CHAPTER 9 EDINBURGH Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Edimburgo, la capital de Escocia, es uno de las ciudades ms bonitas en Europa. Dominated by a medieval castle on a volcanic rock, it has a fascinating history and there is a lot to see. Dominado por un castillo medieval en una piedra volcnica, tiene una historia fascinante y hay mucho que ver. It's the home of one of the best summer festivals in the world, the Edinburgh Festival. Estamos en una de las fiestas de verano ms buenas en el mundo, la Fiesta de Edimburgo. It's also the home of a very old friend of mine called Martin. Adems est la casa de un muy viejo amigo mo llamado Martin. Martin and I met at my school in Spain. Martin y yo nos conocimos en mi escuela en Espaa. We were both 14 years old and my family had recently returned to Spain from the United States. Nosotros teniamos ambos 14 aos y mi familia haba vuelto recientemente a Espaa de los Estados Unidos. My English was better than my Spanish, so I had problems at school that year. Mi ingls era mejor que mi espaol, as que yo tena problemas en la escuela que ao. Sometimes I didn't understand what the teacher was saying or what I was supposed to do. A veces yo no entenda lo que el maestro estaba diciendo o lo que se supona que haca. I also felt isolated because I didn't know about the same things as my classmates. Yo tambin me senta aislado porque yo no conocia sobre las mismas cosas como mis compaeros de clase. I had different clothes and I liked different music. Yo tena ropa diferente y me gustaba msica diferente. People were friendly, but I wasn't happy. Las personas eran amistosas, pero yo no estaba contento. After Easter, my school had an exchange with a school from Edinburgh. Despus de Pascua, mi escuela tena un intercambio con una escuela de Edimburgo. Some pupils in my class didn't know what country Edinburgh was in, so our teacher showed us on the map. Algunos alumnos de mi clase no conocian lo rural que era Edimburgo, por lo que nuestro maestro nos lo mostr en el mapa. "Here's Edinburgh, on the east coast of Scotland," she said, pointing. "Aqu es Edimburgo, en la costa oriental de Escocia," ella dijo y apuntando. "It's the capital of Scotland and the country's biggest tourist city. "Es la capital de Escocia y la ciudad turstica ms grande del pas. After London, more people visit Edinburgh than anywhere else in Britain." Despus de Londres, ms personas visitan Edimburgo que a cualquier otra parte de Bretaa." Twenty Scottish pupils came to our school for three weeks and stayed with our families. Veinte alumnos escoceses vinieron a nuestra escuela durante tres semanas y se quedaron con nuestras familias. I was the only person who could speak English and Spanish. Yo era la nica persona que podra hablar ingls y espaol. Suddenly, everyone needed me to translate and help them so that they could talk to each other. De repente, todos me necesitaban para traducir y ayudarles para que ellos pudieran hablar con nosotros. By the end of the three weeks, I felt I had a lot of new friends, both Spanish and Scottish. Al final de las tres semanas, yo senta que yo tena muchos nuevos amigos, espaoles y escocses. Martin was the most popular person in his class. Martin era la persona ms popular en su clase. He was funny, intelligent and very good at sport - and he was staying in my house! l era cmico, inteligente y muy bueno en el deporte - y l estaba hospedndose en mi casa! We soon discovered that we had a lot in common and we became good friends. Nosotros descubrimos pronto que nosotros tenamos mucho en comn y nosotros nos hicimos amigos buenos. "It's been great having you here," I told Martin on his last day. "Haces que se sienta bien aqui," yo le dije a Martin en su ltimo da. "I like my school and Spain more now, because you've helped me to make new friends." "Me gustan mi escuela y Espaa ahora ms, porque usted ha ayudado que yo haga a los nuevos amigos." "Thanks," he said. "Las gracias," l dijo.

