Two for one

Today and yesterday have been busy science days, and therefore slightly quieter touristy days, but we've still fit in some exploring.
Yesterday we visited a gin distillery, which was neat because it was a properly operational site, so we got to actually see the stills at work, unlike either of the other distillery/brewery tours we took. It was also interesting because they talked about the history of gin in the UK, and it's role in the temperance movements, in naval history, and trade and economics. The gin and tonic they made was pretty tasty, too, so that was a bonus.

The distillery is supposed to be reminecent of the "Gin Dens" (such good connotations) that people would get gin from in the 1700s, when beer was very heavily taxed and the water was unsafe to drink - so people drank copious amounts of gin. No idea how society functioned.

This tour was another recommendation by a friend, and it was well worth it! It was much more interesting than the big famous breweries in Dublin, mostly because it hasn't been as commercialized, and the distillery is pretty small and operational.

This morning, before Michael headed to the conference to give his talk (which he is probably starting as I type) we did another hike up to Arthur's Seat, another volcanic peak in Edinburgh. It was a perfect morning for it - somewhat overcast and cool, but still affording very lovely views of the bay, the city, and the surrounding countryside. The park was fairly large, with several hills to climb around on. Seeing as we wont really have time to make it up to the highlands on this trip, the scenery here mostly just made me want to come back to Scotland sometime soon to explore the more wild parts.

Up we go again!

So many stairs... this time Michael knew what we were getting into, though.

There were foxgloves scattered all up the hillsides. It was very green, and lovely.

Almost to the top! Once we climbed up the main hill, there was a big expanse of grassy/heathery/brushy hills to wander around.

The views were stunning. This is such a beautiful city.

We made it to the top!

The ruins of St Anthony's Chapel, which was probably built sometime in the 1400s, and abandoned in the late 1500s.

Standing in a very old doorway.

The geology of Scotland is fascinating, and very complicated!

Fortunately, we also found an Earth Science museum...

 

 

After the hike, we visited "Dynamic Earth", which was probably the most well presented science center we have ever visited. Scotland actually played a big role in founding geology as a science, and it had a very good run down on basic geologic principles, the formation of the earth and the planets, and evolution. It was particularly cool because it was sort of a self guided tour through time, with all sorts of special effects. We listened to a lecture "by" James Hutton, considered the father of modern geology, took a "time machine" back to the big bang and watched the universe evolve, visited the surface of early earth and learned how the continents have formed and changed, and then took a flying expedition from the arctic to the poles, exploring all the different biomes on the way. It's something that could have been incredibly cheesy and just for kids, but it was fantastically executed, so it was totally worth it, and very interesting. I'm particularly interested in this sort of thing because I helped develop that science center exhibit - I think that this place is what they were aspiring to be. So overall, a very good morning!
  As mentioned, Michael is giving his talk today, and I'm sure it will go fine. :)