Church = Theater, B&B or Restuarant

All over Scotland and the UK there are beautiful old churches. They have ornate stain glass, high arches and beautiful architecture. Unfortunately many of these churches are no longer used as churches. Just in Edinburgh alone, there are churches converted into restaurants (very pretty to eat in, but sad that it is no longer a house of worship), Theaters, Apartments and even Bed & Breakfasts. There are still many old churches that still function as churches (like my church Charlotte Baptist church http://www.charlottechapel.org/home.php) but it makes me wonder, is this the path that the USA is on? There is a theory that the USA is about 5 to 10 years behind in the political and social trends of the UK, so is this the fate that our churches have to look forward to?

Enough of my musings, onto the fun stuff :-) I can't believe another week has gone by already! I feel like I am always busy with something to do, but really without work - how busy can I be? I got to visit the Sir Walter Scott Memorial this week. Only 287 steps up a narrow spiral stone staircase! Only 1 way up and down, so anyone you pass on the staircase..... We'll you get the idea :-) It is a beautiful view from the top of the memorial. You can see Leith, the Firth and also the beautiful tram works all the way up and down Princess St (ick!) A highly recommended trip to the top if its a beautiful day (otherwise you will have spent 3 pounds and had your leg muscles burning to only see a foggy grey cloud all around you)

I also had the opportunity to walk the Water of Leith trail. It's a nice 12 mile walk from Balerno all the way to the Leith Docks on the harbor. The only frustrating part was the lack of sign posts when you hit the towns. I think I might have gone a mile out of my way just because I had no idea where to go. My favorite spot on this walk was St. Bernard's Well. I'll describe the scene so you can picture it: You're walking down a tree lined path along a river, when you come around a corner and see a great big Grecian temple with a Greek Woman holding a COFFEE cup in her hand! OK, I'm sure it's not a coffee cup, but that's what I imagined it to be. There is supposed to me mineral water in that well with healing powers. I guess the poorer people who couldn't afford to travel down to Bath, England for their healing got to stay in Edinburgh to taste the icky water here instead. No thanks, I'll stick to tap water - thank you :-)

I can't wait to do my next post and put up pictures! I started running the Fife Coastal Trail and it is an unbelievable run the whole way, all along the coast of Scotland! See you later!