Another German meetup and a chance to squeeze in an Edinburgh walk beforehand. I took the bus direct from work to the city and made a beeline for Calton Hill - the small peak which overlooks central Edinburgh and offers sufficient elevation to gaze across the rooftops all the way to the Firth of Forth and towards Fife. I had been up the hill a couple of times in the past for the annual Beltane Fire Festival, a traditional Celtic celebration marking the arrival of summer. The modern event was established in the late 80s and has grown to become a major gathering which is fully ticketed and stewarded.
Calton Hill is 338 feet high and easily reached from the rail and bus stations. A steep walkway brings you to the summit and there are several structures to explore, not least the National Monument of Scotland, a Parthenon inspired tribute to the Scottish soldiers and sailors who fell in the Napoleonic Wars. Construction began in 1826 but was halted after the funds ran dry, resulting in a folly. The partial state of completion no doubt helped cement its status a major visitor attraction. The Dugald Stewart Monument (pictured above) is another famous landmark and popular spot for taking photos of the Edinburgh skyline. There were quite a few tourists milling around on a pleasant evening. Judging by the number of parked minibuses, it must be a routine stop on city tours. I made my way back down to street level and stopped for a quick pint in Wetherspoons. A cask conditioned lager - Schiehallion by Harviestoun of Alva - slaked my thirst as I uploaded my pictures.
The meeting was being held around halfway down Leith Walk in the Bier Hoose, formerly known for decades as the Boundary Bar due to the fact it straddled the burghs of Edinburgh and Leith. Drinking in Edinburgh pubs is a rather expensive activity but I'd secured a private tuition session the night before and was out to enjoy this unexpected cash bonus. I ordered up an organic stout from the Black Isle Brewery, proffered a fiver and received only shrapnel in return. My beer had to be re-poured as the first attempt resulted in two thirds of a glass of froth. This brief spell of frustration over, I joined my Kumpels in the far corner. The Bier Hoose specialises in German and Belgian drinks. There is a wide selection of bottles available but I was sticking to the taps. I next decided to sample the house lager, mainly as the £3.60 cost would give me a pound coin in my change which I could pass to Peter as my meetup donation. Around a dozen people were present, no newcomers this time but that's the nature of the beast and it was good to catch up with old faces. Oh, and the Bier Hoose lager turned out to be a lovely pint.
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