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6:23 pm – Edinburgh –
Day 5 – The Tron, The Bow Bar, Oloroso
 As Beth had work to do at the Sheraton today, I took to
walking the town. Starting out along George
Street, I headed via St.
Andrew Square towards the Scottish National
Portrait Gallery on Queen Street. Beth suggested she might want to make a
visit there later, so I didn't stop in at this point. Working my way back to Princes
Street, I crossed over the North
Bridge winding my way back to
High Street and the 'Royal Mile.'
I noticed I was near the purported home of John Knox, but
it was under construction (to re-open in 2005). Noticing an information site at the Tron Church
(so named for the salt tron, a scale for measuring
salt that stood on the site for many years), I inquired as to whether the
Scottish Parliament was in session.
The gentleman suggested I check the Parliament information center near
the George IV
Bridge. I faux naively asked where it was located
knowing the wry look I would receive.
A very controversial new building is still being constructed to house
the new Scottish Parliament near the Palace
of Holyrood
at the foot of the  High Street.
('Rood' is a Scottish word for cross.)
The new Parliament building was supposed to be completed last year,
but an investigation I observed last night on television noted that over
£100,000 (that's pounds, not dollars) has been paid out in the last year to
workers who have done no work. It's a
bit of a joke among locals that it will ever be finished.
I was directed to go to Milne's Court just off High Street
("just before the Pub, ya' know"). Good luck.
I walked by it three times before turning down this well-hidden
close. Naturally, as with my previous
endeavors today, the Parliament was not yet open – I had arrived too
early. There was an agenda listed,
however, and I'll try again tomorrow  when the 'questions' session begins at the afternoon.
The day wasn't a total waste as I paid a visit to the Bow
Bar, a true working man's pub on Bow Street,
which leads down to the Grassmarket. No food served at the Bow, just good drink
of which I sampled a pint of Calendonian 80/- (that
slash-dash following the name is the designation for 80 sterling) as
suggested by Elizabeth Henderson's pal Tony
Smith. I could definitely waste a few
afternoons hanging out here. Grassmarket could easily be called Pub Row with such
notables as Maggie Dickson's, the White Hart Inn, the Last Drop and even an
Irish Pub, Biddie Mulligan's. I stopped in for lunch at the inviting
Beehive Inn and, of course, a pint (McEwan's 80/- this
time).
I wound my way back down Johnston Terrace following an old
gentleman on a bit of a short-cut off King's Stables
Road through the Castle grounds and over the
railroad tracks to find myself at the Ross Fountain, a monument seemingly
honoring, among other things, mermaids.
I believe this is the best and most dramatic view of Edinburgh
Castle that I have seen from the
ground. I then circled back on Lothian
Road to check out the location of the Edinburgh
International Conference Centre (EICC) where MPI's conference is being held
starting tomorrow. Seeing a Starbuck's
nearby, I grabbed a decaf Latte and headed back to The Roxburgh.
Total time for my walk with copious stops at various
pubs: 5 hours.
Day 5 – con't
– 11:23 pm
Dinner tonight with the two Elizabeth's
was at Oloroso, a fabulous restaurant with top-notch
views of the Castle and city. The
ladies again ordered the same entrée, although this time they went with a
Chump of Lamb (chump, we found, refers to the backbone) while I ventured
toward the lighter fare of the Dover
sole. Elizabeth H. and I had started
with a wonderfully warmed Salmon. All
was accompanied by a very good 2002 Flurie from Cuvée Christal. Afterwards, we strolled out to the
balconies to enjoy the 270 degree view and the beautifully lit castle
(right). Although a bit pricey, I'd give
it a definite recommendation for any visit to Edinburgh.
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