Edinburgh

Hey all,

Been a busy few days – am now in Edinburgh, Scotland. No go on work in Florence in English, which is a pretty small market, so came over here where at least I can ask strangers about work without it being a problem. Train to Rome yesterday, another train to the airport, four hours in the airport, then the flight for about as long, then another bus, 16 person dorm, full. Exhausting – also, I nearly missed the bus from the hotel because it was a double-decker – I was so tired I didn't stop to think that this was normal here; assumed instead that it was some party/novelty booze bus thing like the few you see back home. Anyway, figured it out eventually. This hostel is cheap, and cleanish, but really stingy on space – there is literally nowhere to put your luggage unless you choose to sleep with it in the bunk with you. Anyway, will do for four nights with any luck, and hoping to have some kind of work lined up for a few weeks here or somewhere else by then.

Interesting experience on Ryan-air, the world's most budget budget airline – no seat allocation – You queue up for about an hour and then it is a free-for-all. There was one spare seat on the entire plane. Guess who it was next to? So it turns out there are some advantages to looking like a criminal...

Edinburgh looks like an nice place – have not really done any tourist stuff yet because been looking for work – wend to a couple of agencies and asked at a few shops – will hit the shops harder tomorrow (walked into some shop that sold kilts and so on: a bagpipe version of Farnham's “You're the Voice”). It is rainy, cold, and gets dark at 4:30. But pretty, clean, and things just work in a way that you get used to them not just working in Italy, where roofs always leak, fittings always fall off the wall and pocket-knives always fall to pieces whilst in your pocket. Also, it is nice to be able to communicate with people again – although I have caught myself saying “grazie” a few times instead of thanks...

The big gardens in the centre of town are cool – sunken beneath the level of the city itself, then with the astle looming above on a big rocky outcrop. Inherently dramatic. Nice to be somewhere other than Italy – never planned to spend as long there as I did. Really only got until about this time next month and I will be flying back to the continent to meet up with K in Paris.

Photos: 1. The view of the courtyard from the terrace of the manse at the Wesleyan church in Florence, where I had an enjoyable morning tea with the minister and her husband, an organist who spends half of each week back in London. Will probably do Christmas there (apparently I was a bit of hit with the walking club: model agent was instructed to invite me to another one tomorrow, but I have left the country – hopefully they are not too upset and I will be able to take K on one when we get there). 2. First day time view of Edinburgh. 3, 4, 5. The view up from in the gardens in town.

Cheers, B.