Edinburgh: Victoria Street, Wojtek the Bear, and Random Tips

Victoria Street, in the Old Town, is one of the most photographed locations in the city. It was built between 1829-34 as part of a series of improvements to the Old Town, with the aim of improving access around the city. Previously, access from the Grassmarket to the Lawnmarket was via the West Bow, a very steeply sloped and narrow lane. This street was designed by architect Thomas Hamilton, one of the leading lights in transforming the city with neo-classical buildings and much influenced by the architecture of ancient Greece. However, it was stipulated that the buildings associated with the new street should be ‘Old Flemish’ in style, and draw inspiration from the details on Heriot’s Hospital.

This sculpture in Princes Street Gardens pays homage to Wojtek the Bear and his remarkable journey to Scotland which began in 1943 in Iran, where Polish soldiers from the 2nd Corps adopted an orphaned brown bear cub. These soldiers, former political prisoners released from Soviet gulags, found solace in the bear's presence as they joined the fight against the Axis powers. As the bear grew, he became a morale booster, saluting, carrying supplies, and even enjoying unconventional treats like beer and cigarettes.

Transitioning to active combat posed a challenge due to pet restrictions, leading the bear to be enlisted as Private Wojtek in the 22nd Artillery Transport Company of the 2nd Corps. He notably contributed during the Battle of Monte Cassino, moving ammunition crates in his unique upright stance. His popularity birthed the company's official emblem featuring a bear carrying an artillery shell.

Post-war, Wojtek's company settled in Scotland, as most soldiers chose exile over returning to post-Soviet Poland. After the 22nd Company's demobilization in 1947, Wojtek found a home in the Edinburgh Zoo, where his former comrades and new admirers continued to visit him. At 22 years old, he passed away in 1963, leaving behind a legacy of camaraderie and unlikely heroism.

CHAOPHAYA THAI RESTAURANT

I discovered this restaurant after I returned to Edinburgh after hiking the West Highland Way and it is amazing!!! I highly recommend giving it a try. The views alone are spectacular with the castle on one side and the water on the other. I had a seagull as a dining companion, luckily there was a window between us. On a lovely day without rain there is an open rooftop for cocktails.

Here’s what they have to say about themselves:

THAI WITH A VIEW

Located in the heart of Edinburgh, a short walk from the castle and George Street, you can escape the city at Chaophraya. Our team of expert Chefs, headed up by owner Kim, bring together classic Thai and distinct signature dishes, including vegan and gluten free options, accompanied by a fantastic range of cocktails, wines and beers.

We offer breathtaking rooftop views towards Edinburgh Castle and the Firth of Forth (one of Scotland's most important estuaries, formed by several Scottish rivers) in a contemporary and glamourous feeling restaurant inspired by Thailand.

CHAOPHAYA
4th Floor, 33 Castle St, Edinburgh, EH2 3DN
0131 634 0023
edinburgh@chaophraya.co.uk
open daily from 12:00 until late.

Here is a recipe from their culinary school…YUM!!!

Vegan Pad Thai

Follow this easy recipe for an easy, quick, vegan stir-fry dish!

Ingredients – Serves 1

100 g Rice Noodles
100 g Organic Tofu
40 ml Rapeseed Oil
5 g Chang Sweet Chop Turnip
40 g Beansprouts
5 g Red Onion
30 g Carrots
30 g Vegetable Stock
Half a lime
10 g Crushed Chillies
15 g Whole Peanuts
Handful of Coriander
100 ml Pad Thai Sauce (we recommend this sauce to make it as easy as possible!)

Method

Soak your rice noodles in water for 3 hours or until soft. Drain them and keep aside in a container.
Thinly slice the red onions. Julienne cut (slice into match sticks) carrots and spring onions. Wash your beansprouts.
Cut the tofu into 1-inch dice and deep fry until golden and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Heat oil in a wok and fry the red onion slices and small diced tofu until fragrant. Add chopped turnip, rice noodles, and a little bit of veg stock to help cook the noodles faster. Then add the fried tofu and Pad Thai sauce and continue to stir fry util the noodles absorb the sauce and become soft. Add the rest of your ingredients and continue to stir fry until cooked.
Remove from the heat to keep the vegetables crunchy, place on a plate and garnish with coriander.
Serve with ground peanuts, crushed chilli and a slice of lime on the side.

