Edinburgh Buddies Tour (Edinburgh in General)

Member Name: Gaelic_Goddess

Product:	Edinburgh in General
Date:	29/09/01 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The bustle, the buildings and the beauty. The people, the history and the living city

Disadvantages: Tourists !!!

"The front of the bus is in a huff, parlez vous! The front of the bus is in a huff, parlez vous! The front of the bus is in a huff because they're not dressed in black like us, inky pinky parlez vous!"

You know the irritatingly intrusive people who always seem to show off at the back of the bus? Well, that was me, my husband Dave, and our friends Paul and Janine when we went to stay with them for a weekend in Edinburgh during the festival. It was our first time in the city as tourists and they reckoned the Classic Bus Tour would be an excellent introduction. It leaves from Waverley Bridge throughout the day and takes you on a slow circuitous trawl around the endlessly fascinating city.

Paul and Janine had taken a day off work to do 'touristy' stuff, even though Janine was from the area and Paul had been living there a few years. They were 'demob' happy and we were feverish with a holiday high. We scuttled up to the open top deck and plugged in our headphones for the commentary, which was in seven languages no less. Blame either our holiday spirits or the fact that we never grew up, but we found the German and Japanese commentary even more fun.

From knowing nothing about the city, we knew the most intriguing historical facts and the best shopping areas within an hour. I was impressed by the bus driver's amazing clutch control as we toured the steep and winding thoroughfares of the Old Town, and I marvelled at the beauty of the buildings and their compelling and often murky past. Our budget was limited so we were less interested in the phenomenal numbers of tourist attractions and shops (I defy you to be bored in Edinburgh) and more concerned with the oldest bars, the newest bars, the best bars and the bars we planned to do that night. Paul and Janine had the evening's entertainment planned - and we were it.

Once off the bus, it was time for 'neeps and tatties'. If you have ever read <
br>9;Oor Wullie' and wondered what he was tucking into well now you know. I won't give it all away, but if you like a good stomach-liner before a good night on the town 'neeps and tatties' is for you. You can of course get your Italian, your French, your Indian and your American food in a wealth of restaurants around the city, but personally speaking I'm almost over my cosmopolitan kick and just like something nice to eat.

We went back to our friends' apartment to freshen up (and sample a few of the local liquid delicacies) before heading out to experience the city by night. If someone hasn't already thought of this (entreprenuerial students listen up), one of the best ideas for Edinburgh would be a Tour Buddy - someone who knows the city well and can act as your personal tour guide, which was exactly what our friends did so well for us. They showed us the venues where up-and-coming acts appear, like the Pleasance and The Gilded Ballroom, where the Perrier Comedy Award is judged. They even showed us where to spit - if you are so inclined - along the Royal Mile.

The festival is an amazing time to visit the City, even just to soak up the atmosphere. During the day The Royal Mile crawls with people shopping, scurrying, talking or just plain staring. You have to steer your way round the people who just freeze mid-step mid-street to watch the countless actors, speakers, musicians and circus types do their stuff. You are cajoled by fresh-faced student types who want you to see them perform in a nearby venue in five minutes, folks, just five minutes! You are inundated with leaflets, bombarded by voices and excited by the sights, the sounds and the momentum of it all.

By night the streets are still crowded and this is when one's Tour Buddy excels himself. Well-practised in his route and steering clear of the rowdier types, he can take you to some great imbibing emporiums where the 'craic' is ninety (sorr
y,
that's my Irish alter ego seeping through!).

At the end of the night we ended up in one of Paul's favourites - Bannermans in the Cowgate. It worried me when a glass came out of nowhere and smashed at our feet as we approached the door but it didn't phase our intrepid Tour Buddies. They ushered us into the dark low-ceilinged bar, rumbling loudly with voices and music and bursting with a bohemian blend of artists, musicians, determined drinkers and tourists. And interestingly, lots of famous people too. But we were much to cool to be impressed by them and drank there until it was time to head back to the apartment and watch Big Brother (they had just uncovered Nasty Nick's underhand plotting).

We did actually go to see comedian Bill Bailey at the Assembly Rooms that weekend, but to be honest, that wasn't the highlight. Certainly it was good to do a 'real' festival event but that's something you can buy into. The best things about Edinburgh are the things you can't buy into - the bustle, the buildings and the beauty. The people, the history and the living city.

You don't need a big budget to do Edinburgh. All you need is the curiosity to explore, a love for all kinds of culture, a sense of fun, a few quid for 'neeps and tatties', a Tour Buddy if someone ever starts up an agency (I'll take royalties on that, thanks) and last but not least, a head for heights - because the back seat of the tour bus is an absolute must.

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