CD Traveller » Edinburgh

Travel highlights and trends

Editor — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:14:41 +0000

The CD-Traveller team share their favourite 2011 travel experiences and look at the top spots for 2012

Kaye Holland

2011 highlight: Nha Trang (Vietnam)
If you’ve ever wondered what Goa looked like before the hippies or Thailand before the high rise hotels, then Nha Trang could be your last chance to find out. Vietnam’s beach capital may not have previously figured on your mental map, yet when you get there it’s hard to see why not.
Let me paint the picture… the sea is the colour of Bombay sapphire, the sky is perpetually blue and the sand is platinum blonde and squeaks when you walk on it. Right now it’s warm rather than scorching, but six hours of sunshine a day is still a distinct improvement on January in Britain.
To the beach you can add cultural treasures, great surf and dive sites, good retail therapy, lively nightlife, fabulous food and everything from hostels to super swish resorts like the Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa – Nha Trang’s hot new hotel that even Clark Gable would find it impossible not to give a damn about. Pack the t shirt and sunnies and get going – before the developers move in and the spell breaks.

2012 tip: London

2012 promises to be a corker for the English capital. All eyes will be on London come the summer when the city hosts the greatest show on earth – aka the Olympic and Paralympic Games. But it’s not all about the Olympics… there’s also the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations (expect a flotilla on the Thames) to look forward to.
And for those who aren’t mad about the monarchy and/or sport, there’s a myriad of cultural events on the horizon from London Fashion Week in February, to the Mayoral election in May. It’s a cliché I know, but as Samuel Johnson once said: “You’ll find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”

Adrian Lawes

Adrian

2011 highlight: Georgia

Svaneti (Georgia)

What I tend to remember are places I’ve not been too before. So in 2011, I was pleased to have seen parts of Georgia and in particular the Svaneti region up in the mountains. It is unspoilt; development is progressing at an astonishing pace and this is my tip for an all-round destination in the future.

I thought I knew the Blue Mountains in New South Wales (Australia) pretty well, but I saw a different side to them last year that many tourists don’t see. Sheer cliffs look down on the valley below and I saw not one person, as I trekked. In was by a four wheel vehicle and at times even that was tricky. Yet, overlooking one cliff was a homemade wooden jump for hang gliders to jump off!

As for destinations at home, the Dingle peninsular in Ireland is always a place to marvel.

2012 tip: Ukraine and Bangladesh
This year, I want to go to Ukraine. My best man has been there 11 times in the last few years and raves about this “undiscovered” country. As well as Ukraine, I will be journeying to Skomer to see the puffins, razorbills and seals in early summer – something I have wanted to do for years – so that will be part of a holiday exploring the new coastal path. Later in the year, Bangladesh beckons. Again, it’s another country largely unvisited by Britons (unless you have relatives there), but I am told the country is one I have to see.

Anthony Lydekker

Anthony

2011 highlight: Tobago
Tobago (http://www.cd-traveller.com/2011/04/19/tobago-warm-place-warm-people/) was my 2011 travel highlight. Even with the high APD (Air Passenger Duty) tax, one can still get a week’s holiday there for £850 at the end of February: 4 Star hotel , B&B, including flights and transfers. There have been improvements in 2011: a new 178 room Magdalena Hotel opened in December on what was a derelict hotel site. Following the elections in 2011, the newly appointed Minister of Tourism, in London for the World Travel Market, spoke of more investment to come for the Island. Fingers crossed, this will include better road signs! Potential visitors should bear in mind that some safety warnings issued in the past about neighbouring Trinidad have never applied to Tobago.

Tobago

2012 tip: France
The current improvement of the Pound to the Euro, makes a hop across the Channel increasingly attractive. The August Olympics are bang in the middle of the school holidays and not everyone will be flocking to London, an expensive city by any reckoning. Anecdotal research suggests that some Londoners will be getting out of town for the Olympics simply to avoid the crowds. My hunch is that France will benefit. As well as better weather, France still represents good value for quality meals out and hotels charge by the room. For families watching their purse strings, the major camp site providers continue to provide greater comfort with more cabins and mobile homes. Or, just take a tent and spend the savings on dinners out!

