Auld Reekie

Edinburgh, end of the way.
After 1o days in Skye and the outer Hebrides we come back to our dream city. You can't ask for more from a human conurbation: medieval town, Georgian expansion, south-facing villa district, river-side walk... You name it.
And on top of everything, the festival fringe! That's what local festivals all over that world should be like.
After a concert of Bach cantatas and concertos at the Canon Kirk we walk home across the 'west end village'. It's fairly quiet, all the noise and excitement having moved to more central parts of the city; lights are low too, and in William street we find these ornate railings. Just out of an Ian Rankin novel? I can almost sense John Rebus on the prowl.