Edinburgh: Four Seasons in One Day
There’s no escaping Scotland’s terminal lament: the weather. It certainly holds true in Edinburgh, where the weather borrows from the city’s affectionate nickname, Auld Reekie—literally, “Old Stinky.” But don’t hedge your bets and visit this capital city only when the weather might be good. That’s a mighty short window of opportunity, folks, and there’ll be a whole scrum trying to cram through that same aperture.
Go to Edinburgh, by all means, go. Go because this mosaic of geological, historical, and architectural delights is one of Europe’s must-see capitals—but go with a plan, rain or shine. Assume that the day’s weather will throw four seasons at you in the space of a short few hours and play Mammy Nature at her own game. But not simply with Gore-Tex weather armor and a bloody-minded determination. (Rest assured that the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade is not a place you want to be with a 40-mile-an-hour wind whipping off the icy Firth of Forth.) No, you have to be wily—play the elements and the keys to the city will be yours.
