Phil, point taken about highlander wear not being the norm in Edinburgh. That being said, there are two Edinburgh's sharing the same space. The tourist buy-your-kilt-and-sgian dubh/quaich/etc.-here part and the cosmopolitan business oriented Edinburgh.

Growing up in San Francisco, I can attest to the schizophrenia that a city can embody. I cant tell you how many times I have run into people who have visited SF and commented on all the wonderful experiences they had buying from crab vendors in Fisherman's warf and seeing alcatraz etc. They often mention places I have never heard of and I am a 5th generation San Franciscan. I will then reply about places I know about in SF and they look at me like I am speaking of a completely different city.

So, to get back to Edinburgh, I think McClef and I and other tourists do deserve some kind of nod to Scottish history. As he well pointed out, Philadelphia has people in historic garb. Perhaps Edinburgh's tourist board could consider encouraging more people to wear kilts between Holyrood and the castle and maybe some folks down on Prince's street. After all, Edinburgh has done it's very best to capitalize on the highlander tradition and therefore should consider throwing the tourists a bone. Besides, as a tourist, when you see someone in Edinburgh in a kilt, you truly feel like you are in Scotland and not just any country/city.

You wouldn't want us tourists to think we were in England would you?!?