UK Passport
by graememooney
If you, like me, are entitled to obtain a European Passport through lineage you may need/want to stop at the national registrars office. I needed to get a copy of my father's birth certificate (long form) and a copy of my parent's marriage certificate. The cost is reasonable and the efficiency of the office is amazing. It's too bad all our government offices couldn't operate like that. After completing my request form the person at the front desk asked when I would like to pick them up. I asked when would they be ready, only to be astonished by the fact that if it hadn't been for a slight illegibility problem of one of the certificates on their system I could have had it then and there, but due to this it would be about an hour! WOW. That was great. I went and had some lunch and by the time I returned the documents were ready.
To get there I would need to direct you from leaving the Castle. You walk down the Royal Mile and turn right at Bank Street. A short walk south and you will turn right again on Victoria St. and the office is on the left hand side of the street. (see map below - it's not the clearest but can be had by going to google.co.uk/maps and inputting Victoria Street, Edinburgh, Scotland) Please check their website, I just did and their office may have moved: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/contacts/opentime/colormap.html
Come in August for The...
by rovingdream
Come in August for The Festival. At the same time, having lived in Edinburgh I know that The Festival is not all there is to this city. At other times of the year, if you're only going to be here a short time go on one of the numerous 'ghost tours' or tours of the 'underground cities'. Do this preferably when it's raining, for the proper ambience. This shouldn't be very hard in Edinburgh, as it seems to always be raining. Unrelated to either the Festival or ghost tours, but if you happen to be in Edinburgh for New Years (Hogmanay as they call it here) you're in for a treat. Drunken revelry, fireworks, all on a massive scale. Also know as Snog-manay for the orgy of kissing that takes place at midnight and seems to continue for about an hour afterwards. Play the game and compete with your friends to see who can rack up the most snogs! The clubs are given late licenses to stay open until 5am. It will be impossible to get into any of these clubs, however, the atmosphere and the people spill out into the streets, so bring some cans of Tennants and mingle, stumble, slobber...however you feel like celebrating the New Year....
Scottish money
by MalenaN
While in Edinburgh I withdrawed money from an ATM. To my surprise I did not recognise the money and realised Scotland have their own banknotes. There are actually three Scottish banks that issue their own banknotes today. The pictures on the notes are of Scottish Castles, famous Scottish people like Adam Smith and Robert de Bruce, and more.
Not sure I could change these money back to Swedish crowns too easily in Sweden I spent them before any with Queen Elisabeth II on it.
after your nighttime ghostie tour...
by morgane1692
go find the cool cemetery you had been tromping through the previous night...this is the Greyfriars Kirkyard, through which we wandered on the City of the Dead tour...in daylight hours, it's not so threatening, is it??? In the grey winter morning light, it's a photographer's haven...
The impeccable greens of the...
by Sharrie
The impeccable greens of the world's most celebrated golf course draw champions & novices alike. Founded on May 14, 1754, it was here that the prototype of what subsequently became the conventional 18-hole course was first laid out: a 9-hole course played in reverse on the return journey.
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Hotel du Vin
The People's Story on a rainy August day (2008)
Zebra
View of Edinburgh Castle from St. John's Courtyard
