A Little Taste of Edinburgh Fringe

On the Royal Mile

I have a confession to make - I have lived in Scotland for over 30 years and yesterday was only the second time I have been to the Fringe!  Unforgivable I know and I can't even explain why.  In fact, about 20 years ago, I met another American on a plane journey who lived in Edinburgh and had one of those random conversations you only have on planes.  She admitted her mother felt the only decent time to visit Scotland was for the Fringe.  Even that didn't spur me on to get there any sooner.

Two years ago, my first experience was amazing and we agreed to go once a year.  That didn't happen either. Isn't it strange how life just gets in the way? Thank goodness for our son, who was spending a few days up here from London!  We agreed to meet for the day and he got us tickets to a show he knew we would enjoy.

We intended to take the bus since we can travel for free now.  Once you reach 60 years of age in Scotland, you get a Senior Travel Pass which gives you free bus travel throughout Scotland. The only trouble is - it takes an hour longer than the train and time was too precious to waste (we only had about 6 hours to spend at the Fringe).  Why the time pressure?  We have a puppy and could not be away too long.  Not the best but at least we got to go!

So the first question must be "What is the Fringe?"  I looked it up and read that it is the largest festival in the world!  Instead of going into extreme detail, here is a link to read about it.  After reading it just now, my head is swimming at just how big this celebration of the arts is.

just across from the train station

You can feel the energy as soon as you get off the train.  There are venues all over the city, plus so many street performances and that is even before you get up to the Royal Mile where many of the street stages are set up.

entering the main part of Royal Mile with so much happening!

We only had about 1 1/2 hours to wander up the Royal Mile before going to check into our accommodation in a part of Edinburgh we were not familiar with.

Here are some of the performances we saw along the street:

This person is advertising a show.
People walk up and take a flyer. then someone  else  places a new flyer into this person's hand!

This group played Spoons and tap danced. They were brilliant.

Wonderful Flamenco dancing

I did put something in the bucket so I didn't feel
guilty taking photos.

While I was taking his photo, I saw his little finger
move just a bit!

We stopped and watched a fire juggler and could not tear ourselves away.  He was so good and so funny.  I asked his name and wrote it down but don't have it with me just now.  But I did find his show on you tube and will share it here. The show looks a few years old, but its very similar to what we saw.

Demonstrating the American way to juggle fire.
Look at the video, it was funny!

The last trick involved audience members and was fun.

No jugglers were injured in this stunt.

During the Fringe, it is almost impossible to find affordable hotel rooms, or any rooms at all without advance planning.  So I could not believe my luck when I found a room for 2 at The Arran House for only £78.  All others were well over £200 - 300.  The Arran House is student housing that rents their rooms during the summer. The room was basic, but we only needed a bed and a roof.  And - apart from heading there in the middle of the day to check in and dump our stuff, we were actually in the room for less than 7 hours. Just enough time to sleep and get up to catch the 7:30 train home ( to get our dog).  If we are lucky enough to return to Edinburgh next year, we would not hesitate to return.  Just what we needed, and why pay more for a fancier name when all you need is a place to sleep?

As we were crossing the North Bridge, we both took photos of Edinburgh without performers in them!

After checking in, we made a mad dash back to the Royal Mile and headed to The Pleasance Theatre to meet our son and his girlfriend and watch the Ruby Wax show called Frazzled.  It was a great show and I was really excited to see Ruby Wax.  She moved to the UK a bit earlier than I did and was very popular.  I enjoyed her too shows them and was delighted to be able to see her in person.

I thought we would eat between this show and the one at 9 that our son had bought us tickets for, which was also the reason we needed to stay overnight!  But, instead in great Fringe fashion, our son found another highly rated show and booked tickets for that!  

 When I say highly rated show, it was very well done. 

These 4 bits of props were a train, a bridge, tables
and a few other things! 

But covered extremely deep subjects about abortion, suicide, alcoholism, abuse.....  based in Dublin with minimal staging.  Not a relaxing show, but I must admit it was thought provoking. I have no idea what it was called.  

Now the time was too limited and restaurants were too full, so we ended up getting burgers at a food and bar court set up near our next activity.  There were these sort of courtyards set up all around Edinburgh.

Our last show of the day was to see Foil, Arms & Hog. An Irish comedy group who were absolutely amazing. They never stopped and did so many sketches, not related to each other, just really funny observations.  I was sorry to see it end.  They perform at the Fringe every year, so I intend to see them again in 2019!

We had a last drink together and were treated to this by our son's girlfriend.  Very nice gesture!  She bought me a gin and tonic and now will be my friend for life!  

They were staying with a friend who lived relatively near The Arran House, so we walked together for a bit until it was time to say goodbye and go our separate ways.

What a day!

Listed by chroniclelive.co.uk as one of the funniest jokes of last year's Fringe - 

1. “I like to imagine the guy who invented the umbrella was going to call it the ‘brella’. But he hesitated.” Andy Field