Edinburgh Castle views and the Deacon's Hoose

Yesterday was St Andrews Day.  Patron saint of Scotland.  We went to Edinburgh Castle because entry was free.  It seemed a good day to upload my first post about our trip to Edinburgh.  But I was just too tired.  In fact, I am overwhelmed by all that I want to write about our time in Scotland.  So I have decided to start by telling you about my day yesterday.

The day started with me waking early.  Our sleep in Scotland is settling down but I am still finding it a wee bit unpredictable.  Here is my breakfast.  Granary bread with swiss cheese and some leftover roast vegies.  I bought the swiss cheese because Sylvia loves it.  Her eating is unsettled with our travels and she is resisting food that doesn't look like that which she knows (eg she wont eat baked beans in square tubs because they should come in small round tins).

After my breakfast E and Sylvia got up in time to see the sunrise from the window of our holiday flat.  We watched a heron on the nearby burn (that is what E says is the Scottish word for the stream).

We rugged up on our winter woollens to go out.  This is Sylvia's new hat and gloves.  She hasn't really had to wear gloves before.  Only the occasional mittens.  The weather is so cold that gloves are necessary.  The dolly is borrowed from her cousin.

We did some shopping at Cameron Toll and then met up with E's dad and nephews for lunch at Burger King.  Many years ago when I first travelled to the UK, Burger King had an surprisingly good vegetarian burger.  Now they only do a fairly average bean burger.

After lunch we visited Greggs.  Branches of this bakery are everywhere throughout Edinburgh (and the rest of the UK).  I find the blue fronted shops remind me of the time I lived in the UK.  E loved the doughnuts and I loved the cheese and onion pasties.  Yesterday E had a doughnut, I had a chocolate muffins with rainbow buttons on top and Sylvia had a snowman biscuit.

Then we took a bus to the city centre to visit Edinburgh Castle for free.  Hurrah for St Andrew's Day!  We visited the castle on our last visit to Edinburgh so we were happy to wander without having to see everything.  The sunny photo of the castle above was taken this morning.  By the time we arrived yesterday afternoon, it was around 3 and the light was already drawing in. 

We didn't bother going into St Margaret's Chapel or the War Memorial or the Great Hall or the War Museum.  Instead we joined the crowds by the canons at the viewing platforms.  What I loved best about this visit was the views.

Sylvia declared that she had never seen anything more beautiful.  I felt the same way.  Above is a view of Princes Street.  Locals often bemoan how this shopping strip has gone downmarket.  From above it looks like a grand collection of buildings.

Edinburgh Castle is an interesting place to wander around.  So many fascinating historic details.  I couldn't believe the queues yesterday.  And after walking around the steep footpaths in the cold, we were ready for a warm drink.

E took us off the High Street down a dark close into the Deacon's House Cafe.  As soon as we arrived, the guy from behind the counter offered a drink for Sylvia and brought it to her quickly.  It was typical of the friendly service.

Around the walls were murals outlining Deacon Brodie's life.  The cafe was once the workshop of this rascally councillor who was the inspiration for Jekyll and Hyde. Apparently he hanged in 1788.  It struck me that if he had been arrested a few years later he might have been transported to Australia and become a big wig there.

This room is cosy with olde worlde ornaments along the shelves and in the deep set windowsills.  Above the counter is some bare stone wall as a reminder of the age of the historic building.  Christmas decorations add to the warm welcome.  The top photo is the fireplace with the stockings and pine cone decorations.  Sylvia was fascinated by the baby Jesus in the windowsill and the Christmas tree with the flashing lights in the corner.

The menu was fairly standard offering of soup, sandwiches, toasties, slices and scones.  But what it did, it did well.  I ordered a cheese scone and a hot chocolate.  The scone was large and fresh.  It was served with a magnificent raspberry jam (though E was less enthused with his strawberry jam that came with his plain scone).

I ordered the hot chocolate because Sylvia was so cold that I thought she might like some of my warming drink.  She had a few spoonfuls but that was enough for her.  I find hot chocolates quite rich and would have preferred a herbal tea.  Nevertheless it was a lovely place to sit and relax and thaw out.

We stopped at the supermarket on the way home.  This selection of fruit juices wearing woolly hats amused me.  Supermarkets in the UK are different from home.  In the UK the cashiers sit down but they stand at home.  At home they pack the groceries for you but in the UK they ask how many bags you need and given you bags to pack your own groceries.  I think I would prefer to work in a UK supermarket than an Aussie one.

Rather than going straight home, we took our tea to E's dad's house.  Sylvia and I had wild garlic and parsley sausages with brussel sprouts.  I was glad to be able to offer her some vegetables at last.  She had so much fun playing with her Scottish cousins that I was worried she was too distracted to eat.  Finally she gobbled it up.

So you see, we are having a great time.  We've been sightseeing and shopping and socialising.  I've been to the Edinburgh Farmer's Market this morning, a fete this afternoon and tonight we went to my sister in law's place for her delicious and spicy Mexican lasagne with goats cheese. 

Deacon's House Cafe
2 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PS
Tel: 01312 261894