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Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Seven

6/6/2017

   Raining. Not intermittently but steady enough for me purchase an ‘I love Scotland,’ umbrella.
    Rhythm is important for writing. I am especially conscious of it when traveling alone and staying in the same place for a week. I have time, lots of time; time not taken up traveling from place to place or talking with a companion. It’s up to me to get the beat going and to keep it lively and inspiring.
    This morning I needed a break after writing in the flat, so I weathered the weather with a visit to the Scottish National Gallery. A painter’s inspiration (Italian, Flemish, Dutch, French, English, and Scottish paintings from the Renaissance to the twentieth century), but truly inspirational for and kind of creativity.

In the midst of the visit, a poignant moment, ordered by Her Majesty’s Government, as everyone stood “in remembrance of those who lost their lives and all others that were affected by the attack in London on Saturday.”

Upon leaving the museum, I dodged the puddles and umbrellas and returned to the National Museum of Scotland, this time for lunch in the Museum Brassier, located in the bowels of museum, most likely the crypt of an ancient church. Delicious Cullen Skink (smoked fish chowder) and a half smoked salmon pate sandwich, both food and ambience conducive to writing. Thankfully it has become socially acceptable to open a computer at a restaurant. I always have my MacBook Air in my backpack.

My week writing in Edinburgh is ending. I have spent this rainy afternoon in my rented flat, writing, reading and packing. I will go out to eat tonight and then tomorrow before 6, I’ll shut the flat door and walk to the bus stop and wait for the airport bus. I’m very grateful for this time, and have enjoyed sharing this writing diary with you. Hopefully you have gleaned some ideas for a solitary writing, or painting, or sketching, or photography or, you name it, trip.

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Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Six

6/6/2017

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Is it safe to say that every city has a public library? For my purposes, yes. The Central Edinburgh Library is directly across from the National Public Library, where I spent the morning, writing in the café, and signing on to easy internet access.

This was also the day I decided not to visit Edinburgh Castle. The lines were long and the crowds too big for my liking.

Instead I walked to the to the Royal Botanical Garden. I was too late in the day to go in, but in my wanderings I came upon the Water of Leith Walkway, “a public footpath and cycleway that runs alongside the small river of the same name through Edinburgh, Scotland, from Balerno to Leith.” A comforting place for someone like me who wanted to be alone.

I returned from this outing, happy to write at home, just as it started to rain.

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Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Five

6/5/2017

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As I write this in the Queen Street Garden, I am so grateful for friendships, old and new.

Sunday morning everything starts a little later in this city so I had to wait a few minutes for my café to open.I like the idea of one cup of coffee at the flat before setting out for the first writing and second coffee of the day.
Next stop, St. Andrews and St. George West Church for the 11 o’clock service—a simple Church of Scotland service offering a fine sermon and excellent music.

The highlight of my day was lunch at the Royal Café with Andrea Baker, who performed Sing Sistha Sing at my church last month. Andrea graduated from high school with my son, so needles to say, we’ve known each other a long time, although not as adults, that is, until today. We shared stories and dreams and talked about doing the right thing in all the ways we lead our lives, not just in the particular way we express ourselves.

I noticed, however, that after three hours of conversation with Andrea, my mind was exhausted; I couldn’t think, much less write. It came to me that one the benefits of traveling alone is that I have less need to clear my mind of everyday chatter. We writers need stimulating conversation in a Scottish pub with a friend, but we also need solitude.
My Sabbath day ended with evensong sung by the Oslo Cathedral School Choir at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

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Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Four

6/3/2017

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     After all that talk about staying in and brewing my own coffee, I woke up this morning and decided to go out to a café, and so I did!. One of the charms of traveling alone is how easy it is change my plans. There is no one to confer with.
     It didn’t take long to find a spot with right ambience for me to work at my computer while sipping a huge cappuccino and savoring a buttered croissant. In fact, I may find a different cafe tomorrow, aware as I am that it is cheaper to eat in.
     Since the forecast was for afternoon rain, I then set out early for sightseeing/inspiration. First stop, Greyfriars Kirk (church) and Graveyard, where Greyfriars Bobby is buried and memorialized. Over the years several children’s books have told the story of the dog’s loyalty to his master. My favorite, perhaps because of the illustrations, is by Ruth Brown.

