More Nat and More Edinburgh

Monday in Edinburgh: Allen headed for The Castle, and I headed to Grassmarket to again meet Nat.  As a graduation present from him parents, Nat was being final-fitted for a suit from the Walker Slater shop and Nat offered to let me tag along.  It's not often in my life I can see a good tailor at work, so I wasn't going to miss this!  This is Nat in front of the nearby women's store, site of the most beautiful woollen outfits any woman would want.

The men's store featured very handsome men's things galore, including these whimsical cufflinks keeping an eye on things ;-)

I can imagine going to a royal wedding or some such in these duds.

Nat seemed pleased with it all.  The entire process takes a good six weeks or longer.  This was his second fitting, and I was surprised at how much adjustment was still required.  By the end of Nat's session, it was a perfect fit.  Several men from Japan came in for their fitting as well during this time, making it clear this was a worldwide destination for a well-made suit.

The shop also featured ready-made things for one's weekend in the highlands.

Nearby is a branch of the famous Oink roast pork place.  (Allen and I imbibed here the following day.)

Easter Monday was another picture-perfect day. This photos shows the stunning memorial to Sir Walter Scott, alas, desperately in need of a cleaning.  At one time, apparently most of Edinburgh showed this sort of damage from coal fires (and most woodlands in Scotland were decimated for wood fires as well, according to Bill Baber).

Just a couple of Grassmarket jokes.

Bill Baber, self-named one-off linen/silk knitwear shop in Grassmarket and site of my economic downfall (result next).  I just loved that Mr. Baber sat in the middle of all this color and worked away while I was shopping.

Dinner in Stockbridge, a good long walk there and back, and this wonderful ladies' restroom along the way in a pub that called to us.

Tuesday brought us back to Grassmarket and a sort-of farewell walking tour of downtown.

Scottish Gothic.  Why not?

At St. Cuthbert's Presbyterian Church, we were greeted by Mrs. Sheilagh Kirk, minister's widow, who was a personable, funny, fun and welcoming guide.  She and Allen really hit it off, as you can see from his face.  I loved her outfit too.

And he also made friends with the garden volunteer, who very much wanted to tell us stories about the church's ultra-modern Passion Play presented Easter Saturday and her mixed feelings about it all.

 We found our way to the National Museum of Scotland and spent several hours, each of us going to the exhibits we most liked.  Allen saw a good bit of Scottish history stuff, so this blog only reflects what I saw.

The museum was originally built around a central court, lovely and light-filled, but pretty impractical.  New additions provide most of the current exhibit space.

Love the radiators!

 Jackie Stewart's Formula 1 car

Just fun

Dolly, the world's first cloned being, is stuffed and on permanent display.  She was put to sleep at age six, half the anticipated lifespan, because she showed so much degenerative disease as if she were elderly.  Scientists have noticed this in other cloned beings as well, so there's ongoing discussion as to whether cloning will ever be truly valid or not.

 The museum's rooftop terrace provided extraordinary views of the city. This is Mt. Holyrood, which Allen climbed last week, somewhere out there.

I love this portrait of Allen and "his" castle.

 Last night on the town took us to the Bow Bar in Grassmarket, Phil Pendleton's favorite pub.  Allen enjoyed Broughton's oatmeal stout, then got into spirited discussions with gentlemen from Northern Ireland and Glencoe, Scotland, about politics, UK history, and tourism, stimulating and highly entertaining. They all parted as good friends, naturally.