Welcome to Edinburgh

Well after a weekend in a lovely city, another weekend in a lovely city, Edinburgh. The most striking if superficial difference? They are different colours. Even in the sun, while Oxford is a warm brown, Edinburgh is a rather austere grey. And its greyness is rather brought out in a grey drizzly day. As was the Friday I arrived at Waverley station for my friends' wedding, and for me a 4 day weekend.

Waverley is rather extraordinary. The train comes in through a river valley, so you appear to get right into the middle of a major city all the way in a wood, and then climb out of it. But what should be quite spectacular is temporarily not. Waverley is undergoing major renovations, so basically one is welcomed by miles of wooden screens and hoardings. Only to come out onto the world famous Princes Street. All covered in roadworks for the new tram system which should be running by 2014. It will get better. Its got to.

So on a drizzly afternoon what does one do? Visit an art gallery - the Scottish National Gallery. A very fine collection, with, it seems to me, a lot of relatively recent acquisitions. Is that the way it is going, all our new art treasures being shipped to Scotland in exchange for them not seeking independence? Well that seems to be failing, and surely all they really want is subsidised deep fried mars bars. (And yes I did see a fast food shop proudly advertising their availability, although a friend of mine said if you really want to reduce your life expectancy efficiently you go for deep fried creme eggs.)

Anyway, the gallery is very nice if a little old-fashioned in feel.
The modern, underground extension actually doesn't feel that modern either. But looks quite good from the outside. Anyway, if you want a feel for the contrast between Edinburgh on a wet day, .

and on a nice day,

well here you can see it pretty well. Much better when bright, but still doesn't feel warm like Oxford. Even with added daffodils.