Having said that, the Scottish cuisine suffered a lot from bad jokes (anyone still remembers the deep fried mars bar?), fish and chip shops or the detergent (but how lovely!) taste of IRN BRU.

Yet there is more to it than just fish and chips. In this post I want to highlight the three traditional Scottish dishes you simply must try.

Ready?

1. Haggis

By far and away, Haggis is Scotland’s most national dish. Haggis is a savoury pudding which contains a sheep’s heart, liver and lungs minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices and salt.
Traditionally the dish was served encased in sheep’s stomach, although nowadays, a simple sausage casing is used instead.

Haggis is usually served with turnip and potato (or as Scots would put it, with neeps and tatties).

2. Finnan Haddie

This smoked haddock dish originates from Findon near Aberdeen. Locally the dish is known as Finnan, the other part of the name is just a play on the word Haddock.

Finnan Haddie is usually grilled with butter or served as a fish stew with milk and onions.

3. Scotch Pie

This double crust stiff pastry pie filled with minced mutton and often highly spiced with pepper and other spices has made a name for itself not only in Scotland but also England and other countries.

The actual recipe each pie maker uses to produce a Scotch Pie is kept secret to ensure no imitations. However, few rules are common. The dish is baked in a round, straight-sided tin with the top crust laid slightly lower than the rim to make space for adding side dishes such as mashed potatoes, baked beans, sauces and more.

Over to You

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There is a reason for that. With the abundance of landmarks, breathtaking castle view, amazing shops and an overall panoramic view of the city, Princess Street certainly has a lot to offer.

If you want to find out more about this amazing landmark in Edinburgh, read on.

I guess first and foremost, Princess Street is a main shopping street of Edinburgh. It spans for one mile from Lothian Road in the west to Leith Street in the east.

One of its main features is almost complete lack of any building s on the south side which results in some great panoramic views of the city.

The street is primarily closed to cars and so you have to rely on the public transport to get there. It is also one of the busiest places in the city so be prepared for quite a lot of fellow tourists around you.

Shopping on the Princess Street

Princess Street is primarily known for shopping. This comes as no surprise if you consider that brand such as Boots, BHS, H&M, Debenhams, House of Fraser, M&S, Topman, Topshop have made the street their home.

Over the years much controversy has arisen over the various shops and the buildings they are in, however, in spite of this, the Princess Street remains a top and growing shopping destination.

Princess Street Gardens

Princess Street Gardens are probably the second thing, after shopping, that the street is know for. Moreover, the Gardens are by far the best known park in Edinburgh.

Princess Street Gardens are located right beside the Edinburgh Castle and run along the south side of the street, divided only by another landmark, The Mound.

The Gardens date back to 1770s and 1820s and offer the most serene environment if you want to relax and escape the craziness of the city.

One of the most notable feature of the Princess Street Gardens are various monuments you can find there. People like Sir Walter Scott, the explorer David Livingstone, Alan Ramsay or the church reformer Thomas Guthrie and more have been commemorated by having their statues in the park.

Churches

There is a number of historic churches located on the Princess Street.

St. John’s Episcopal Church stands on the corner of the Lothian Road on the east side of the street.

St Cuthbert’s Church stands on the other side of the street, at the foot of the Castle surrounded by a beautiful churchyard. It is a quite a historic place, with first mentions of any chapel in that location dating back to 8th century. Todays church dates back from 1754 although it went through a lot of changes and construction work over the years.

Apart from being a true historic landmark, the St Cuthbert’s Church is also a resting place to some notable figures from the city. John Napier, the inventor of logarithms is buried there, so is Alexander Nasmyth and the uncle of Charles Darwin, the famous naturalist.

Hogmanay

The Princess Street is also a location for the Hogmanay (the Scottish word for the last day of the year), the massively popular New Years Eve celebrations in Edinburgh.

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However, from time to time, often of subsequent visits, you might want to discover something new, a secret you haven’t heard of or seen before.

With that in mind, I have prepared a short list of some of the hidden secrets of Edinburgh you should visit and see.

1. Edinburgh Farmers Market

Located at the Castle Terrace, under the impressive backdrop of the Edinburgh Castle, the Edinburgh Farmers Market is a true food lovers delight.

