Didn't We Have A Lovely Time

 The day we went to Edinburgh.

No.

We had a bit of a break in Edinburgh last week, Tuesday to Friday staying in an apartment right across from the station. We hadn't been in Edinburgh for many minutes when I started to think that maybe it wasn't going to be my cup of tea, but probably nothing a very nice coffee from Room & Rumours wouldn't sort out. 

The apartment was pretty nice, gorgeous toiletries a really dinky bistro table and chairs, squishy sofa, and a very comfortable bed. The major downside was the noise, I could have dealt with the insanity of how busy it was - if you've never been the Royal Mile at 7pm on a Tuesday is like anywhere else at 3pm on a sunny Saturday and the fact the rattle of wheeled suitcases drowns out even the bagpipes.

But the noise, I'm not talking "I'm in the centre centre with sirens, the rumble of trams, shouty people and drunken singing" type of noise - that's good city noise, that's why I like to stay in the centre. This was the unceasing drone of the ventilation from the takeaway next door. And when I say unceasing, it was just over 50 decibels 24 hours a day. Imagine a helicopter overhead constantly, it was awful, no chance of any meaningful sleep. Stepping out onto the noisy street was a relief the following morning. 

So we decided to go home. 

A quick trip to Uniqlo, the National Gallery to see the Vermeer they have on loan (and one of the main reasons for the trip, I love Vermeer) and a wander round the RSA annual exhibition available to view online here and back on the train less than 24 hours after we arrived.