge...125 lbs moving one direction at a brisk walk and 50 mile an hour winds moving another way...

I just read that the castle was closed to visitors because of the wind so I'm very glad I went there yesterday! I'm still headed in the direction of the Palace of Holyrood, home of Mary Queen of Scots at one point, but in the meantime I'm in Pizza Express enjoying a free coffee and snack thanks for a voucher from a friend. The sky is blue now. What are the chances that as soon as I bundle up I'll be back in the rain?