"I've had a fantastic time. "Yo he tenido un tiempo fantstico. You've shown me your city and you've taught me Spanish. Usted me ha mostrado su ciudad y usted me ha enseado espaol. One day, I want you to come to Edinburgh to visit me and I'll show you my city. Un da, yo quiero que usted venga a Edimburgo para visitarme y yo le mostrar mi ciudad. Come in summer, it's the best time." Entre verano, es el mejor momento ." "I'll definitely visit you. "Yo lo visitar definitivamente. That's a promise!" I told him. Te lo prometo!" Yo le dije. I was finally here. Yo estaba finalmente aqu. Six years later, in the middle of August, I got off the train at Edinburgh's Waverley Station and there was Martin! Seis aos despus, en el medio de agosto, yo baj del tren en la Estacin de Waverley de Edimburgo y estaba Martin! When he saw me walking down the platform, he shouted so loudly that everyone stopped and turned round!" Cuando l me vio caminar abajo la plataforma, l grit tan ruidosamente que todos detuvimos y nos volvimos alrededor!" "Antonio! Hey Antonio! "Antonio! Eh Antonio! It's so good to see you!" Es tan bueno verlo!" He took me to his flat, which he shared with two friends, and told me all about the plans he had for my visit. l me llev a su piso que l compartia con dos amigos, y me dijo todos los planes que l tena para mi visita. "It's wonderful that you're here for the Festival. "Es maravilloso que usted este aqu para la Fiesta. I love Edinburgh all year, but during the Festival it's crazy! Yo amo Edimburgo todo el ao, pero durante la Fiesta est loco! There's so much happening all day and all night. Hay tanto acontecimiento todo el da y toda la noche. I hope you got lots of sleep before you came because we've got a lot to do and a lot to see. Yo espero que usted dormiera antes de que usted viniera porque nosotros tenemos mucho que hacer y mucho para ver. I know you're going to enjoy this city." Yo s que usted va a disfrutar esta ciudad." "So, what are our plans?" I asked. "Asi que, que son nuestros planes?" Yo pregunt. "Well, I thought we could go and visit the castle this afternoon and go for a walk around the Old Town, the oldest part of Edinburgh, which is the area where I live. "Bien, yo pens que nosotros pudiramos ir y podramos visitar el castillo esta tarde y da un paseo alrededor del Pueblo Viejo, la parte ms vieja de Edimburgo que es el rea donde yo vivo. Then, tonight we can go and see a show at the Festival," he began. Entonces, esta noche nosotros podemos ir y podemos ver un espectculo en la Fiesta," l empez. "Which show?" I interrupted. "Qu espectculo"? yo interrump. "There are a lot of shows that have good reviews. "Hay muchas muestras que tienen criticas buenas. The local newspapers have a special section for the Festival and the Fringe ..." Los peridicos locales tienen una seccin especial para la Fiesta y la Franja..." "What's the Fringe?" I asked. "Que es la Franja?" Yo pregunt.

"OK," he said, "I'll start at the beginning. "OK," l dijo, "yo empezar del principio. But you must be hungry. Pero usted debe tener hambre. I'll tell you about the Fringe while we have lunch." Yo le dir sobre la Franja mientras nosotros almorzamos." We had lunch with Paul and Alison, Martin's two flatmates. Nosotros almorzbamos con Paul y Alison, el dos compaeros del piso de Martin. While we were eating, they told me more about the Festival. Mientras nosotros estbamos comiendo, ellos me dijeron ms sobre la Fiesta. It started in 1947 and every year, there is an official programme of classical music, opera, theatre and comedy. Empez en 1947 y todos los aos, hay un programa oficial de msica clsica, pera, teatro y comedia. The Festival Fringe started the same year and is basically another unofficial festival that happens outside - on the `fringe of - the main festival. La Franja Festiva empez el mismo ao y es bsicamente otra fiesta extraoficial fuera de la que pasa - en la `Franja de - la fiesta principal. "There are lots of free performances every night and hundreds more that you pay to go and see. "Hay muchas actuaciones libres todas las noches y cientos ms que usted paga para ir a ver. You can pay anything from 1 upwards. Usted puede pagar algo de 1 upwards.(barrio alto) You'll see what the Festival is as soon as we go outside," said Martin. Usted ver lo que la Fiesta es en cuanto nosotros nos vayamos," dijo a Martin. "It's difficult to describe the Festival in words," added Alison. "Es difcil de describir la Fiesta en palabras," agreg Alison. "you have to live it. "usted tiene que vivirlo. The atmosphere is like one big party, and everyone in Edinburgh is invited." La atmsfera est como una fiesta grande, y todos en Edimburgo estamos invitamos." Martin and his friends live in the Old Town, which is like a labyrinth with its narrow streets. Martin y sus amigos viven en el Pueblo Viejo que es como un laberinto con sus calles estrechas. We walked slowly up the High Street (also called the Royal Mile) past the beautiful Saint Giles Cathedral. Nosotros caminamos por