Tag: Fringe

Family & Friends, Travel Adventures

UK Day 4: Acrobats, a 5 Wheel Unicycle, a Giant Peach and Princes Street Garden

We had our act together today – and by we, I mean Amir. Last night he booked tickets to an acrobatics clown show at 10, and a theater rendition of James and the Giant Peach at 2.

Daichi and Cheeky, the Japanese duo of Cartoooon

We arrived for the 10 am show a little early, and since this festival is well organized, there was an astroturf kid zone with a coffee truck open and ready for us.

The show was two Japanese clowns, a man and a woman, who performed magic tricks and danced together on unicycles in a playful and enchanting way. #1BigBrother laughed the whole time, while #1BigSister heckled them shouting “That’s not magic! You just did it with your hand!” I tried to slide under my seat to hide in embarrassment, but no success.

Cheeky was very flexible

I get the sense these artists and entertainers barely make a living from their craft. Each show we’ve attended, whether on the street or in a proper theater, they’ve mentioned that they pay their way to Fringe and receive no compensation from the Festival. This is a global stage, an opportunity to get noticed, and to spend time with like-minded people that appreciate your talent and creativity. I guess that’s enough.

My favorite conference I ever attended was the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) for the same reason. There are only about 2000 other people as nerdy as I am when it comes to EMS… and they all gather in one place every year. It’s invigorating. It’s fun. Being with people who “get you” is irreplaceable.

James and the Giant Peach

We grabbed lunch after the unicycles, and all three adults ordered salads. Clearly we all needed vegetables after the parade of sausage rolls, steak pie and fish and chips.

After lunch we walked less than half a block to the Emerald Theater where we saw a 10 person production of James and the Giant Peach. #1LittleSister was restless and not having it, so Liza had to exit stage left with her in tow.

Future surgeon? Should we nip it in the bud?

After the theater, we popped in to the Surgeon’s Hall Museum where #1BigSister took a try at using the Da Vinci and I explained various plastinated body parts to #1BigBrother.

Stained glass in the Surgeon’s Hall

For the last two days we’ve been driving by a beautiful garden with stunning views of the Castle of Edinburgh up on the hill. We finally walked that way, down into the gardens and to the grassy field where tons of kids were climbing old statues with seagulls perched atop and pooping. (The seagulls, not the kids).

At the top of the baby elephant
View of the castle from the gardens

After the gardens, we walked in the direction of home and stopped along the way for a pint and a bite. As I mentioned yesterday though, Scotland has some weird rules around kids being allowed in restaurants that serve alcohol. Some restaurants say no one under 18 at all, ever. Some say no one under 5. Some say all are welcome. I’m not sure if they have to pay more to operate and serve all-comers, or if they are intentionally trying to create a kid-free atmosphere.

Denied at our first choice tonight

After dinner, we walked home and helped Liza get everyone inside and settled. Amir and I then ran out the door to go enjoy a kid-free evening out. We took the bus down to the water and found a spot for dessert and after dinner drinks. We scored a table by the window overlooking the water. It was just what the doctor(s) ordered.

The lighthouse and harbour

Amir ordered the Sticky Toffee Pudding, and he talked me into getting the Popcorn Sundae. As usual, he was right. Imagine kettle corn in sundae form. Delicious.

Sticky toffee pudding
Popcorn sundae

Tomorrow we leave Edinburgh. It’s been a great three days. Street performers day 1, history and learning day 2, and theater performances day 3. While coming during Fringe makes everything more expensive, there’s so much free stuff to do. You won’t quite break even, but your guaranteed a good time.

– Steph

Family & Friends, Travel Adventures

UK Day 3: Museum of Scotland, Water of Leith Walkway and more Fringe

This morning, as if by some Scottish miracle, the kids slept until 8 am. I’m cautious though as this probably means the jet lag on the way home will be that much worse.

Once everyone was dressed, fed and pottied, we headed out to grab a bus to the National Museum of Scotland. The public transportation system here, like most European countries, is slick, efficient, affordable – and again makes me want to force everyone in America to travel to Europe so we can learn a few things about light rail and other mass transit, instead of reflexively dismissing them.