Sample original foods from over 55 original food producers and farmers. Some of the foods you can buy at the market include farm grown vegetables and fruit, meat, fish, cheese, honey, pates and plants, not to mention organic beer, liquors, chocolate, bread and chutneys.

The Edinburgh Farmers Market is an ideal place if you want to get away from the usual tourist attractions while discovering new stimulus for your taste buds.

The Market takes place every Saturday from 9am till 2pm, all year round.

2. Water of Leith

The Water of Leith is a beautiful, over 12 miles long walk through the heart of Edinburgh. It passes through many places of interest, Colinton Colinton Village and Dell, the Union Canal, Saughton Winter Gardens, Murrayfield Stadium, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art and more.

And, because of the nature and the path of the walk, you can join it or leave at anytime, letting you only do the part you really want without having to walk the entire 12 miles.

You can also download or purchase a map of the route at the official walks website at http://www.waterofleith.org.uk/walkway/

3. The Real Mary King’s Close

The Real Mary King’s Close is a network of underground streets dating back to 1600s Edinburgh. In its day it was a bustling street, open to skies. But, if you want to find out how it found itself underground 400 years later, this tour of the Edinburgh past is definitely for you.

But be warned, The Real Mary King’s Close is not for the faint of heart. The area is spawned with myths and mysteries, from ghosts to tales of horror of a great plaque that swept the city 400 hundred years ago.

4. Royal Mile Gardens

The amount of green spaces in Edinburgh is definitely amongst the most fascinating things about the city. Regardless of where you are, you are never far from a field of green, a picnic area or a small garden offering a serene escape from the busy city.

That’s the case with the Royal Mile ‘Secret Gardens’. Nested behind the streets high buildings these 17th century gardens can offer a moment of tranquility and relax.

On an interesting note, many locals still don’t know that these gardens exist! A true secret of the city then.

5. St. Bernard’s Well

Constructed to its current form in 1789, St. Bernard’s Well has been known to offer some medicinal properties. A water from the well was said to be a cure for arthritis, back ache, and even total blindness.

For decades wealthy locals and holiday makers would make their way to the well in search for a cure for their health problems.

Today the well is usually closed and opened only for special days (for instance the Doors Open Day).

6. Dunbars Close Garden / Mushroom Garden

The Dunbars Close Garden, called Mushroom Garden by many locals is in fact one example of those tranquil Royal Mile gardens I spoke about earlier. Located just off the Canongate the garden is an ideal place for a picnic or to spend an hour alone with your thoughts, a book or hushed conversation.

Why Mushroom Garden? There isn’t actually anything fascinating about the name. The garden was restored from the wilderness by the Mushroom Trust in 1978 and in the eyes of many locals, gained its name.

7. The Royal Observatory

If you are interested in astronomy or would simply find out more about the sky above our heads, the Royal Observatory is a great place to visit. Located on Blackford Hill, the Observatory runs public astronomy evenings focusing on the skies of Scotland throughout the year.
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And, even though they haven’t played together since that famous show at the Brixton Academy in December 1986, their fan base is still growing.

Moreover, there’s hardly a rock back today that wouldn’t be influenced by this quartet from Manchester in any way.

Legions of their fans are traveling to Manchester each year to visit places related to the band and relive part of this vital history of the city.

If you are one of them, we have a little treat for you. Below is a list of MK Smiths related places in Manchester you simply must see.

384 Kings Road (Private House)

Starting off is the very home Morrissey grew up in. The house is located around an hours walk from the city centre (although you could also take the bus or a cab to get there). Unfortunately, this is a private residence and most likely you won’t be able to go in, but a picture in front of this house is a must for any fan!

Hacienda Club

Now demolished, Hacienda was probably the most important club in the music history, not only the Smiths’.

Owned by New Order the club is associated with giving the start to acid and rave music, Madchester and many others. The Smiths have played there 3 times in 1983 (you can watch all 3 shows in full on Youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvFxsuo6Aek.

Today, the club is no more and on its place stands a set of apartment blocks, aptly called Hacienda Apartments.

Strangeways Prison

This old Manchester prison, today called simply the Manchester Prison is what gave the name to the Smiths’ final album – Strangeways Here We Come.

The prison is located around a mile from the city centre.

