Royal Botanical Gardens and other tourist adventures

The morning was glorious and sunny when we woke up, so it seemed like the right sort of day to wander around the botanical gardens with a camera. I have been meaning to do that for a while now, so the group split and I wondered off on my own. There was plenty of bird activity around, so I started stalking.

A chaffinch fresh out of a fight.

Spring-time robin.

By the time I got to the gardens, the weather was already turning. I was standing on the hill overlooking the city, watching a mass of black cloud come in from the the West like a dark wing; I could see it was raining. For a few minutes all was glistening with brilliant sunshine, with the backdrop of darkening sky, each building of the city panorama below me defined as if on a coloured glass panel. But then it went dark and gloomy, and a bitter wind started.

A first peek of the glasshouses.

Old and new glasshouses.

I took refuge in the glass houses. The first one you come into is the highest glass house in the UK, with palms towering high above your head.

The tallest glasshouse in the UK.

As you stepped through the glass-panelled door, leaving the windy and chilly weather behind, you were immediately struck by the strong smell of flowers. They were standing everywhere in pots, lilacs, begonias, and lots of other plants I could not recognise, all in full, fragrant bloom. From there, a network of glasshouses started. What I enjoyed the most was that each glasshouse had a different, individual smell. In each, different plants were flowering.

Into the habitats.

There was one more enchanting surprise apart from the flowers. When I was exploring one of the habitats, I saw something move in between the leaves with the corner of my eye. I stopped and spied, and discovered it to be a little red breasted chirpy robin. Must have gotten in through the open windows, and was clearly having a time of its life. In fact, I soon saw there were more than one, and they were filling the air with singing. They must have been in there for a while, as they were completely tame and unbothered by the presence of people. It was a one in a lifetime photo opportunity. I waited for one bird to sit itself comfortably, and started inching my way towards it, snapping pictures throughout, expecting it to take off at any moment.

May I help you?

Ready for the close-up.

Preening.

But it continued to ignore me, or rather – to look at me with curiosity in between preening sessions. I got within 20cm of it before it decided I was getting too friendly, but in the meantime I got some really unique shots. Later I met a few blackbirds who've had a similar idea and were singing happily amongst tropical vegetation.

In the afternoon my herd of cats converged again in the National Museum of Scotland. The museum is based in a modernist building on the south side of the Royal Mile, its bunker-like shape made acceptable thanks to the sandstone coating. Inside it is quite spectacular in a modern, 'I'm an architect's drawing come live' sort of way.

The National Museum of Scotland in sepia.

Inside the National Museum of Scotland.

I was pleased with the way the displays were organised, especially the ones on 'Early People' (silly name for the section though, I was nearly expecting there to be a 'Late People' one, full of Mediterraneans on display). The main point was, the captions were not didactic, but written in plain language, and honest about the gaps in knowledge, or insufficiency of current archaeological data. When I was a child, I remember museum narratives would present you with information, and claim their take on the facts to be the only true and possible interpretation. I find it refreshing that now kids are encouraged to doubt and enquire.

Pictish writing.

The day finished with a lovely, rustic meal at Cafe Marlenne on Thistle Street. This tiny restaurant serves good, honest French food, hearty and tasty, and for a very reasonable price. I'd been such a full weekend even now thinking about it makes me feel tired, but it was great to have all of my friends invade!