Coming to PhUSE? What to see in Edinburgh.

At last year's PhUSE Conference, when this years location was announced, as a Scotsman, I was asked to come up on stage and make sure I got the pronunciation of "Edinburgh" correct. I was happy to oblige.

As someone who grew up in Scotland, and with a bustling PHASTAR office in Scotland I wanted to write a few hints and tips for activities you might want to try, sights to see and foods to taste. Here's my top tips:

1. Drink some Scottish Whisky! Whisky is the UK's biggest export so it might be a good idea to sample a wee dram while you're here. You could go for dinner or drinks at a whisky bar (like this one) or for a more authentic experience try a pub crawl among the many pubs on Rose Street. Go for a single malt - if you're not sure which one to try how about a Bruichladdich?
2. Try haggis, neeps (turnip) and tatties (potatoes). Haggis is like a highly spiced fat sausage (lots of black pepper). I hear it's delicious although I've only ever tried the vegetarian version (which I can definitely confirm is delicious).
3. Go see the Scottish Crown Jewels in Edinburgh Castle. One of the other highlights at the castle is the Stone of Destiny - an ancient Scottish symbol of monarchy. Since 1296 it has been used for the coronation of both Scottish and English kings and queens. Stolen from Westminster Abbey in 1950, it was officially returned to Scotland in 1996. The stone will be used for future coronations of kings and queens in the UK.
4. Pop into the Scottish National Gallery where you can see masterpieces from Scottish and international artists. One of my favourite paintings here is this one of a Scottish gentleman skating on a frozen loch.
5. I've heard that the Edinburgh Ghost Tours are very good. My sister still swears that her hand was touched by a ghostly child on one of the tours. Of course, as a scientist I believe there must be a more rational explanation!
6. We grew up as a family singing Scottish songs, and there's one that sticks in my memory about Greyfriar's Bobby, a dog who was loyal to his owner even after the owner's death. Bobby would guard the grave for 14 years after the death of his owner. Here's a link to the full story - you can see a statue of Bobby in Edinburgh.
7. If it's not raining, a walk in Princes Street Gardens under the gaze of the castle is glorious. We used to love coming here and feeding the squirrels as children - bring some peanuts!

From all of us at PHASTAR, we wish you an enjoyable time in Scotland, and a productive conference.