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Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day One

5/31/2017

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     My first day in Edinburgh, the only sunny day forecast for my week’s stay. But, I am here to write no matter what the weather: write, sightsee, walk, eat, and pray. I travel alone; I love it.

     Renting an apartment rather than staying in a hotel is my first money saving decision, although truth be told I love spreading out in a homey environment. In the kitchen I can I make salads for lunch, brew my own coffee, and at the least heat up take-out for supper. With discipline, I can be a frugal traveler. I’ll see how it goes.

      My day started with an early morning excursion to the local supermarket for breakfast supplies: coffee, juice, cereal, milk, eggs and a butter croissant, and then home to my rented apartment to fuel up for the day.


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A writing vacation always calls for inspiration. I can’t write all day, and why would I when there is so much to see in this city? I plan my day for both. Today I joined The Book Lovers Tour of Edinburgh, an hour and a half walking tour led by Allen Foster. We started at the Writer’s Museum near Edinburgh Castle and walked to Southside, the university area of the city, where we heard stories and saw places where literary legends such as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, J.M. Barrie, Alexander McCall Smith, and J.K. Rowling spent their time.


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J.K. Rowling wrote looking out fromthe upper window.
     After all that inspiration, and lunch, I decided I’d better get a little writing done, so off I went to the Queen Street Garden, a private garden for those living on the block, and across the road from my apartment. As I was writing, a woman came by and sat with me for bit, telling me a little of the history of the garden. Evidently, as a little boy Robert Louis Stevenson played here. Inspiration from my secret garden, which I know is secret because I have a key. I write on.

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1 Comment

    Author

         I love to travel alone, and so I do. My husband of 54 years loves to stay home and garden, and so he does. But he knows I love to go off by myself for extended periods of time. For five years (2009-2014) I rented a cottage by the sea, an hour and a half from our home, and spent the weekdays there alone. For the past twenty years I’ve been traveling by myself, primarily to Scotland (Iona, the Highlands, and Edinburgh) and Italy. When I say Italy I really mean Florence, with occasional short stops and excursions around Tuscany and Umbria and to Rome.
        A Cottage by the Sea is about my longing for silence, solitude and simplicity. When I travel I post my thoughts and experiences “On My Mind”. This section, “A Solitary Traveler” is where I post articles about my travels.
         You may be thinking, “If she’s been married 54 years, how old is she?” I’m 77. Maybe my next article will be about how to keep traveling alone as one gets older.

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