A great walk...

After her Cyber Walk GG tagged me to do describe a walk of my own. So here goes.

While there are many marked walks around us, I prefer to walk around in cities. I have had some amazing walks in London, Paris, Algiers, Rome, Murcia...
But one of the cities where I love to walk most is Edinburgh.

Edinburgh was the first city I saw when I came to study in Britain. It was love at first sight. I return there several times a year.

The walk starts at Waverley Station. Sometimes I drive up but I often go there by train leaving my car at Durham station.

During the Festival in August, Edinburgh's population grows by ONE MILLION! So, as I come out of the Station, I feel I have landed in Europe. French mingles with Spanish, Italian and German, while the American accent pops up every few yards. I turn left. In front of my eyes lies the most popular thoroughfare in Scotland, Princes Street.
I walk for one hundred yards, past the Waverley Centre with its cafes, fashion and curiosity shops. At the lights I turn left. In the distance, Edinburgh Castle stands proudly on its massive rock, overlooking the city as far as the Firth of Forth.
Below ground trains roar past on their way to Glasgow and the North as I head for Cockburn Street. I will always remember my Scottish-Italian friend Rafaelle who laughed when I told him, in 1976 that I had bought a pair of jeans from "Cock" Burn Street. I had only been learning English for a few months.
Nowadays the steep and winding Cockburn Street is peppered with trendy shops, cafés and bars. My favourite is ... a trendy wine bar that serve trendy food from behind a very busy bar. Ecco Vino.

This street comes to an end where the High Street begins. It is also called The Royal Mile, because there is one approximately one mile between the Castle and Holyrood Palace.
During the Festival, the Royal Mile is turned into a huge outdoor stage with acts showing snippets of the performances they would be giving throughout the city.
Flashes go off every second. Camcorders come in every shape and size. The tiniest ones in Japanese hands.
As I walk up the street, I am handed postcards and posters advertising bands, plays, comedy, etc... Most of them will end up in rubbish bins or forgotten in cafés.
The terrace of the Bean and Grape Café beckons. I do not need to order anything.
A few minutes after I have sat down, a beautiful espresso is placed on my table by my cousin, the owner!
We sit and watch the world go by. Edinburgh Photos
Who would like to go for walk and where?

1-Kingston Girl in North Yorkshire
2-Wandering Woman in Ireland