Frédéric Mouren de Poligny

Frédéric

2011 highlight:Karnataka (south west India)
For me, 2011 was the year of Karnataka temples. The discovery of one of the southern states of India where traditional agriculture meets high technology, where rice fields are so close to the Indian ‘Silicon Valley’, was nothing in comparison with the astonishing shock of Hampi temples, scattered among sun dry rocky hills. What’s my best souvenir there? Maybe when, after a long journey through these magnificent ruins and a tasty spicy meal at Mango Tree, a small restaurant directly on the riverside, I decided to go down the river on one of these small coracles, huge round reed baskets, through rapids to reach the Vitthala Temple and its Stone Chariot for sunset. During this strange half-an-hour navigation I was transported back in time, remembering that Alexander the Great himself had to use same coracles during his conquest of the Darius empire to allow his army to cross huge rivers.

2012 tip: South East Asia
South east Asia is set to become hot, in every sense of the word, thanks to the new flights programmes of Vietnam Airlines and Air Asia which help make the region much more accessible. Imagine holidays mixing a boat trip in Halong Bay, followed by a lazy stay on a fabulous Vietnamese beach before a fabulous cultural tour of the Angkor Temples in Cambodia. Or a long journey through Malaysia, with a beach rest in Langkawi Island, combined with a visit of Pagan temples in Burma. Now with these low budget connections, you should be able to return home with a good knowledge of Asian cooking and able to know your Pho from your Nem and Nasi Goreng.

Cathrene Rowell

Cathrene and her dog, Poppy

2011 highlight: Edinburgh
I recently spent a wonderfully relaxing day in Edinburgh having made no plans whatsoever other than to visit Hutton’s section. It was James Hutton’s observations at Arthur’s Seat and the Salisbury Crags which provided the foundation to geology today: deposition of the sedimentary rocks and the formation of the igneous rocks must have occurred at different ages and in a different manner to the geological beliefs of that time. Hutton’s section, visible (and labelled!) in the Salisbury Crags shows clearly where magma forced its way through the sedimentary rocks to form dolerite sills. A walk up here is worth the effort simply for the views from the top.

EdinburghTattoo

2012 tip: Iceland (and other volcanic destinations)
There has been a lot of volcanic activity during the past couple of years, and much as it can be disruptive to travel, active volcanoes are one of the most spectacular geological events that you will ever see happening. So, my tip – and my dream, I might add – would be to pack up and visit Iceland (of course, not forgetting to add volcano disruption to your insurance!). Iceland is unique because not only does it lie between the Eurasian and North American plates, on the Mid-Atlantic Rift (where the two plates are pulling apart from each other) but it also lies above the Iceland plume (a hotspot) which causes the volcanism on the island, and results in a range of geological phenomenon, such as geysers. As such, it is an ever-changing country, of immense geological importance, and extreme beauty.

Clive Summerfield

Clive

2011 highlight: Dumfries and Galloway
The lowlands of Scotland are sometimes overlooked, with the majestic scenery of the highlands attracting more attention. But with coastline reminiscent of Cornwall, historic towns and villages and a variety of visitor attractions covering outdoor activities, whisky and historic monuments, the region has plenty to offer. Truly a hidden gem. And with fuel prices remaining high, being less remote is a bonus.

2012 tip: Staycationing

Staycationing (the ‘art’ of holidaying at home) will continue to be popular as the economy struggles to grow and the threat of unemployment remains. Conversely, some of the more remote destinations in the UK may suffer as high fuel prices– and economic woes in the Euro zone – may make cheap flights abroad appear better value.

Westminster makes a welcome u-turn

Editor — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:58:10 +0000

Hurray! Westminster Council has finally seen sense and scrapped its plans to charge for parking in the evenings and on Sundays – for now at least. The council has postponed the introduction of charges for a minimum of nine months from January, as a result of a High Court ruling that “the plan would damage business and churches.”

Those of us that live in London can allow ourselves to breathe a small sigh of relief. The charges – had they come into effect – would surely have driven away trade from local restaurants and retailers, at a time when both businesses and consumers are facing financial difficulties.

We have said it before and we’ll say it again: people won’t be deterred from visiting the capital because some shop windows were smashed in Clapham, Acton et al during the August riots. Rather, it’s price hikes that will put people off visiting London and the UK – and thereby damage tourism.

Let’s hope that Edinburgh and Cambridge follow in Westminster’s footsteps and change their mind about introducing a tax on entertainment. Edinburgh, Cambridge and Westminster may all need money but boosting their coffers through parking charges and tourist taxes is not the answer.
Update: 17/12/2011. Edinburgh will have no accommodation tax as the Scottish government has refused to transfer the necessary powers to the city

Edinburgh to charge £2-per-night tourist tax?

kaye — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:20:40 +0000

UPDATE: 17/12/2011. Scottish Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing has announced that there will be no accommodation tax in Edinburgh. The Scottish Government has no intention of giving places the tax raising facilities, so any attempt to introduce one would be considered illegal. You can expect Edinburgh to forget the idea.
A couple of months ago, we revealed that the university town of Cambridge was considering charging a tourist tax in order to preserve Cambridge’s character.