Double-decker buses and trams line the streets

The bus was easy – there’s a family day pass available for roughly $13. Buses come frequently and on time. It seems to be the most popular form of transit in the city.

Views from the bus

The museum was free admission, with just a requested donation of 5£. It offered a bit of everything for all ages and likes – fossils, fashion and funhouse mirrors to name a few.

Stegosaurus
Fossil fun
Camel friends
Glass atrium

We started in the fossil and taxidermy exhibit first. #1LittleSister didn’t waste any time begging to be released from the prison of the stroller straps. #1BigSister researched camels, while Amir and #1BigBrother learned about the planets in our solar system. (I still contend that Pluto is a planet).

3D Solar System to scale

The museum was surprisingly oriented to kids – each floor has a dedicated kids zone with hands-on activities akin to a children’s museum.

After the National Museum of Scotland, we hopped back on the bus and headed towards the Water of Leith walkway. There’s a footpath down to a small stream that cuts through this little village, Dean village, down in the valley.

Crossing over the bridge and to the left, the trees form a canopy and the path becomes a tunnel of nature. The stream flows just beside the walkway, with wildflowers dotting the banks.

Assorted wildflowers along the walkway

The kids (and maybe Amir too) enjoyed throwing rocks into the stream. This is something every single one of our kids loves. It’s an easy win.

Speaking of easy wins – on the walk back we came across the World’s Smallest Whisky Bar. It’s a kiosk slightly larger than a phone booth, offering tastings and sales of full bottles. The man asked Amir what he liked – Amir said bourbon – and a sample quickly appeared. Amir took it like a shot, and from the reaction of the bartender – clearly it was meant to be sipped. His look of shock was quickly erased by a smile when Amir said he’d take a whole bottle.

The rest of the day was spent playing. We found a playground, a food truck rodeo with kids activities and lastly, a LEGO store. We’re adding three more mini figures to the collection. We definitely need a bigger board at this point.

Our LEGO Minifig Collection back home

Tomorrow is our last full day here. We’re hoping to hit a contortionist show tomorrow, but it might be restricted to 5 and up. Edinburgh is a bit funny about that stuff – all restaurants and bars have signs displaying their policies on kids. I’ll try to snap a photo of one tomorrow and give a bit more detail. I have mixed feelings on their approach.

– Steph

Family & Friends, Food & Drink, Travel Adventures

UK Day 2: Edinburgh Fringe Festival

As I mentioned yesterday, we selected Edinburgh, Scotland as a first stop on our trip in part due to the Fringe Festival happening most of August.

Juggling fire

Most of the roads are closed, and people and performers fill the streets. From bagpipers, unicyclists and hoopsters, to artists, jugglers and violinists, there’s seriously a little bit of everything. We snagged a balloon animal early, and wrapped up with a Swede juggling toilet paper atop a microwave balanced on three stacked tables. Of course. Why not?

Sven from Sweden

We stopped for beer, fish and chips, gelato, more beer, and eventually groceries. My phone logged 16,241 steps. And my back sure feels it.

Fish & Chips
Not quite her namesake but close enough

In addition to all the free street performances, there are also plays, musicals, circus acts, comedy sketches and variety shows playing in every theater in the city. Most require tickets (and we didn’t plan ahead), so we’ll need to save a show for tomorrow or Wednesday. They have an app, ED Fringe, where you can search through the thousands of events to find one that’s just right.

#1BigSister meets a pigmy owl

#1BigSister was able to make friends with a pigmy owl, the smallest species of owl in the world. Unfortunately with that short stature comes a short lifespan – just 6 years.

While the rest of TeamLouka watched a street performer, I snuck into the Saint Giles Cathedral, founded in 1124 by King David I. Today it’s still a functioning Presbyterian church.

St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh
The altar at St Giles

We walked and walked and walked… and heard person after person comment about the weather. 65 and sunny, this was apparently the first day without rain in over a month. Par for the course in Scotland I’m told… and looking back, the sky was overcast throughout the entirety of Braveheart.

Tomorrow we have our sights set on the Museum of Scotland in the morning and possibly the botanical gardens in the afternoon. That all hinges on the cooperation of the rest of the team.

– Steph

Our walking course