Edinburgh, United Kingdom

We had a great sleep in our four poster bed even though it is too firm for my liking. The home we are in is a Victorian home built in the 1880’s. The current owners have restored it very tastefully and it is nice to treat ourselves to this little bit of luxury and classic architecture. When booking our accommodation I looked at ratings for location, comfort, overall quality including the breakfasts and like the Whins in Bellycastle this one got praises for the breakfasts as well as facilities and location.

Breakfast is cooked to your pre order the night before and served in a classy breakfast room complete with crystal glasses and huge vases of scented burgundy striped Lilies. We had a full Scottish complete with haggis and those odd little potato scones that a like a rubbery pancake wedge. This was our first taste of haggis and it was truly delicious. Like a black pudding but delicate and courser texture with soft barley and maybe oats? Would definitely like to eat some more of that.

After a quick SKYPE touch base with the kids we walked a few minutes down the street and caught a city bus into town for a day of exploring. Dawn-Anne recommended a day ticket for £4 each which we made use of even though we could have walked 20 minutes to the city, but we wanted to save our feet for exploring.

We got off the bus at what we guessed was central which is a bridge over what was once lake. On one side are tall grey stone medieval sky scrapers of ‘old town’ and to the right the ‘Georgian New town’ (1700’s) which of course is also old in our terms. We walked to the tall gothic looking Sir Walter Scott (novelist) monument which is quite spectacular and then back over the other side and up one of the many narrow lanes into old town to go to the castle at the top of the hill.
Old town main street is also called the Royal Mile, is quite grand and medieval feeling. There are many little lanes like the one we came up on which lead to tiny ‘courts’ which had living areas for the working class. Today the whole area is very touristy with an abundance of pubs and shops selling wool, cashmere, shortbread, whiskey and other Scottish souvenirs. There were a lot of tourists about, but not too bad like it will be in a few weeks time when it is festival and Tattoo time. There are buskers around playing pipes and doing other things like the invisible man who was very captivating.
We had a quick cup of tea before entering the castle and were just in time to catch the beginning of one of the free guided tours. Our guide was very good informing us on the history and it was well worth joining in on one. When you first go through the gates there are some service buildings, one still being used as a military headquarters and upper level residency. You then pass through a second gate and key buildings are the palace, little St Margarets chapel (oldest building in Edinburgh 1130), great hall, and war memorial.
In the palace you can view the Scottish crown jewels, sceptre, sword, and destiny stone (seat for kings and queens to be crowned on) but are not allowed to take photos of them. All pieces were gorgeous workmanship and gems and it was nice be able to view them so close. We also got to go into the small room where Queen Mary gave birth to James, who went on to be the first Scottish King of England (when Queen Elizabeth 1st had no children).
In the great hall we were fortunate to see the two regimental flags that were carried at the battle of Waterloo 200 years ago We learnt that both the English and Scottish flags were used before they became one – incorporating one design the Union Jack. I did not know this history so that was interesting. These particular flags are deteriorating and are about to go off display for good. There was beautiful wood decoration on the ceiling like a ships hull (hammered ceiling, self supporting) and displays of armour, pistols and swords.
We had a quick look in the Scottish National War Memorial which you weren’t allowed to take photos in. It commemorates the soldiers lost in WW1 (149,000), WW2 (58,000), and nearly 800 (and going up) in British battles since. There are original rolls of honour of the WW1 names are sealed in a casket, but the others are listed in books which you can look through, displayed in different wings. It is a very dignified and beautiful place.
The tiny chapel was lovely, and had some pretty glass as its only decoration. Up the top of course you got great views of the city as well and kindly the sun appeared for a few minutes at a time to make things a bit brighter.
It happened to be whisky tasting day up there at a shop and we tried a whisky liqueur with honey which I liked, but Vern found a bit sweet. It was good on an empty stomach too, as it was 3:30 by this time and we hadn’t had anything since our delicious breakfast. We ambled back through old town looking in a couple of shops but they were all tourist traps with overpriced items, and then we decided to stop just for a coffee at Starbucks and share a toasted cheese and ham sandwich and then make our way home and go out for an earlier dinner rather than have a late lunch at a touristy place in old town which did not have the best quality by the looks.
We headed in the general direction of home, absorbing the atmosphere and keeping an eye out for our bus number of which we had three to choose from and before we know it and before a bus came along we were in the the dining district in-between town and home. We passed a small Italian which was highly awarded by the stickers and clippings outside so went in. We enjoyed nice Carbonara for Vern, and I had freshly made large pasta pockets filled with Scottish lobster and served with a creamy tomato wine infused sauce with local shrimps in it. I washed it down with a nice fizzy Italian blood orange drink which reminded me of Italy.
We got a bus not long after that, but not before we ducked into a store to grab a big cider to share at home for £2.