la Calle Superior despacio (tambin llamada la Milla Real) ms all de la bonita Cathedral de San Giles . This is the road that goes to Edinburgh Castle. ste es el camino que va al Castillo de Edimburgo. The streets were busy and among the tourists and people shopping, there were clowns, mime artist, actors in costume and musicians playing alone and in groups. Las calles estaban ocupadas y entre turistas y personas comprando, haba payasos, mimos, actores disfrazados y msicos que tocan solos en grupos. The city was alive and full of colour and everywhere I looked, some fun thing was happening. La ciudad estaba viva y llena de color y por todas partes que miraba alguna coasa divertida estaba pasando. "This is great!" I exclaimed. "Esto es grandioso!" Yo exclam. Just then, someone put a leaflet in my hand. Solo despues, alguien puso una hoja impresa en mi mano. "What's this?" "Que es esto?" I asked, looking at the piece of paper. Yo pregunte, mirando el pedazo de papel. During the day, actors advertise their show for the evening. Durante el da, actores anuncian su show durante la tarde.(actuacin) By the time we arrive at the castle, you'll have at least 10 leaflets!" Martin promised me. Cuando nosotros llegamos al castillo, usted tendr 10 hojas impresas por lo menos!" Martin me prometi. He was right.

l tena razn. I had 12 pieces of paper in my hand when we arrived at the castle, and all the shows looked interesting. Yo tena 12 pedazos de papel en mi mano cuando nosotros llegamos al castillo, y todas los espectaculos parecan interesantes. "Choosing one show is going to be a problem," I said to Martin. "Escoger un espectaculo va a ser un problema," yo le dije a Martin. "Don't worry, I've got a few ideas!" he laughed. "No te preocupes, yo tengo unas ideas!" l se ri. * * * * * * * * * * About one million people visit Edinburgh Castle every year. Aproximadamente un milln de personas visitan Castillo de Edimburgo todos los aos. There is a museum in the castle, but it is also an army base because the Scottish division of the British army is based here. Hay un museo en el castillo, pero tambin es una base del ejrcito porque la divisin escocesa del ejrcito britnico se fund aqu. From the castle, the view of the city, situated between the sea and the mountains, is superb. Desde el castillo, se ve la ciudad, situada entre el mar y las montaas, es extraordinario. Inside the castle, we saw the Royal apartments. Dentro del castillo, nosotros vimos los apartamentos Reales. There is a tiny room here, where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to the boy who became the king of both England and Scotland. Hay un cuarto diminuto aqu, donde Mary, Reina de los escocses dio a luz al muchacho que llego a se el rey de Inglaterra y " Escocia. "He became King James VI of Scotland and King James 1 of England in 1603, when Queen Elizabeth 1 of England died. "l se volvi Rey James VI de Escocia y Rey James 1 de Inglaterra en 1603, cuando Reina Elizabeth 1 de Inglaterra se muri.(I=1) It was important because England and Scotland were separate countries then and they had different kings. Era importante porque Inglaterra y Escocia eran entonces pases separados y ellos tenan reyes diferentes. James was the first king to be the king of both countries. James fue el primer rey en ser el rey de ambos pases. It was called the Union of the Crowns," Martin told me. Se llam la Unin de las Coronas," Martin me dijo. I must admit, I didn't know very much about Scottish history, but Martin was an expert. Yo debo admitir, yo no conocia mucho sobre la historia escocesa, pero Martin era un experto. He was studying history at university and was a very good guide. l estaba estudiando historia en la universidad y era una gua muy bueno. Martin and his flatmates were also good guides for the Festival. Martin y sus compaeros de piso tambin eran guas buenos para la Fiesta. They had a surprise for me on my first night. Ellos tenan una sorpresa para m en mi primera noche. We went to see Rowan Atkinson perform in one of the theatres. Nosotros fuimos a ver a Rowan Atkinson actuar en uno de los teatros. He's the actor and comedian who created the character Mr Bean, and his comedy act was very funny. l es el actor y cmico que creo el personaje de Mr Bean, y su acto de la comedia era muy cmico.(Seor Habichuela) I thought he was even better on stage than in the television programme. Yo pens que l era incluso mejor en el escenario que en el programa de la televisin. After the show we went to Bannerman's pub, near Martin's flat. Despues del espectculo nosotros fuimos a la taberna de Bannerman, cerca del piso de Martin. Paul worked there at the weekends. Paul trabaj all los fines de semana. He told me that a lot of the people who were performing in the Festival went there. l me dijo que muchas de las personas que estaban celebrando la Fiesta fueron all. "Hi, Bob," he said to the barman, "can we have two pints, please?" "Hola, Bob," l dijo al mozo de taberna, "podemos tomar nosotros dos pintas, por favor?"

