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Its that time of year when people are booking cruises and wondering what they can do at each port of call. Many cruise companies offer coach excursions to surrounding areas with onboard guides. Many passengers though wish a more hands on experience with a local guide on a walking or small vehicle tour. Edinburgh poses a small difficulty in that, until the deepening of the Western Harbour is carried out, cruise ships have to anchor in the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry, which is a little way out of the town. Passengers are ferried ashore in tenders and the process takes some time. Those who have booked coach tours receive first priority for landing so the process can be a lengthy one and the time to see the sights of Edinburgh is thereby limited. Public transport is also a…

I was with a group of mixed nationalities on Saturday, late 30s to early 40s, all professional people and all friends from their student days at Cambridge. Thomas, the Bridegroom, had had a suitcase shoved into his hand earlier and by early Saturday morning was in Edinburgh. A total and simply wonderful surprise. I met them in the Elephant House, famous for being one of 2 local cafes in which JK Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter story. They were all tucking into the Traditional Scottish Breakfast and were amused when I gave it its alternative name ‘A heart Attack On A Plate’ Time limitations meant that not much distance was covered but because of the mix of the nationalitries I had a great time making links between their respective countries and mine. For the Swiss, the Reformation of the…

Well its the Burns season again. Scots and people of Scottish descent from all over the World will be celebrating the life and works of our national bard, Robert Burns. I have the honour of being the Club Bard of the Balerno Burns Club, which had its 108th annual supper on Saturday. Here is my Bard’s Oration I BLAME THE BLOODY TRAMS This year has been a queer one, wi all its ups and downs Wi’ natural disasters and folk wha act like clowns Birds falling oot the heavens deid or fish washed up on shore Earthquakes in Haiti and floods in Bangalore Volcanoes ower in Iceland might suggest a master plan By an angry, vengeful deity, tae punish foolish man I think its something simple, The answer’s in my palms For everything that e’er goes wrong I blame it…

Larry and Annet. I knew from Larry’s first enquiry and our subsequent correspondence that we were going to have a fun time, and so it proved to be. I met them at their hotel which is close to my home and the connection was instant. We took the service bus to the West End and…

On Saturday and Sunday, I was working for Euro world Soccer, a tour company that I work for whnever they have a group in Edinburgh. Well, they had 2 groups of teenagers from Quensland here so I did step ons on Saturday with the boys and Sunday with the girls. The thing I like about Australians is what you see is what you get. They are really out there. The tour routes were identical but what made the Sunday Tour special was that there had been a considerable fall of snow. Many of the girls had never come into contact with snow before and they were so excited, throwing snowballs, making snow men and all that kids instinctively know what to do with snow. Watching their sheer happiness and enthusiasm was a delight. I’m sure it was an experience which…

Back to Edinburgh with the first snow forecast for tomorrow. The Aussie girls I’m working with at the weekend are in for a shock Tuesday 30 November is Saint Andrews day and lots of fun things are happening in St Andrews Square Gardens. If you are going to be here at that time and want to join in go to http://www.edinburghguide.com/events/standrewsdo Enjoy and I hope to see you!

I’m off tomorrow for a train trip through New England and I’ll be meeting up with friends old and new. Deb and her family in NJ, Theresa in Baltimore, MD, Karen in Washington DC and Kevin in VT. Friends from facebook and beyond can keep abreast of and comment on my adventures.

On Tuesday evening I met Sara Karte and her party from the Swedish Trade Council for a short, pre-dinner walk. When it was suggested by one of the guys that we start with a beer, I knew that this was to be very much of a pleasure trip and so it proved. From the Frederick House Hotel we headed for the Grassmarket and stopped for drinks in the White Hart Inn, which was founded in 1517 and has had such famoue patrons as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, William and Dorothy Wordsworth and the infamous murderers, Burke and Hare. From there up Victoria Street through the Lawnmarket to the Castle, where I was stopped in full flow by an official who told me we shouldn’t be on the esplanade because there was a private function on. Obviously so private they…

For anyone coming to Edinburgh next weekend and interested in seeing parts of the city not usually open to members of the public, this extract from a Visit Scotland newsletter might be of interest ” Edinburgh Doors Open Days 25 + 26 September 2010. For one weekend only, get the chance to explore some of Edinburgh’s most intriguing buildings that are not normally open to the public – or usually have a charge for entry. This free event is now in its 20th year and gets bigger and better every time! All venues feature behind the scenes tours, activities, exhibitions and/or talks which bring the history of the building and its everyday use to life. Many sites also organise additional free activities for children and families. Some of this year’s highlights include:- The City Chambers, High Street Filmhouse, Lothian Road…

I spent Sunday past in the Company of Alan Steel and his group of friends from America, specifically New England and we had a fine time in perfect weather again. The streets of the Old Town were much quiter after the Festival so the progress was quicker than it had been of late and we did a power of walking over a 6 hour period. The banter was good, the dicusssion was wide ranging, so a good time was had by all. On Monday, I took Karl, a retired physician for a drive in my car around the Border country and again the weather was fine. Scott’s View and Melrose Abbey were looking good and we had wide ranging discussion about Freemasonry and the American Revolution.. We then went East to the lovely fishing port of Eyemouth and watched the…

A week ago, I spent a super day in the company of the Wolfarth Family from Atlanta GA. Dennis his wife, Laura and 3 beautiful Daughters, Kristin, Karen and Kimberley. I knew from Laura’s first and subsequent E mails that we were going to get on well. At that time, though, I never could have guessed we would get on so well. I met them at the Barcello, met first Laura and Dennis, and we waited for the girls. Then 3 lovely smiling enthusiastic and friendly young women came down the stairs to join us and this great start led to just about the most wonderful day’s touring ever. Starting tours from the East end means that I can cover the Geological events which led t Edinburgh being as it is now. It also provides a chance to walk through…

Yesterday I joined a coachload of young American Soccer players from Lycoming College, Philadelphia Pa. It was a simple, panoramic tour of the old town with a lovely bunch of young and enthusiastic American students and along the way we had a photostop. Well, its a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it! The…