National Library of Scotland: Hidden Gem

If you've come to Scotland as a student and have a chance to register an address here, tremendous benefits await. One benefit is access to National Library of Scotland, including its online archives, including medieval maps!

Detail of Paolo Forlani's 1560 Regno di Scotia. Courtesy: NLS Online Archive

Detail of Ordinance Survey Map 68, 1928. Courtesy: NLS Online Archive

Detail of Ordinance Survey Map 74, 1928. Courtesy: NLS Online Archive
Note the Cramond bridge, where the present-day Bike Route to Queensferry crosses.

Holyrood Park, Present Day: Courtesy of Google Images, NLS

Secret Tunnel under Holyrood Park

I had a Harry Potter moment upon discovery that a rail tunnel down the street from my house still existed and ran under part of Holyrood park.

The tunnel is around half a mile in length and runs roughly East West.  It connects into the old rail network bike trails which run across and around Edinburgh.

Although it is notoriously easy to get lost on these bike trails, they provide a very unique and mysterious riding experience away from the fray of crowded cobbled streets and delivery truck packed thoroughfares. They are largely below a canopy of trees and road undercrossings and are generally well-paved. Beware of riding at night as many drunk youngsters use the routes to stumble home.

These bike trails, described in the Edinburgh "Innertube" Map are unfortunately poorly connected, even more so with Tram construction taking place.

Warm Edinburgh Spring

Walking up Nicholson Street

   

Kings Buildings University Campus

Engineering Department

Tidal Turbine Research

春が来ば。。。

Returning to Edinburgh Life

Buccleuch School near the B-school

Ok, I finally broke down and tried fish and chips again -- not too bad...

For all of my complaining about the quality of life shift from NorCal to Edinburgh, there are a number of things I'll miss this September when the MBA course ends. There really is just about everything you could ever ask for in the way of historical presence. I try to vary my walks to incorporate different Georgian buildings, and more often than not, there are inscriptions  to clue me into their past. One building on Cowgate seems to date comfortably back to the 15th century and was some type of stone-masons meeting hall. The photo above is of a more recent stone "parish school" no doubt attached to a church which like many others in this city, have become property of Edinburgh University.

Courses back in full force

Chinese New Year's Celebration

Gothic Rocket Ship :: Sir Walter Scott Monument on Princes St.

2012 is off to a fast start. The Edinburgh Student Council had a vigorous meeting, several student competitions are beginning including the "Edinburgh Apprentice", and countless meetings and other activities promise to keep things interesting this Semester. January was much calmer than December with clear and cold blue-skied days.

2012 in Edinburgh

Coffee Stand in St. George's Square: Large Double Cappicino is  2 pounds 70

Spitfire on static display at EDI (Edinburgh Airport)

EDI Tower

Sleet and freezing rain greeted me on my return to Edinburgh in early January, after a hard transfer through Heathrow. I barely made my connecting flight through Heathrow despite having a full 2 hour layover! The reason was the woefully inefficient passenger security procedures. Every stage had problems.  It took about 45 mins. to clear a malfunctioning passport check line.  It took a full hour to scan my carry-on luggage. I  had to change terminals which took about 30 minutes, and was like being in a pin-ball machine as the bus careened to-and-fro. When I arrived in Edinburgh, I quickly hopped in a cab, and sped off to my apartment.

Now back at school, I am readjusting to student life in a medieval city.  The wind rips through the narrow streets, often at 50mph gusts which acts as a extra power boost in some cases, and a sudden impediment to forward progress in others. All of this dramatic weather makes calm, sunny days like today all the more valuable.