Pub where Bobby hung out.

Next stop, the state-of-the-art National Museum of Scotland located across from the church. I concentrated on the sections exploring Scotland’s story, but the other exhibits are equally impressive. They include: Discoveries, Natural World, World Cultures, Art, Design and Fashion, Science and Technology, and a Learning Center, special Exhibition Gallery, and Research Library.

I mention these different offerings to encourage those of you who are not writers to spend a week pursuing your craft. How about “Seven Days Photographing (or sketching) in Edinburgh.” If you are a musician, spend the seven days delving into the history of Scottish music and attending local concerts.If you are a weaver or knitter, there is history to be explored, exhibits to view, and stores to peruse.

Traveling alone and staying in one city for a week different from touring with a companion. I need a focal point, a project. Maybe writing is a way for me to talk with others while cherishing the week alone.

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Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Three

6/2/2017

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Since morning coffee is such an important part of my writing life, I want to straighten out a few things about coffee in Edinburgh. The city is full of coffee houses, packed with coffee drinkers all morning long and even into the afternoon. The same is true in Italy. The difference for me is that at least on this visit I have chosen to brew my coffee in my flat and stay in for the first part of the morning to sip and write. In Florence, my schedule was different. I’d walk for the first hour of my day to avoid the crowded sidewalks of the compact city and to watch the city wake up. I’d have my first cappucchino while standing at a local bar, and then later enjoy an another cup while sitting down and writing at a cafe.

Today I have done more walking than writing. After a coffee/writing morning, I set out to climb to the top of Arthur’s Seat. I ended up walking around half its base and then getting lost before finding my way to the Royal Mile and a three o’clock lunch of fish and chips.

Now I’m back at the flat, reading and writing. I’ll probably have some cereal for supper before thanking an evening walk.

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Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Two

6/1/2017

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I was up early this morning, always my best time to write. When I wrote my books for teachers, I wrote an hour every morning before heading off to the classroom. Wherever I travel, I try to keep to my normal time schedule. And as you might imagine, traveling alone as a senior, my night life is a minimum.
Today I took advantage of this best writing time by staying in the apartment until mid-morning. By then I was desperate for exercise and in need of inspiration. Robert Louis Stevenson became my muse as I walked through Queen Street Garden to 17 Heriot Row, to gaze at the front door where Stevenson lived during the early years of his life. Looking up at the window, I could almost hear him reading his garden of verses to me. After all, he and I are sharing the same garden. I can almost hear ‘The Lamplighter’ and ‘Night and Day’.

Next stop, The Parish Church of St. Cuthbert, the oldest Christian site in Edinburgh, and where Agatha Christie was married—for the second time. The divorce proceedings from her first marriage have all the intrigue of a Christie mystery, but I’m not suggesting inspiration other than to note that a fascinating life can inspire fascinating writing.

Parish of St. Cuthbert

Chapel where Agatha Christie was married.

Continuing with the writing theme, I sat outside the church writing postcards. Then through the Princes Street Gardens and up the hill to the Writers’ museum at Makar’s Court just below the castle. The museum features artifacts, portraits, and a narrative of Robert Burns (1759-1796), Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) and Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894).

‘So much inspiration, no time to write,’ I thought. But then I came to a couch and table, and a sign inviting me to sit down and rest. And, so I did. Taking my journal from my backpack, I began to write.

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     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.

Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Seven

Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Six

Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Five

Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Four

Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Three

Seven Days Writing in Edinburgh: Day Two

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