Backtrack - Edinburgh

We just finished a Skype call with Alex and Sheila in Edinburgh. Seems that the snow has been continuing to all in liberal amounts since our departure. What was spectacularly beautiful for us has continued into a laborious stretch for those who live there. Another blizzard there today while we have enjoyed some samples of all different sorts of weather. Each place we visited in Scotland gave us more reasons for wishing we had many more weeks to explore

Sam enjoyed this climb up the Blackford Hill with his Great Uncle Alex and was enthralled with the amazing view for their effort.

Edinburgh was marked with great meal times shared with Alex and Sheila, who were our wonderful hosts, and another meal at Jim and Maisie's. Exploring Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyrood House and the Golden Mile, Princes Street and Jenner's (which is there in name only these days), while the snow gently fell was a picture come alive. Edinburgh has a unique beauty and charm which is enhanced with a light snow cover, and given depth by the relationships we share with family. We had been well-prepared by our days in Helsinki, which didn't prove to be the coldest after all, though the hats and scarves obtained there gave warmth and protection. Our time in Edinburgh was split into two tranches, separated by a sojourn to Drumnadrochit on the edge of Loch Ness, returning via Glasgow, but this will have to wait til another post before updating. Just a couple of photos to give a flavour of the experience...