I have to say quite truthfully, I was both laughing and stunned when I saw these people out the front window of the house where we are staying in Edinburgh yesterday afternoon. The temperatures are so icy that I go out each day dressed in layers — long underwear top and bottom, a turtleneck, a pair of jeans, a sweater/jumper over the top, and then a thick wool coat and insulated gloves. Mark was dressed in similar layers yesterday and he still wasn’t completely comfortable (as he told me several times!).

So how were the people in the picture below coping with the wind swishing by their faces and heads? Is this a case of Scottish Madness???? Or are they just a much sturdier set of folks than we who have been living in Australia for so long?

Mad Scotsfolk on Wintery Drive

We had a day off yesterday and we walked around the streets of the city. Most people were bundled up appropriately, but I had to wonder how the kilt clad men managed as the icy winds swirled around us. Or do they even notice the temps after a lifetime of such conditions?

Edinburgh Street Piper

Happily, the wintery conditions mean that there are far fewer tourists here than during the spring, summer, or festival seasons. But Edinburgh seems to be bustling with activity in a way that I didn’t find the norm during my last visit 15 years ago. So trying to stop on the pavement to take a photo without getting jostled is actually a bit of a challenge. Ah well!

Edinburgh contains an abundance of photo subject matter and the architecture is substantial, mainly built of stone, and frequently on the monumental scale. In a five hour period, I took over 300 photos yesterday.

Sphinx Atop National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh

I’ll be back in a day or two with another report before we leave Scotland mid-week. Stay tuned for more!

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