Now word reaches CD-Traveller towers, that Edinburgh is considering charging a £2 per night ‘tourist tax’ to generate extra revenue for the Scottish capital.

Of course Cambridge and Edinburgh aren’t alone in (thinking about) implementing tourist taxes: Vancouver and Venice both introduced tourist taxes earlier this year, to protect their respective cities heritage.

I understand where the cities are coming from but can’t help but question their timing. When families are already feeling financially squeezed, the introduction of a tourist tax could kill both Cambridge and Edinburgh’s tourist trade.

What do you think of the suggested tourist tax? Would you still visit Edinburgh or would the tax force you to think long and hard about checking out Scotland’s capital? Share your thoughts by posting a comment below!

10 of the best: European city breaks for history lovers

Editor — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:17:49 +0000

Medieval castles, ancient ruins, wartime bunkers and beyond, Europe’s rich history has endowed many of its cities with a wealth of unmissable historic sites. In fact, for the city break seeker, the range of choice on offer is simply staggering, from iconic capitals to those lesser known locations. History travel website, Historvius, picks ten of the best destinations for European city breaks bursting with history, perfect for everyone from the casual sightseer to diehard history buffs

Nimes, France

With its myriad of iconic sites, it is little surprise that Paris is usually a star attraction in any top ten list of historic cities. Yet, for those looking for something a bit different – and with generally warmer climes – the southern city of Nimes should not be overlooked. Not only is it home to a myriad of beautifully preserved Roman remains, including an amphitheatre that outshines the Colosseum, but its convenient location amidst the ancient and medieval treasures of Orange, Arles and Avignon make it the ideal base from which to explore the south. What’s more, this little known historic haven offers a much quieter sightseeing experience than other cities.

Rome, Italy

As the capital of one of the greatest ancient civilisations in history, Rome is simply bursting with historic wonders, making it a tempting city break for any traveller. Indeed, whether it’s the rugged grandeur of The Colosseum, the bygone beauty of the Roman Forum or the drama of the Pantheon, many of its sites rank amongst the best known in the world. Nevertheless, as a city that continues to invest in archaeological discovery, Rome holds some surprises for even the seasoned history fan. Even in the midst of the tourist quarter, places such as the ancient Mamertine Prison hide in plain sight, while outside the main city, the ruins of Ostia Antica and the meandering sites along the Via Appia Antica offer an alternative to the more popular tourist trail.

Lisbon, Portugal

A tantalising mix of bustling streets, vibrant culture and the accolade of being one of Europe’s sunniest capitals, Lisbon is also brimming with historic places. Whether it’s the Lisbon National Pantheon where many of Portugal’s late and great are buried, the medieval citadel of St George’s Castle or the dramatic beauty of World Heritage sites such as Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery, this is a place with plenty of history on show.

Berlin, Germany

For those interested in modern history, few places offer such an array of authentic and fascinating sites as Berlin. The dark corridors of the Berlin Stasi Prison, the famed Checkpoint Charlie, the moving visage of The Holocaust Memorial and the remains of the Berlin Wall are just some of the historic giants that reside in this cosmopolitan metropolis, offering tourists and historians alike the opportunity to really explore this period in time. However, this capital’s history and evidence of it does not stop at the 20th century. Whether it’s the Romanesque charm of Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the 18th century magnificence of Brandenburg Gate or the vast collections of the city’s museums, there’s a world of history to explore.

Merida, Spain

Merida may not be the first place that comes to mind for that well-deserved break, but this is one Spanish city with a whole host of surprises, particularly for anyone with a penchant for dramatic ruins. Once a regional capital of the Roman Empire known as Augusta Emerita, modern day Merida is peppered with proof of its illustrious past. For example, the impressive Merida Amphitheatre sits proudly beside the partly reconstructed, picturesque Merida Roman Theatre, while Guadiana Bridge and The Los Milagros Aqueduct represent apt reminders of the robust nature of Roman engineering.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Iconic, imposing and with a story traced back to ancient times, the historic icon that is Edinburgh Castle overlooks this magnificent city, providing a fitting place to start exploring its fascinating past. Yet, whilst its importance as a site cannot be overstated, this world famous celebrity of the sightseeing world provides a mere glimpse into the other attractions on offer. Both within the city and around it, historic treasures abound such as the royal residence of Holyroodhouse Palace, the enigmatic Rosslyn Chapel and the medieval charm of Craigmillar Castle, to name but a few.

