My eugenic way home

I always opposed any forms of human eugenism and, especially, those that justify political systems. However I was forced to rethink my ideas today on my way home.
So, just imagine this scenario: 10pm in Edinburgh and this typically Mediterranean guy is going home after having a couple of drinks. Now the guy, that you may have guessed it's me, is freezing to death even though he / me is wearing his warmest winter jacket, gloves, etc. The wind, the cold, the rain... I thought that I would be lucky to arrive home alive! I stop in a traffic light and there is this Scott wearing a tshirt and a sleeveless jacket on his bike. Was the guy freezing and turning blue? No! The guy was texting someone on his mobile.
What does a Mediterranean guy like me thinks? This guy is playing with the wrong marbles!
Now crossing the Meadows I saw something amazing: this couple jogging with shorts and tshirts! Yes, it was night, yes it was freezing cold, raining and I almost fell from my bike a couple of times with the wind! Right after that another guy cycles past me in his rugby shorts and sleeveless jersey and after that I see another woman jogging in clothes I would find more appropriate for a sub-tropical weather than to this weather.
Of course, at that time I was thinking: "I bet they wouldn't resist five years living in a sub-tropical island with 40ºc and 97% humidity!" But then I thought in the days working by the pool... Days in which my biggest concern was to drink enough water not to dehydrate. I think they could survive that!
And I concluded that the Scotts and I are not made of the same genetics... Call them superior race, call them what you want, I just know that they are certainly not like me!

There's more to beer than just beer

Beer is not an easy thing to understand in this country for someone from the Continent.

One small pause in my text about beer in this country to notice that I still stubbornly wrote Continent. In fact, I grew up thinking the British Isles were part of that Continent in the end of Eurasia called Europe. However the locals, to my surprise, call Europe to the land on the other side of the Channel.

Going back to beer… I already alluded before to the fact that there are strange things happening with the beers in this country. Well, the first thing one needs to know is that beer is not just beer: it’s either lager or ale.

Now a lager is closer to what we, continentals, call beer: it has a more or less smooth flavour of… Beer! It is supposed to be cold just the way we are used to drink it in the esplanades of those continental cities less cold than this insular one.

Ale is something quite different. To start with it is usually served at a temperature between cold and lukewarm, which makes perfect sense in a cold country like this. Besides, ale has quite a different taste: it’s stronger and bitterer.

What do I prefer? Well, I’m more used to lager, which I grew up drinking. However, I’m trying to acquire the taste of ale. I think that it’s already an offense to locals that I don’t like whisky, I don’t want to risk a mob attack by also not drinking ale… And, in fact, now I’m beginning to like it!

Another important thing to understand is that one doesn’t go into a bar and orders a glass of beer. The measure here is a pint, which is more than ½ a litter. One can also order half pint instead.

Now, this is just a couple of things I learned until now but I know there is much more to learn. As such I need to go and learn more. I’ll now meet a country fellow who, despite being a complete stranger until now, already agreed to buy me a pint given that I forgot my money at home and still don’t have a local bank card. (Mental notes: always leave the money at home and write a post on how complicated getting a bank account in this country is)

Arthur's Seat

The path I used to go up to Arthur's Seat.

A view over Edinburgh

The Sea at my feet.

Another perspective. Every perspective in Arthur's Seat is a good perspective...

The ruins of St. Anthony's Chappel.

The lake.

Beware, oh cyclists of Edinburgh

For those of you who might not know, it's compulsory to have lights on your bike when cycling at night even if you are in the middle of the city with a lot of lights. I know it because I was just stopped by the police without lights and was told the fine was 60PS! Yes, you read well: sixty quid! Can you believe that?
The police was actually nice and let me go (on foot) with a warning... Probably due to the fact that I'm foreigner, new in Edinburgh and was genuinely surprised. But actually it makes sense: even with the lights, Edinburgh's weather is not exactly like the Sahara's.
Two other things:
- If you're in a red traffic right, even if you're going to turn left, you have to stop like the cars (this rule, lets be honest, it's a bit foolish but dura lex, sed lex).
- Helmet is not compulsory but it's advisable to have it in case of accident because all compensations for injuries will be reduced to only 20% if not wearing helmet.
Cycle safely!

The meadows

The meadows is an enormous park in Edinburgh. It's a park with not so many trees or plants but instead large fields with grass.
I'm lucky enough to be living near the meadows, which allows me to jog there in the morning and cross it at different times of the day. Whenever I cross it, there it's always full of people playing with their children or their dogs, doing some sport from football to golf, not forgetting rugby or just pure and simply gymnastics, etc.. As such, the meadows is very much part of the social and sportive life of the city.
And that's precisely what a park is supposed to be for.

Farmers market

Every Saturday morning, in the Castle Esplanade, there is a farmers market. It it local farmers sell different products from meat, to fruit and vegetables not forgetting cheese or even soap bars made with local herbs. The diversity of products, the different odors and the liveliness of the sellers makes it a nice attraction of the city and a relaxed weekend walk. The high prices, however, may make it a less appealing alternative to supermarkets, unless for those willing to pay more for more organic and natural products.

Bicycles

For me a bicycle has always been a good for leisure. And I never really owned one as well. I would rent a bicycle when I'm traveling somewhere and want to explore the countryside. I would borrow from friends when in their places for a weekend or so. When I was little I shared a bicycle with my sister but I didn't like it because it wasn't manly enough - it was white, with a basket in the front and in the back wheel it even had a protection so that skirts would not tangle with it. Way too feminine for a boy!
Well, now I bought my own bicycle: blue, no basket, no skirt protection... Oh wait! I now live in Scotland. What if I decide to buy a kilt? Will it tangle with the wheel? Are kilts and bicycles incompatible? Google photos answered my question: it is possible!|

This bicycle will serve my daily needs for locomotion. Buses are too expensive and to walk everywhere would take a lot of time.

The Canny Mans

I heard from many people wiser than myself that living in Scotland would mean getting to know its pubs. Well, I humbly accepted this suggestion and yesterday I went for a drink in the Canny Mans. And was I happy to do so!

Entering the Canny Mans, is like entering a very cool museum. The pub is full of collections of everything one can imagine: postcards, pictures, keys, guns, memorabilia of the wars, etc.. The entire decoration is amazing, and I strongly suggest a tour around the pub.

Outside there´s a nice garden where smokers can head for their nasty habit. For the cold nights, customers can take one of the blankets at the door. 

It's suppose to have a great collection of whiskeys but I don't like whiskey so I can't testify it for myself (maybe I should remain anonymous so a mob of Scots don't attack me on the street after this confession). Instead I ordered a very good beer. I thought it was not cold enough but my friend, wiser than me on the subject, told me that that was the way experts drink beer. I've been drinking and enjoying beer for, at least, 17 years and always enjoyed really cold beer: I guess it's time to change habits...

One last thing: the entrance can be a bit threatening. It was a warning saying "No Smoking, No Backpackers, No photographs...". But don't let this intimidate you. Just don't decide to wear shorts and flip-flops to the place. Not that the Edinburgh weather invites to that, But I never know...

The beginning

I just arrived in Edinburgh to live for the next few years of my life. This blog is meant to register my impressions of the city as an outsider as well as the trips I do while living here. I hope you enjoy reading it!