Edinburgh and the NLS

Last two days have been a blur at the National Library of Scotland.
Huge and busy place -- very cool!

Security is serious and understandably tight - the usual lockers for coats, jackets, bags, etc. (You can only take in your laptop, notebook, pencils - no pens allowed) but also checkpoints from room to room and inspection of your papers when you leave the reading area.

The system of cataloguing and ordering for review of historical materials is less efficient than any of the other libraries we've been to, and thus has been a more arduous process. But, we're getting there. Two long days of searching, and looking at materials. Filled in a couple of holes in my list of "must get" so some progress.

So, we've mostly enjoyed a more leisurely dinner and done some strolling and exploring on foot. Yesterday, we had dinner at a vegeterian restaurant  - yes, Kevin survived, and even enjoyed his stew. :)
Tonight, after dinner, we had an obligatory drink at a pub, before heading back to the flat.

Another at least half-day tomorrow at the NLS, then in the afternoon, a trip to the Reid Concert Hall Museum of Instruments at St. Cecilia's Hall. Now part of the U. of Edinburgh, St. Cecilia's Hall was the concert hall for the Edinburgh Musical Society in their later years. Checking out historic flutes in their collection, and hoping to glean more information about specific instrument makers and instruments played by eighteenth-century Scottish flutists.  Yes, Geeky Flute Fun!!

Still hoping for a little touring time near the end of the week. We'll definitely get in a visit inside the Edinburgh Castle and around Holyrood Palace. We have plans for some other small tours as well, so we'll see what we can fit in. Kevin's been enjoying his nightly Scotch "tastings" of various selections of single malt.
Not many pictures to share, as we've mostly been in the inside of a library, where no cameras are allowed. We did do a quick tour of the Canongate Kirk (church of Scotland) and the cemetary behind it. This cemetery is where Adam Smith (a key figure of the Scottish Enlightenment) and Robert Fergusson (a Scottish 18th century poet) are buried.
It is still visited by the monarchy, and there is a devoted pew for the Royal Family.

The alter area is open and few steps -- perfect for a small orchestra!

A couple more of the Canongate sanctuary:

A little organ, in the side chapel area set aside for veterans memorial:

Here are a few pics of Dunbar's Close Garden, out back of our flat:

Edinburgh Castle, from one of our strolls past:

 View from the Waverley Bridge:

 Blurry, but you can see the busking bagpiper, if you squint. Yup, the buskers are pipers.
This is for Terry:

Bought some scones to have with tea.... :) More later.