The Christmas Markets began yesterday so Princes Gardens is full of stalls selling a huge range of goodies, both edible and drinkable as well as for presents. There are some scary-looking rides too - the screams are very off-putting and the height they reach is very scary!
The crowds thronged every avenue and it would have been very easy to lose each other.
After a stop for refreshments we ventured back into the throng to find the Christmas Lights had been switched on!
Some fireworks were let off but the official firework display was not due until much later in the evening. The centre of Edinburgh now sparkled with all the lights on rides, stalls, traffic and shops.
There was a murmur among the people too as they moved around. Catching the bus again the streets and roads were just as busy as they were hours earlier.
Monday dawned dry but cold and we decided to use public transport and go to Musselburgh. This meant a change of bus partway through the journey but the front seats upstairs gave us another good view of the city and its people as we travelled through Portobello towards Musselburgh. It seemed very strange to suddenly see a beach in Edinburgh but of course Edinburgh sits on the Firth of Forth. The sandy beach is only 2 miles from the city centre but looks quite long and inviting! Another time.
Eventually reaching Musselburgh we walked along the main street and on to the race course before turning and following the river back. A very pleasant walk in the winter sunshine.
A return ride on a different number bus, so we weren't seeing exactly the same sights, took us back to Princes Street. We found a volunteer-run church café to have something to eat before yet another bus ride back to the hotel.
Tuesday was a big day as we were going up the Amazon! Although cold and frosty the sun was shining so a walk around Pittencrief Park in Dunfermline passed the morning very comfortably.
It was soon time to go to Amazon - we had booked a tour of their Fulfillment Centre, also in Dunfermline. Security was very much in evidence from the moment we got out of the car. We had to be buzzed in and our identities checked before we hardly got inside the building.
There were about 30 people on the tour so we all had to wear headphones, to ensure we all heard what was said, and bright yellow high-viz jackets, but after a short intro we were off. What a fascinating place! No-one knew what to expect or what we would see but the tour leader took us all round the building (which covers the equivalent of 17 football pitches) and showed us the whole process and journey of an order from beginning to end. The technology that ensures a smooth operation is amazing and apparently has never gone wrong! The sight of shelves full of merchandise stretching as far as the eye could see and the miles of conveyor belts moving boxes of orders around the building was incredible to see. Some of the machinery was quite mesmerising to watch and everyone on the tour was full of chatter about the whole visit. An hour passed by very quickly before we were presented with a free gift and allowed out of the building - after passing through security of course! There was so much to discuss about the visit the return journey didn't seem to last very long but we all agreed it was well worth the trip and was worth recommending to others if they get the chance - especially as it was also free!
We were still talking about going up the Amazon the next day as we travelled home and would definitely be spreading the word to friends and family.
No comments:
Post a Comment