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7:36 pm
– Edinburgh – Day 6 – National Gallery &
Parliament
 I'm on my own again today as Beth attends preparatory
meetings at the Hilton New Caledonian hotel.
After a quick stop the ATM and then buying a few sundries, I decided
to visit the National Gallery of Scotland, one of the best things you can do
for free in Edinburgh. The museum
holds an outstanding collection of paintings.
My particular favorites are located on the upper floor wherein is
housed a number of Degas, a couple of Monets (including 'Boats in the Harbor'
1873), Van Gogh, Renoir, a small Seurat sketch, a Rodin marble and even a painting by American John Singer Sargent. I didn't
really didn't leave time to explore anything more than the 18th and
19th-century Europeans, but I hope to return some day to get a better glimpse
of some of the extraordinarily oversized Italian, Dutch and Flemish
paintings. There is also a large
collection of 17th – 19th century Scottish painters on the lower floor.
 Out side the museum, I noticed a
outdoor set of stairs with quaint name of the Playfair
Steps. It seemed to be a more direct
route to get up to the Castle Walk and it turned out to be just that. But it was not a smart move. After climbing the steps, I still had to
negotiate a further climb towards the Castle.
This was the only time in my stay in Edinburgh
that my thighs warned me that a short stop was in order.
After a quick bite at The Jolly Judge Pub on the Royal
Mile, I attended the 'Questions' session at the Scottish Parliament. This is a fascinating gathering to an
American, with our near total separation of the Executive and Legislative
branches. Fireworks can ignite as
members of the Parliament bark out listed questions at ministers of the
Scottish Executive. While there were
some somnambulant moments, the Question Time is always more lively than the
regular debates.
 The Debating Chamber is temporarily located in the Church
of Scotland's Assembly Hall and, as noted earlier, is damned hard to find.
Unfortunately, I missed the questioning earlier in the day
of the First Minister, but some of the livelier moments occurred during
questions regarding Health and Community care. Scottish men have the second shortest life
expectancy in Western Europe and a recent BBC survey
showed that over 70% of Scots would support a ban on cigarette smoking in
public places. Ministers of the
Scottish Executive were several times put on the spot by the legislators
wanting to know what was being done to improve the overall health of the
nation.
A groan and a laugh was in order when Mr. Stewart
Stevenson pointed out that the state of Scottish dentistry could do with less
Executive "Jaw, Jaw" so that the Scottish people could "Gnaw,
Gnaw."
The liveliest moment occurred when Mr. Patrick Harvie asked whether the Scottish Executive would support
the creation of an association of Scottish prisoners. This was met with a curt 'No, Never!' and
much pounding of  desks and shouts of 'hear, hear!' It does seem a bit unpopular to champion in
essence the unionization of prisoners.
I can only imagine how such a suggestion would go over the U.S.
At the end of the session as I exited onto High Street, a
group of protesters waving "Save
Stobhill Hospital"
signs, sang and regaled parting Parliamentarians
with jeers. I walked back to the hotel
in a light rain shower, although the sun was shining. This seems to be typical weather for our
stay here so far.
Beth has a dinner engagement with MPI personnel tonight,
so I shall take a stroll and check out the night life.
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