Day 3, Fire and Rain

Our third day in Scotland was to be our last in Edinburgh before heading to the Highlands the next day. Since we had beautiful weather on Day 2, this day was more typical rainy and cool weather that you might associate with Scotland. After our long day, tromping all over the city and a rich dinner, we awoke at a more leisurely hour and made our way up the Royal Mile to find a place for breakfast. This morning we chose Patisserie Valerie and pastry shop/restaurant not far from our flat.

I had a more typical Scottish breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, but the piece de resistance was the chocolate croissant. It was huge! So much so that I didn't finish it and had it for breakfast the next morning.

Mmmmmm, smoked salmon.

D got a chocolate eclair that was equally ridiculous.

My chocolate croissant.

 Does anyone know of any breakfast places in the northern Virginia area like this? This town really could use something like this.

After breakfast we dropped of the Royal Mile to the Cowgate and then veered off to Grassmarket which, all in an effort to locate the Edinburgh Museum of Fire. It took a few minutes to locate, but once we did what a great place it turned out to be!

I think this was a Defender 130 for a tree trimming company.

Cool door emblem.

In Grassmarket looking back up the hill to the Castle. We heard stories about how the Fire Department regularly rescues people from this cliff area.

Must be the right place!

We walked in the door and were actually in the headquarters for the Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service which is comparable to a County Fire Department in US speak. We were buzzed through the door in to the old fire house section where we met Colin Foster who was polishing some fittings on a old pump. If you are in Edinburgh, even if you don't have a connection to the Fire Service, I highly recommend a stop at this museum. And if you're lucky, Colin will be there. Colin started working in the Edinburgh Fire Service in the late 1960s I believe, has since retired and now curates at the Museum. As a native of Edinburgh, he is easy to understand, unlike a Glaswegian! Other people have also appreciated the Museum.

Colin is very knowledgeable and easy relates firefighting terms and technology to visitors of all types. He explained how Edinburgh is the oldest municipal based Fire Department in the world. Paris and then Berlin were established prior to Edinburgh, but both of those were military based with the army and navy respectively handling the firefighting duties at first. James Braidwood, at the tender age of 24, was appointed in 1824 as the Master of Fire Engines, to direct firefighting operations in the city with engines be used from the previous insurance based fire companies.

Colin went on to describe the evolution of fire engines, the fire service and Edinburgh. The Museum itself was an active fire station, but in its heyday it was more of a self sustaining fire village. Built from 1897 to 1901, the engine bay floor is immaculate and relatively unchanged since its days of full operation. The Museum stopped as an active fire station in the late 1980s but has become the Administrative headquarters of the LBFRS since then. When it was operational in the early 20th century, the Master of Fire Engines (Chief) and the Assistance both lived in separate flats in the second and third floors above the engine bays. The Firemen lived, some with their families, in the rest of the building that stretched almost a full block down the street. It really was quite something to see and I think D and K, who don't have much fire service exposure, quite appreciated it. Unfortunately, I was such a kid in a candy store that I didn't take too many pictures. I'll definitely have to make a note to go back!

This is the door to the fire pole that the Master of Fire Engines would use to get to the bay floor from his private apartment above. I'm sure some Chiefs over here wouldn't mind their own private fire pole!

Leith is the port area of Edinburgh. They have a lot of whisky storage warehouses so they were an early adapter of foam.

This is a breathing apparatus tracking board. Funny how Air Track Management is a "new" thing these days. They've only been doing the same thing for decades.

I believe this was from their operating steam engine, as in it has a boiler certificate!

A replica of the horse stable where when the bell went off, the horse would drop its head and the door would automatically open and they were trained to walk in to their reins. The average turn out time back in the day was 90 seconds!

Their first centrifugal pump. With foam for the whisky warehouses.

The front seat of a taxi that towed a pump for operations during the Blitz. They had one fire where there were 1000 pumps operating, 700 of them these taxi drawn trailer mounted pumps.

A Blitz era poster.

Unfortunately we had to keep moving if we were going to see some other places, but we didn't leave before I donated some patches from home to their collection. If you stop in be sure to look for the two that I left!

After the Museum we headed back towards the Castle at the top of the Royal Mile to visit the Scotch Whisky Experience. It was a little Disney-esque at first but it was fun, informative and we got to taste test scotch! Our tasting room was surrounded by the largest collection of scotch in the world. I would recommend that you add this to your list if you're in the area. It gives a good introduction to whisky and helps you develop your preference. I prefer the Speyside or Highland single malts. Cough, cough...you know...in case you were wondering.

After warming up with a wee dram, we stopped in next door at Edinburgh Castle. It's a majestic place with spectacular views everywhere you look.

On the way up to the Castle we passed the Witchery where we ate the night before.

The seal over the portcullis gate.

Among the ramparts is this cemetery for soldiers' dogs.

Fitting for war dogs in my opinion. Or dogs in general.

Mons Meg, one big ass cannon!

Looking towards Princes Street and New Town.

The timber work in the Great Hall ceiling.

Swords and a wheel of revolvers in the Great Hall.

More inside the Great Hall.

The Scottish National War Memorial.

More cannon.

This is the Police Museum on the Royal Mile, but actually was the first fire station in Edinburgh.

After a long day of walking the hills of Edinburgh, we felt like a good meal so we rambled back down the Royal Mile and off to a place recommended by several people, Holyrood 9A. Its tag line is Great Beers, Great Burgers and it did not disappoint. I had half of a Chicken Italienne which was grilled chicken breast, argula, sun blazed tomato, buffalo mozzarella & pesto mayo. I also had half of a Pork and Apple burger which was also fantastic. Sadly I don't have a picture of it, but I had a chocolate ice cream dessert that was magic, just magic.

Oh, and the fries were perfect!

A great place.

After dinner, we tried to look for an adapter at the local convenience store. This is a couple of apartment buildings looking towards the Crags.

 Still didn't find an adapter, but we went to bed happy after a long day of exploration, whisky and good food. I was sad to be leaving this fantastic City the next day, but excited to see more of the Country.