We arrived in Edinburgh yesterday afternoon after a cattle car packed train ride from Hawarden to Waverly Station (we didn't get seats on the main train until we reached Carlisle-- ugh). The Lake District and Scottish border countryside was just as gorgeous as I remember though but Edinburgh is another story. Maybe it's because it's summer or maybe it's how the world has changed in twelve years but the city is dirty, lots of construction, very very touristy (in terms of shops, restaurants, etc.-- more so than I remember). There's even a dungeon tour that includes two "rides" created to induce fear-- sort of tower of terror type of rides. It's becoming Scottish Disneyland and I don't like it one bit. Nope-- not one bit.
So in order to recapture some of the civilized aura of the place, we decided our first stop in town after checking into the hotel would be to visit the National Portrait Gallery which is a lovely, dignified museum . . . that is closed until 2011. Alas. In lieu of artistic culture we opted for culinary culture and went for tea at the Balmoral. That isn't when we spotted Duran Duran though. That happened when we were walking back from strolling the Royal Mile and Princes Street Gardens in the evening and noticed a small crowd with cameras and paper and pens gathering outside the entrance to the hotel. I suggested we linger to see who was going to exit (we weren't sure we'd even know who the person was as chances were it was going to be a British celeb). John Taylor exited first and while I knew he looked familiar, it didn't connect-- maybe because people weren't going crazy over him, which is odd given he was the one all my friends went crazy over back in the day. Next came the guitarist who has taken Andy Taylor's place-- do
n't know his name. Then came Mark Ronson, famed producer and DJ/musician (also brother of the infamous DJ Samantha Ronson of Lindsay Lohan/Samantha Ronson fame and he has another sister whose name I can't recall off the top of my head who is a fashion designer -- Charlotte maybe?). Of course, I didn't recognize Mark Ronson and neither did a lot of people as he put a guitar in the car and then came over by us to smoke a cigarette. A few people were having their picture taken with him and Becky asked if I wanted to do the same but I said no because I had no clue who he was at the time. He was actually much taller and cuter than he seems in his pictures. I missed an opportunity- darn. After Mark came Nick Rhodes-- poor guy. He's still rocking the make up but sister is looking harsh. A little Norma Desmondish. Finally Simon Le Bon emerged and they all headed off to the gig. I looked up the concert when we got back to the hotel and was thrilled to see that Simple Minds is playing on Saturday. We're going to wander up the Royal Mile on Saturday night to see if we can hear any of the concert. And I wouldn't mind being outside the Balmoral to see Jim Kerr emerge. Ahhh . . . memories of the 80's. If only this city was like it was two decades ago . . .
n't know his name. Then came Mark Ronson, famed producer and DJ/musician (also brother of the infamous DJ Samantha Ronson of Lindsay Lohan/Samantha Ronson fame and he has another sister whose name I can't recall off the top of my head who is a fashion designer -- Charlotte maybe?). Of course, I didn't recognize Mark Ronson and neither did a lot of people as he put a guitar in the car and then came over by us to smoke a cigarette. A few people were having their picture taken with him and Becky asked if I wanted to do the same but I said no because I had no clue who he was at the time. He was actually much taller and cuter than he seems in his pictures. I missed an opportunity- darn. After Mark came Nick Rhodes-- poor guy. He's still rocking the make up but sister is looking harsh. A little Norma Desmondish. Finally Simon Le Bon emerged and they all headed off to the gig. I looked up the concert when we got back to the hotel and was thrilled to see that Simple Minds is playing on Saturday. We're going to wander up the Royal Mile on Saturday night to see if we can hear any of the concert. And I wouldn't mind being outside the Balmoral to see Jim Kerr emerge. Ahhh . . . memories of the 80's. If only this city was like it was two decades ago . . . This morning off in the rain for a tour of the Real Saint Mary's Close - one of the underground sections of town. Then, depending upon the weather, it's either the rest of the Royal Mile or maybe the Royal Museum which will be interesting given our lectures last week on the Iron Age in Britain.
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