Bartimaeus

The museum is very much altered since Marion last saw it and there is far too much to see to take it all in. It is also free so arriving later in the day meant there was no danger of feeling we had wasted our money and not seen everything. The old part is beautiful. A new thing I hadn't seen before was a Lego model of the museum.

After an initial sweep of the main hall and some upper galleries we went to see the newer Scottish section that Marion hadn't seen at all and sought out the rooftop viewing space, since it wasn't raining yet. It was windy though! I was glad I had my hair tied back.

We explored the Scottish section a little, taking in the steam engine, a twisted Tay Bridge girder, old church woodwork, a horse drawn hearse and some very fine knitting.

Then we went back to the other section. Marion played a tune for us in the instruments around the world section, and the millenium clock played us a tune. We had a good view from up above so we didn't crane our necks watching it.

It was a squally walk back across the Meadows but the next day was bright again and we had a walk in mind. Reversing the Botanics day, we took the bus first and then walked back. We were heading for a market in Leith. It is only on the first Saturday of the month so it was good Marion and Margaret had researched to get our trips in order.

We got off the bus not far from where I used to work. I stopped to see something I had seen from the top deck of the bus just as we pulled into the bus stop. The boat depicted has sails and a moveable keel pulled up at the side, so it can be used as a barge in shallow water then have the keel and sails deployed in deeper water in the sea - handy where a river meets the sea.

We had a quick look around The Shore and a long look at the market. Margaret made a tapenade purchase. She has been looking for one earlier in the week and now there was a whole stall dedicated to them. It was just along from some bread that would be nice to dip in it.

There were so many foods to choose from. It was hard to decide but we bought items from a couple of the stalls to have as lunch as you go.  The vegan stall let us taste his wares and that was a good choice! The Market was suitably placed by the commercial quay

Before setting off on our walk along the water of Leith, we went to find a cafe for a boost. After a coffee and a shared cardamom bun, with packed lunches assured, we set off on the walk.

There was poetry on the paving stones and many common mergansers, I've never seen them more common! I counted about a dozen and all female.

Another thing to look out for are the Gormleys. They are dotted along the way. We saw one early on and another shortly after lunch in St Mark's Park. They seem to be acting as a dam catching sticks, weed and debris.

We had a diversion at Stockbridge where I used to live, with a wander up the Colonies to see the house. Then we continued to St Bernards Well, where a tour guide was telling tales about the well to a group. 

It was getting much busier around here than at Leith. But away from the well it was less so. We spotted a heron and Marion managed a good zoom in just before it flew away. She was surprised to see it in an urban environment.

Dean Bridge was where it got even busier. There were lots of people around and mobile coffee shops knew where the clientele were, at Dean Village. 

From there we walked back to town and found another coffee stop at the Red Rooster cafe and went round the One World Shop at the West End. Shane was in charge of cooking dinner - hurrah - and Peter was coming round so I picked up a baguette for making garlic bread as my easy contribution alongside a salad to go with his vegetable lasagne. (I am too lazy to do lasagne usually, so am very happy if someone else offers to do it.) I hadn't really done much cooking as we had a carry out one night and Nye cooked the national dish of the  Philippine's one evening. 

They were both leaving the next day, but in the afternoon, so we still had time for a bit of tourism and more coffee and cake, at the Portrait Gallery. While there we saw a bride and groom in regalia just having a look around. They didn't seem to have any entourage with them. As we were leaving we saw the bride changing into comfortable shoes and getting a Mac on over the brides dress, in the foyer, under a portrait of Lorraine Kelly. We had a gallery view.

After lunch, it was time for Marion to leave, and after a visit to the local wool shop it was time for Margaret to catch her train. We had had a lovely time, but now it was time Shane and I packed to leave Edinburgh the next day too.