text: I went here today with my other half expecting I am not sure exactly what It was sunny I had heard Portobello was a traditional seaside spot and I do miss the sea back in the west country nnArriving at Portobello high street we wondered whether we had stepped into the wrong neighbourhood It just seemed like another part of suburbia We walked towards the sea expecting beautiful views across to sea and a pretty promenade it was not exactly as we would hoped There was a wimpy a bankrupt amusement arcade a sad looking childrens play park and a couple of chippies Out to sea was pleasant on the left with a view of the mouth of the firth of forth and an island touched by sunlight The view on the right was slightly less appealing a powerpant and a few skyscrapers which coincidentally were in the shadowlands nnThe sea itself was nice enough though really nothing too special considering how many beautiful beaches there are in Scotland think the West coast and the outer Hebrides Portobello is a bit on the grey side nnAfter strolling along the beach and the promenade feeling a zillion existential questions as we read the information board with the history of the beach its former glory and its postwar degradation we decided to get some chips nnWe got the chips from a place which promised only vegetable oil used we then recycle the oil as biofuel Cool The staff were lovely the ethics fantastic but unfortunately these chips were not that great tastewise nnGiven that we had a day ticket and at least hours left of sunlight we decided to go to the shore which was infinitely nicer though admittedly not a beach On a sunny day I would be much more inclined to head to the meadows or Holyrood park