Budapest, Hungary

History lovers on the lookout for a city with an eclectic mix of sites should certainly consider Budapest. For, while the Hungarian capital doesn’t obviously advertise its historic heritage, it does have quite a selection of fascinating places. There’s the fairy tale beauty of the 19th century Fisherman’s Bastion, the medieval Matthias Church with its royal connections and, of course, Buda Castle with its many museums, whilst sites such as the Roman ruins of Aquincum and the tragic modern history museum of the House of Terror shed light on lesser known aspects of the city’s past.

St. Petersburg, Russia

For ecclesiastical grandeur mixed with centuries of history, St. Petersburg is quite a city to see. From the colourful onion-domes of the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood to the 19th century splendour of Kazan Cathedral, inspired by the Basilica of St Paul of Rome, the churches and cathedrals of this city represent a diversity of architecture, influences and social mores depending on the era. Two leaders who left their marks here were Peter the Great – responsible for illustrious attractions such as Alexander Nevsky Lavra and The Peter and Paul Fortress – and Lenin, whose onetime headquarters, The Smolny Institute, now house a museum dedicated to the man. St. Petersburg is also home to The Hermitage, one of the world’s most celebrated museums with an impressive array of exhibits from throughout history and around the globe.

Prague, Czech Republic

A stunning cityscape, rich culture and a captivating past are just some of the attributes which make Prague such a tourist hotspot. The best known of its attractions is probably Prague Castle, the vast World Heritage listed medieval complex with its myriad of sites, galleries and museums. Medieval is in fact definitely the main theme which meanders through Prague’s pretty streets, with treasures such as the famous Charles Bridge and the Old Town Hall with its celebrated astronomical clock vying for sightseer attention. Beyond this fascinating era, places such as the Communism Museum focus on other facets of this city’s history.

Stockholm, Sweden

It may not boast megastars such as The Eiffel Tower or The Tower of London, but Stockholm should not be underestimated for its historic pull. In particular, its old town, Gamla Stan, houses a labyrinth of medieval marvels to discover, all connected by cobbled streets and imbued with North-Germanic influences. Here you can see the burial site of Swedish royalty, the 13th century Riddarholm Church, as well as the tragic plaza of Stortorget, site of a 16th century massacre. There is also a range of museums, including the Vasa Museum, which holds what is said to be the world’s sole surviving 17th century warship. Add to this selection, the intrinsic beauty of its many islands and local charm and Stockholm really holds its own as a city break location.

To read more from Historvius, please visit

Four months equals one million

adrian — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:57:44 +0000

It seems that it was only yesterday that I was in Edinburgh at the re-opening of the National Museum in Chambers Street. But it was four months ago. A short time. So it is surprising to learn that the museum welcomed its one millionth visitor yesterday since that re-opening.
What an achievement! What a comment on the appeal of the revamped museum. Especially since before it closed it had never reached 850,000 visitors in a single year before.
Museums have a variety of roles not the least of which is as a visitor attraction and they go out of their way to design exhibitions that will draw crowds. But they also must have an interior that visitors must feel comfortable in; to be able to walk around and see without feeling congested and to be able to easily see what is there. The new re-vamp delivers that. CD-Traveller has moaned before that one problem galleries and museums have is that so little is put on show for visitors to see. Not so in Chambers Street where 80% of what they have can be seen.
But museums also have an educational role in informing school children. And it was a child from a local primary school who was the one millionth visitor.
The refurbishments are not over. Although it has 16 new galleries, more are planned. But it will take time and money but only about a third came from the Scottish government. If the museum can attract these sort of numbers then the educational and the tourism value will be of good value. And for visitors remember that all national museums have free entry.
So what is there to encourage you to visit Chambers Street next year? Two major exhibitions are scheduled and one, on ancient Egypt, should be a big crowd-puller since Egypt continues to attract us with tales of Tutankhamun, curses, mummies and family rivalries. The other is on Catherine the Great, no stranger to family quarrels herself, but also a seminal figure in the development of the golden age in Russia.
Chambers Street should have a bumper year ahead of it.
For more information click here.

