Four Days in Edinburgh

Scotland is a place I've wanted to visit for a long time, for its beautiful rugged scenery and interesting history. As a knitter, I've heard rave review of the Edinburgh Yarn Festival, and I've dreamed of experiencing that too. When a friend from home said she'd like to meet me there, I jumped at the opportunity. Neither of us had attended any large yarn/knitting event before or visited Scotland either, so we weren't sure what to expect. The festival was amazing and overwhelming. Some 5000 attendees knit, chat, shop, learn, eat, dance, get inspiration, compare techniques, and make friendships. Here's just a sampling of what it's like.

Knitters and knitwear everywhere.

Beautiful knitwear designs you can try on. 

Overwhelming quantities of yarn, fiber, and knitting notions.

Exquisite sweaters.

Meeting one of my favorite knitwear designers, Marie Wallin, in one of her designs.

Beautiful color inspiration on this sweater and hat.

And favorite knitting video podcasters (Andrea and Andrew of Fruity Knitting) to meet.

After a few days at the festival, we were totally "yarned out," so we got outside and explored the city of Edinburgh -- at least the area in and around the Royal Mile between the castle and Holyrood Palace (below), where the queen stays while visiting town.

Notice the crown-topped clock tower.

The crown-shaped tower seems a theme in Edinburgh, as it's also on St. Giles Cathedral, farther down the royal mile.

 

In the plaza outside the cathedral is a statue of Sir Walter Scott.

Along the street are many shops selling beautiful wool tweed and tartans of all colors and hues.

The plaque below tells the history of the present-day Toolbooth Tavern, built in 159l, including tales of being a prison, toll collection site, police court, council chamber, site of exorcism of a warlock, and more.

After walking and exploring for a few hours, we were ready to sit and enjoy high tea at the highly recommended Colonnades at the Signet Library in Parliament Square. The setting was beautiful, the atmosphere serene, the food and drink exquisite -- a truly "civilized" occasion.

My wonderful friends and traveling companions, Lois and Christopher. Their big smiles say it all;

we were completely content after the afternoon tea.

 The sounds of Scotland were out on the high street, as we headed to the castle.

Another Scottish export that we didn't sample.

The statue of the beloved, loyal Greyfriars Bobby with his brass nose shining because of all the touching of it for good luck.

As the day turned into evening and it began to rain, we stopped in a pub for a warm cup of soup,
and then headed back to our air B & B.

The next day, we drove out to see the countryside and to visit the small fishing village of Saint Abbs and its neighboring village of Coldingham.

Some of the sheep (above) that produce the beautiful Scottish yarn we'd seen earlier in the week. The spring flowers were blooming around the cottages in the villages.

Saint Abbs has a spectacular setting on the east coast of Scotland.

Picturesque as it was, the wind was very strong and the temperature biting cold. In the viewing spots, there were several memorials to downed ships and villagers lost at sea. Not an easy life, for sure.

Here's a panorama of the village. 

As we were leaving the village, we passed this beautiful entrance to a property, 

and this welcoming sign. 

As the sun began to sink in the sky, the shadows lengthened.

The next morning, very early, I flew back to Jerusalem. The Scotland adventure was definitely food for my soul, and I hope to be able to visit for a longer time in the future.

I love this plaque on the wall of a building in Edinburgh. It's a little hard to read, but it says, "Behold, how good a thing it is, and how becoming well. Together such as brethren are in unity to dwell." Psalm 133: 1.

The Scots Gaelic word for peace is "sith," so for this time, I wish you sith.