Top tip: Use your toppings and don’t forget to squeeze your lime!
Team Chaophraya!

STAY Central Hotel, one of the hotels I stayed in, was fun, fairly inexpensive, well located, and loud. There is a very popular club connected to it which makes it easy to access even when there is a queue outside waiting to get in…if you want to do the club scene. Live music, events, and all.

Book your room directly online for the best rates and receive the following: Complimentary bottle of promotional Prosecco in room for arrival, Late check out on departure day until 12pm, 10% off next stay. Simply apply promotional code WEB5 at time of booking.

Here’s what they have to say about themselves…

weird & wonderful

stay central is a place for the explorers, the thrill-seekers, the adventurists. a little bit boutique hotel, a little bit trendy european hostel, a little bit special. here, we are all about fun & frolics, but with no shortage of home comforts. a short stroll from anywhere, we have 37 bedrooms arranged by size. They go- S, M, L, XL, XXL and DORM, and all rooms are packed full of those little extras guaranteed to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. all our guests will enjoy free & plentiful wifi, large flat screen TVs, rainfall style showers, bluetooth speakers, and arrival treats.

right in the thick of it

appropriately named, stay central is located in the very centre of the bustling historic cowgate. with a world-famous late night bar for company, it’s the perfect spot for anyone coming to edinburgh determined to burn the candle at both ends. for these reasons, stay is suited best for adult guests and therefore we do not allow children under the age of 12. for anyone over that age, we can offer a huge selection of bedrooms types, from compact and cosy rooms for couples, to dorm-style accommodation with all the mod cons you and your group will need for a great time!

STAY Central Hotel
https://staycentral.co.uk/

After hiking 177 km/110 miles on the West Highland Way, when I ended up back in Edinburgh I really wanted a massage. I found Lush Spa Edinburgh and how lucky I was. I had been to the original Lush Spa in Poole almost 6 years ago now so my expectations were high and wow were they met!! I did the Synaesthesia Spa Treatment, their signature 80 minute bespoke full body, multi-sensory massage to transform your state of mind. Synesthesia or synaesthesia is a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. People who report a lifelong history of such experiences are known as synesthetes. Some people can hear smells, or taste touch. The founder sees geometry with smells and all sorts of other stuff and creates around that. He records birdsong and curates massage rhythm and type with intention and adds music and smell and touch each unique to the intention you choose.

My massage was created around the intentions I chose and the massage and music are curated based on the choices I that called to me. They showed you this board (see pictured below) and you choose whichever one calls to you. You can study it, or close your eyes and pick, or do what I did and choose the first one that really popped out for me. Mine was SIMPLICITY. I wrote that down on a chalk board. Then you chose a bottle of oil either by favorite color and/or words that stand out, however it works best for you. I chose “AWAKENING, to new beginnings”. So my intention the therapist and I held throughout the entire treatment were Simplicity and Awakening to new beginnings. LOVE IT!!

Here is what they say you can expect: This is Lush’s original full-body, 80 minute experience, featuring an effective medium pressure massage, while light, color, scent and taste are encompassed to truly indulge all five senses.

Whether you want to find your sense of belonging, build some resilience, or create space for inspiration, Synaesthesia allows you to select one of eleven ‘intentions’ to take you from one state of mind to another.

Enjoy a powerful piece of music by Lush Fresh Handmade Sound, including an orchestra and English bird song, and enter on a journey to your best self.

Lush Spa Edinburgh
115 Princes St
Edinburgh EH2 3AA
Contact+441312254688
edinburgh@lush.co.uk

Here is also what they have to say: Our team at Lush Spa Edinburgh are excited to welcome you to our store and spa located in the heart of the city on Princes St. We're here to make your experience as magical as possible and our team will be on hand to assist you in exploring our wide range of fresh hand made cosmetics. Lose yourself in experiencing the products in store, touring our spa facilities and learning about our company brand values. To book in or enquire about a service give us a call or fill out our form: https://form.jotform.com/210976109977368