The Holy Name Church

The song Vicar in a Tutu, from the Smiths’ album “The Queen is Dead” starts with the words: “I was minding my business lifting some lead off the roof of The Holy Name church”. The line relates to the very church standing at the corner of Oxford Road and Dover St., around 30 minutes walk from the Deansgate.

Salford Lads Club

I am sure every Smiths’ fan knows the picture at the back of “The Queen is Dead” album. Four members of the band stand in front of the entrance to the Salford Lads Club.

The club itself is located at the corner of St Ignatius Walk and Coronation Street, approximately 30 – 45 minutes walk from the Deansgate (unfortunately, in the opposite direction from the Holy Name Church).

The club features The Smiths room, a large collection of various memorabilia related to the band. In the past the club was also used by Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke as their rehearsal space.

The Ritz

Located on Whitworth Street, just over half a mile from the Deansgate, the club is the location of the Smiths’ very first gig ever. A must place to go to. Full stop.

Rusholme Area and Platt Fields Park

The Smith’s 1985 album Meat is Murder features a song called Rusholme Ruffians. It took its name from the Rusholme, a suburban area of Manchester. One of the most known locations there is the Platt Fields Park, just off Wilmslow Road.

Rusholme is a suburban district of Manchester. One of the most known locations is the Platt Fields Park where they sometimes have fairs, located off Wilmslow Road. It gave the title to Rusholme Ruffians, a song from The Smiths’ 1985 Meat is Murder LP.

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If you are coming over, make sure to drop by stand 300 and talk to us. We’re always happy to make new contacts in the world of corporate travel!

You can also find out more about us and the show from this site http://www.businesstravelshow.com/en/Exhibitors/staycity-apartments-ltd.aspx

The castle had fulfilled many roles throughout its history. Originally built as a defensive fortification it later became the royal residence, a place where parliaments and various offices met before moving to purpose built venues. The castle also served as a military garrison and was the seat of the British rule in Ireland up until the formation of the state in 1922.

Today, the Dublin Castle grounds are free to explore and feature, 2 cafes, a conference centre, 2 gardens, Government Buildings and the State Apartments which are the most important state rooms in the country, Chapel Royal, the Chester Beatty Library, the Garda Museum and the Revenue Museum.

State Apartments

Probably the most notable attraction are the State apartments. Located in the sourthern range of buildings of the Upper Yard, they contain the rooms used by the Irish Government for official engagements including policy launches, hosting of State Visit ceremonial, and the inauguration of the President every seven years.

The principal rooms of the State Apartments include:

Saint Patrick’s Hall

The greatest and one of the oldest rooms of the State Apartments. It dates back to 1740s and it’s decorations largely date back to 1750s. room contains one of the most important decorative interiors in the country. It was originally serving the role of a ballroom of the Lord Lieutenant’s administration, today the room is mainly used for presidential inaugurations.

State Dining Room

This room is also called the Picture Gallery. it largely retains its original decoration. As the name suggested, it was built for dinning and even today it is still used for such purpose during conference, usually taking place in the adjacent St. Patricks Hall.

Other notable rooms include:

• Throne Room
• State Drawing Room
• State Bedrooms
• State Corridor

IMPORTANT: Because of Ireland taking over the Presidency of the EU, The State Apartments have been temporarily closed for visitors.

Other tourist attractions in the Castle:

Norman Tower 

An intact and sole survival tower of the medieval castle. It dates back to ca. 1226 and originally it used to serve as a high security prison. It now houses a Garda Museum.

Dubhlinn Gardens

Dating back to ca. 1680. This is where the famous black pool from which the city got its name stands.

Treasury Building

The oldest office block in the city. 1714

Chester Beatty Gallery 

This is an art museum and a library housing the great collection of manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books and some decorative arts. All expositions have been assembled by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968) and hence the Gallery’s name.

Note that similarly as with the State Apartments, due to Ireland’s hosting the EU presidency until June 2013, access to the library might be restricted from time to time.

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Needless to say, the college grounds are magical and today I want to tell you a bit more about them.

To Begin at the Beginning, A Short History of the Trinity College

Trinity College is the oldest university in Ireland. It was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.

The college is famous for its graduates, Jonathan Swift, Oliver Goldsmith, Oscar Wilde or Samuel Beckett to name a few.

The college underwent a massive expansion in 1700s with the addition of the famous Library, the Printing House and the Dining Hall as well as the Parliament House.