As Martin and Paul talked to the barman, Alison and I looked around for somewhere to sit. Como Martin y Paul hablaban con el mozo de taberna, Alison y yo buscbamos alguna parte alrededor para sentarnos. Someone standing at the other end of the bar looked familiar. Alguien estaba de pie al otro extremo de la barra pareca familiar. "Alison, do you recognise that man? "Alison, reconoce usted a ese hombre? Is he famous?" I asked her. El s famoso?" Yo le pregunt. "Antonio! That's Rowan Atkinson!" she exclaimed. "Antonio! se es Rowan Atkinson!" ella exclam. Bob (the barman) knew Rowan Atkinson because he had been into the pub before. Bob (el mozo de taberna) conocia a Rowan Atkinson porque l haba estado en la taberna antes. So I met Mr Bean and you know, he looks completely normal when he's not acting! Para que yo me encontr a Mr Bean y usted sabe, l parece completamente normal cuando l no est actuando! We went to see lots of different shows while I was in Edinburgh. Nosotros fuimos a ver muchos espectaculos diferentes mientras yo estaba en Edimburgo. I was in Edinburgh. Yo estaba en Edimburgo. We went to listen to a choir singing Verdi's Requiem at Saint Giles Cathedral. Nosotros fuimos a escuchar a un coro que canta el Requiem de Verdi en la Cathedral de San Giles. The singing was lovely and the cathedral itself is very interesting. El cantar era encantador y la propia catedral era muy interesante. We also went with Alison and Paul and had a picnic in Princes Street Gardens and watched a circus. Nosotros tambin fuimos con Alison y Paul y tenamos una jira en la Calle Prncipes Jardines y miramos un circo. (jira=picnic=comida en el campo) There was wonderful music, people who juggled with fire and very talented acrobats and gymnasts. Haba msica maravillosa, personas que habian juegos malabares con fuego y acrbatas muy talentosos y gimnastas. The circus was very unusual because it was a circus without animals. El circo era muy raro porque era un circo sin animales. The Gardens were full and the performers moved amongst the people. Los Jardines estaban llenos y los actores movieron entre las personas. I loved the music so much that I bought the CD after the performance. Yo am la msica tanto que yo compr el CD despus de la actuacin. All the time I was in Edinburgh, I was lucky with the weather. Todo el tiempo que yo estaba en Edimburgo yo tuve suerte con el tiempo. Everyone I met said the same thing to me. Con todo los que yo me encontr me dijeron la misma cosa.(que buen tiempo hace...) "You're here for a week?" they asked. "Se quedaria usted aqu una semana?" ellos preguntaron. "Yes," I told them. "S," yo les dije. "Ooh, it's lovely, sunny weather for your visit. "Ooh, es tiempo encantador, soleado para su visita. You are lucky!" Usted tiene suerte!" Martin had decided to take me north for a few days, to see some more of Scotland. Martin haba decidido tomarme norte durante unos das, para ver un poco ms de Escocia.(norte??) I hoped my luck would continue. Yo esper que mi suerte continuara.