The Fringe and Good Friends
A Whirlwind Pre-Tour Adventure
After an overnight flight from Seattle, we touched down in Edinburgh around 8AM. Matt and I cleared customs surprisingly quickly and gathered our checked luggage. Per the recommendation of our hotel, we hoped on the Airlink bus after purchasing tickets from the booth directly outside the airport. Twenty minutes later we were in our first hotel's neighborhood.
We booked one night at The Hampton House in the Dunstane Houses prior to joining out tour. Since we were there for festival season, we booked this accommodation nine months in advance. Under normal circumstances, this would be the action of the over-planner I was trying so hard not to be. But with the festival goers flooding the city for the month of August I allowed myself to book early. And boy, were we glad we did! The Hampton House was wonderful. The kind people who greeted us were happy to store our luggage for us as we were anxious to find some breakfast and to hit the Festival. One woman even sat us down in the restaurant and went over the map, giving us tips on how best to tackle the Royal Mile and what restaurants were her current favorites. The warm and inviting Coates Café was the first stop. Porridge with beautiful, fresh berries and honey for Matt, poached eggs with avocado me and cappuccinos for both of us. Delicious! |
Fueled up and ready to go, Matt and I excitedly walked to the Royal Mile. I was focused on the heighted energy, dodging cars coming at us from a different direction than we are used to and trying not to get run over by locals who pay no mind to the flashing "do not cross" sign at intersections when BANG! Edinburgh Castle dominated the skyline on our right. My jaw dropped. We where really here!
Soon, we were greeted by the giant Fringe banners and the unmistakable sound of bagpipes. Another wave of joy! Despite it only being 9:30AM, hundreds of people from around the world flooded the Mile. Sword swallowers, fire throwers, choirs and dance troupes performed in the street. Practically every two feet a hopeful performer would thrust a flyer in your hand and give their five second "elevator pitch" enticing you to come to their show. Some people might find this overwhelming but I wore a smile as wide as the Mile is long. We saw three Fringe shows that day. First up was "Impromptu Shakespeare," an improv troupe that makes up a Shakespearian-style play using Elizabethan tropes written on ping-pong balls the audience threw into one of the actors over-sized trousers as their inspiration. Second was "Leopold Vindictive," an original play about MI6's carrier pigeon initiative during WWII. Billy's flight arrived around 6pm and he was able to join us for "Now That's What I Call Brexit," a satirical musical about the lead up to and fall out from the 2016 referendum. |
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Dinner and much catching up followed. We even tasted IRN-BRU (although Mike, our driver, informed us later that the new recipie is nothing compared to the old stuff). As we walked back to our hotels we could see the fireworks from the Military Tattoo over the castle. Pure Festival magic.
Back at the hotel, we collapsed into bed exhausted from the jet lag, sore from the some 30,000 steps we took that day and happier than we'd been in a long time.
Back at the hotel, we collapsed into bed exhausted from the jet lag, sore from the some 30,000 steps we took that day and happier than we'd been in a long time.
TOP TEN FRINGE TIPS
Huge, full color signs advertising shows of all shapes and kinds plastered the city.
Planning a trip to the Fringe? Make the most of your festival experience by considering what worked for us and learning from our mistakes.
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