1800s and the beginning of the last century market the period of the highest academic development of the school. New system of honor studies was introduced and many schools underwent a massive redevelopment.

Today, the college is one of the centers of educational life in Ireland with a number of students growing rapidly in recent years.

Attractions For the Visitor

Apart from its academic functions, the college stands as an important tourist landmark and is visited by a countless number of visitors each day.

Visitor facilities in the college include the Treasury, which includes the famous Book of Kells. You can also view an exhibition “The Book of Kells: Turning Darkenss into Light”. Another place worth seeing is the Long Room, the largest single-chamber library in the world. It contains approximately 200 thousand of the library’s oldest books. There are also many short term and temporary exhibitions held in the Long Room.

One of the great visitor attractions in the college is the student-guided walking tour which takes you through the historic campus of Trinity College Dublin. The tour operates from approx. mid-May till the end of September and you have to book your place to get in.

Outside of these period, the college offers tours on the weekends, however, it is a good idea to inquire about it first as it depends on the availability.

Other attractions include the Douglas Hyde Gallery, the Oscar Wilde centre for Irish writing, Samuel Beckett Theatre and many more.

Location

The college is located right in the centre of the city, at the start of the Dame street and Grafton street. It is an unmissable landmark which can be seen from quite a distance.
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3 Best Restaurants in Manchester

The Moss Nook
Located not far from the Manchester International Airport, the Moss Nook restaurant is one of the highly rated places in many tourist and food guides in the UK. It has been running for over 30 years now and is one of the oldest and truly one of the best restaurants in Manchester.

Moss Nook is ideal for any occasion, be it business or leisure. It has also become popular for family occasions. The menu offers French fine dining dishes with a bit of an English twist. However, make sure that you check out the Chef’s Surprise Menu, a sever course pure culinary delight.

Room Restaurant
This stylish and highly comfortable restaurant and cocktail bar is located on the King Street. If you are in this commercial and shopping district of Manchester, you are practically at the Rooms door. And, with the Royal Exchange Theatre around the corner, the restaurant is an ideal place to finish off a great day.

The menu features classic dishes, however, many have a bit of “contemporary twist” added to them. Quite importantly, the restaurant offers special menus catering for various dietary requirements of its guests.

Chaophraya Thai Restaurant
Voted one of the best restaurants in Manchester more than once, this Thai place, located on the corner of Chapel Walks and Pall Mall is a pure culinary delight. The restaurant caters for anything from quick lunches to special celebrations.
One of the greatest things about Chaophraya is that you can come to and from the restaurant in a classic Tuk Tuk. Just call in advance to book your table and a special, VIP Tuk Tuk ride.

Finding a good place to eat is one of the most typical tourist dilemmas, and this is especially true for a such busy city as Manchester. Hopefully the short list of best restaurants in Manchester will make your choice much easier.

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Manchester undoubtedly has a buzzing music scene which you can experience and enjoy by visiting so many great live music venues, which are often hosts to many prominent bands.

Probably the most famous one is Band On The Wall located at 25 Swan Street. First opened in 1930 the venue expanded into one of the most important music halls in the city. All major acts played here, often placing their first steps in the live performance on the stage of the club. The club started off as just a pub and a venue and it was not until 1975 that it started gaining a massive attention amongst music lovers. Initially the club presented only jazz music, however it quickly expanded into other styles. Band on the Wall witnessed the birth of punk music in the city, saw emerging new bands starting off there and launching their massive international careers and still welcomes newcomers to play on its stage.

You can check the current listings for Band on the Wall on their website at http://bandonthewall.org

Blue Cat Cafe is another of the citys favorite music venues. Visited quite often by the city bohemia the club showcases original and upcoming acts based on a very strict policy of original music only. You will not find any cover or tribute bands playing on its stage, instead you will be able to enjoy some of the finest of upcoming local and touring acts.

The club is located on 17 Shaw Road in the South Manchester. You can check their current program athttp://www.bluecatcafe.co.uk/Main.html

Bridgewater Hall is by all means not a small music club. Hosting all major events in the city, this decade old concert hall presents roughly 300 events a year  with the best of classical music, jazz, rock and pop. It is also the home of the Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic orchestras.

There is always something going on in the Bridgewater Hall and you can check the events at the time of your visit at http://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/

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