Where visitors to the UK go

Editor — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:22:22 +0000

Which are the most popular places to go in the UK for overseas visitors? Counting how many of us visit our own cities isn’t easy but for those coming from abroad, the International Passenger Survey provides some answers and now, Visit Britain has played looked at the data and come up with some answers.
It will come as no surprise that London is the most popular destination. With three major airports, and another two close by, as well as the Eurostar links it would be astonishing if it didn’t dwarf all other cities. Next come Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Liverpool in that order. Then Oxford. Obviously the university and its associated buildings and heritage are the draws. But it does show that at least one city does not need an international airport to attract overseas visitors. And in the top twenty, there are only another three cities that don’t have international airports, Cambridgeshire, (as Visit Britain puts it but Stansted is forty minutes away) Brighton & Hove ( but easily reached from Gatwick by train in thirty minutes) Bath and York. It seems to suggest that having an international airport – or being close to one – is an almost guaranteed way to attract visitors. The only cities with international airports not in the top twenty are Belfast and Norwich.
The city in twentieth position is Windsor (very close to Heathrow) and this is selected by Visit Britain as being one of many cities in the top twenty list as being used or connected to Olympic events next year. For them, this shows the increasing popularity of proposed Olympic destinations. But Southampton, the only new entrant in the top twenty, is not scheduled for an Olympic event. It does have an international airport though.

What’s hot: November 2011

Editor — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:44:23 +0000

CD-Traveller tells you what’s hot and what’s not in the travel world. This month it’s good news for Greenwich and Glasgow but Gulf Air may want to rethink their plans to introduce in-flight phone and internet access

HOT
Early Christmas holidays
The week before the big day (December 17-24) is proving a prime week for families – the school holidays have started and prices are purse pleasing. Get in!

Vietnam

Vietnam airlines is to launch direct flights from London Gatwick to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, from December 9. There are currently no direct services between London and Vietnam meaning anyone heading to either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon) is forced to fly via Frankfurt and Paris or connect in Bangkok, Singapore or Hong Kong. Find out more at www.vietnamairlines.com

Sleeping easy in Africa
Easyhotel is to open 50 properties across Africa over the next five years. The group has yet to confirm which cities it will open hotels in but says that the first easyhotel in Africa will open for business in 2012. Easyhotel already has 15 properties in London, Basel, Berlin, Budapest, Edinburgh and Zurich. For more info, visit www.easyhotel.com

Sporty silver haired types
Last year we reported on the rise of the grey gapper. And now it seems that the over 50s have developed a penchant for adventure sports! Research by Gnu Insurance reveals that 13 percent of UK travellers over 50 take up adventure sports – think windsurfing, waterskiing, rock climbing, caving and bungee jumping – when on holiday!

Glasgow

To date Scotland’s second city has attracted more tourists than the country’s capital, Edinburgh, in 2011. We’re putting it down to the Brad Pitt effect. The Hollywood star spent august in the city, shooting scenes for his new film World War Z.

Reality TV show locations

Figures from cheapflights.co.uk reveal that reality TV shows such as The Only Way Is Essex, Made In Chelsea and Geordie Shore have boosted the popularity of holiday destinations visited in their programmes. Case in point? Searches for Cannes soared 39 percent after it appeared on Made In Chelsea, while Mykonos in Greece saw an 89 percent jump in searches after X Factor judge, Tulisa, took contestants there at the start of this season’s series.

Flying for free to Japan
10,000 free flights to Japan could be up for grabs next year. The Japan Tourism Agency is planning the promotion – which could start as early as April 2012 – in an attempt to win back tourism following divesting tsunami and earthquake earlier this year. The number of foreign tourists travelling to Japan plummeted more than 50 percent during the three months that followed the disaster.

Greenwich

Travel guide Frommer’s has named the London borough of Greenwich as one of the world’s top 10 tourist attractions for 2012! Greenwich – which will host equestrian events, modern pentathlon, shooting, trampolining, basketball and artistic gymnastics – during next year’s Olympic and Paralympic games is home to iconic sights such as the Cutty Sark ship, the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum.

NOT
In-flight phones
A survey of 1300 travellers by Fly.com shows that less than five percent of passengers want in-flight phone and internet access owing to the noise disturbance, while a further 62 percent expressed concern about the safety risks of mobile phone use onboard. Delta and Gulf Air may want to rethink their plans: the American airline plans to introduce Wi-Fi to its regional jets while Gulf Air is looking at allowing broadband and mobile phone services across its whole fleet.

