For a first-timer in Scotland, I already know that I will be  coming back here again- in particular to the city of Edinburgh, where I am living for the next two days. It’s got all the great features- nice people, a good mix of traditional buildings and attractions as well as modern ones, and it’s got cracking nightlife. All the things you need to have a good time.

Grassmarket is a fantastic place where I have been enjoying relatively cheap food (and great beers and whiskeys, naturally). The actual castle itself is majestic, and the cobbled streets, the old style taxis and the many, many little side streets concealing something interesting and new have brought me great joy over the past few days so far.

As I sit here in the hotel writing my Blog, taking a few minutes of time out before another jam-packed day, I am looking forward to everything ahead. There’s always something going on (Annie Mac from Radio 1 was playing last night, live) or the millions of gigs in pubs. Quite simply, it’s a great place.

Now, I’m off to get a badly needed early lunch: hopefully a somewhat traditional (apparently) battered mars bar later and some “salt and sauce” for my chips.

photo credit: Richard Milnes