"Doing" the Edinburgh Fringe
So I've gone ahead and booked several shows for this year's fringe. I've booked a few shows that I would consider to be worth the pre-book on account of selling out fast. I've left myself some time on each day I'll be there to check out word-of-mouth and well-reviewed shows, and I'm also trying to fit in a morning at the Castle, a day trip to Glasgow and an evening at the Tattoo.
So given all that, I wonder if anyone who's been there before has any tips on not only surviving but enjoying the festival. The official site has things like 'embrace the crowds and the queueing', 'wear summer and winter clothes at the same time to cope with Scottish weather' and other such nonsense, but I'd like to hear from people who've actually been. How do you find out about good shows (check out the Scotsman every day?) How do you get around? What parts of Edinburgh should be avoided? Is it as packed as they say it is? Are there any places off the beaten track that are historically a good bet?