Bangkok

Now is not the time to travel to Thailand. British holidaymakers have been advised to avoid travelling to Thailand following the country’s worse flooding in 50 years. The FCO website states: “We now advise against all but essential travel to the city of Bangkok and the 26 provinces in Thailand affected by flooding.”

Favourite film locations

Editor — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 05:54:49 +0000

I happened to see the Sarah Jessica Parker film I Don’t Know How She Does It, last night. The film, based on Alison Pearson’s best selling novel, was shot in Boston and had the effect of making me want to book a break in Boston. It seems I am not the only one inspired to holiday in the location of a favourite film: Hotwire.com, who offer up to 50% off in the UK and 2500 destinations abroad, has revealed its top five destination deals for film-loving holidaymakers and they are as follows:

One Day – Edinburgh
Following on from the book’s major success is One Day. Emma and Dexter meet on their graduation day and the story follows them for 20 years throughout Edinburgh and London.

Harry Potter – Orlando
Harry Potter recently broke records for box office smashes, recording £23m in its first weekend. If you have young children, then visiting Harry, Ron and Hermione at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando might be just up your diagon alley.

Eat.Pray.Love – Naples and Rome
Eat. Pray. Love is another successful book that translated to the silver screen perfectly. In the film we see Liz who realises the urge to ‘find herself’ by eating, praying and loving. If you are anything like us then the eating part really caught your attention. Visit Naples to find the birthplace of Pizza – just like Liz. Except don’t stop there as the Ice Cream in Naples is to die for.

Sherlock Holmes – London
If you are looking for more adventure then why not visit London’s Baker Street? Sherlock Holmes fictionally lived here throughout the mid-1800s. Visit the Sherlock Holmes museum which stands in the exact spot where Sherlock is said to have lived at 221b Baker Street – it’s a great place for families.

The Devil Wears Prada – New York and Paris
Do the words “By all means move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me” and “We have all the published Harry Potter books. The twins want to know what happens next” speak to you? If so, you need to visit the site of The Devil Wears Prada and visit The Runway offices, which just happen to be the Fox building (1211 Avenue of the Americas).

I’d also like to see Australia’s Northern Territory on the list in the wake of having watched the Baz Luhrmann film starring, and I mean starring, Hugh Jackman. What about you? Have you ever booked a break on the back of watching a film?

Glasgow’s great, but it’s not capital worthy

Editor — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:21:27 +0000

According to Rough Guides, Glasgow should be the Scottish capital. The travel guide publishers have hailed the city as a “warmer less expensive alternative” to its east coast rival.

Glasgow

Sure there’s much to celebrate about Glasgow, home to the Scottish Opera, ballet, National Theatre and a buzzing nightlife scene (check out our article ‘Five reasons to go to Glasgow at http://www.cd-traveller.com/2010/10/25/five-reasons-to-go-to-glasgow/) , but does it really trump the true capital with its castles and world class festival? Given the choice, the CD-Traveller team would opt for Edinburgh every time…

The Hippo Welcomes You

Editor — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:22:46 +0000

According to the BBC, some 22,000 people visited the newly opened Chambers Street part of the National Museum of Scotland on Friday, its opening day. I was one. I can’t vouch for the numbers since as no-one paid, I couldn’t see how we could be counted. But it was busy, outside as well as in.
Is it worth the wait?
Collecting my free hippo badge as I walked though the first thing that struck me had little to do with the museum. I heard English voices, American ones, French ones and ones I didn’t recognise. There were Scots accents as well but they were outweighed by the number of others. Well it was a Friday so many could still be at work.
I missed the free entertainment on the museum steps before it opened as I didn’t get there till after midday. By then the steps were covered with people sitting on them. Inside though, certain exhibits were attracting such as Jackie Stewart’s racing car and Papua New Guinean slit gong used for sending messages. Adults and children all wanted to hit it to listen to the noise.
So what did I make of the new areas and the presentation of exhibits? In some areas such as those on textiles it seemed dark and, whilst I realise you don’t want too much light to affect the colours, a little more might have helped. The new areas are, on the whole, airy but exhibits in the middle of the halls have information cards too low down to read comfortably. And the modern section which abuts George IV Bridge still seems to me to be out-of-place with the rest of the architecture. The stone colouring is the same but it looks like an add-on rather than an integral part of the same building
Yes I’m nitpicking because nobody I spoke to had any gripes at all – apart for the queue for the toilets. And surely that is a sure sign of the museum’s appeal.
Just to remind you, the Museum has free entry for all comers.