Friday Oct 9

The day started again with breakfast. We went downstairs and were directed to a cavernous dining room with perhaps half a dozen other people scattered about, and probably a dozen wait staff. Strange that no one else from our group joined us or came in we thought.  After breakfast we met our tour guide in the lobby who told us where breakfast was....not where we had eaten it! Oh well, tomorrow we will know.

Entrance to Crowne Plaza (Edinburgh)

A trip to Edinburgh is not complete without a trip to Edinburgh castle. Our tour guide arranged a special pre-opening tour for us before the crowds hit, so we were away from our hotel by 8 am. An interesting note: every year as part of the big month-long arts festival held here, the Edinburgh Tattoo has sold out every performance for the past 17 years. Edinburgh Castle is perched on an ancient volcanic plug and quite literally towers over its surrounds. In days gone by, this would have been very formidable to approaching hostile forces. The castle is still an active military establishment, so much of it was not accessible, but our guide made up for it with his re-telling of its history and colouring it with anecdotes. Two very sobering parts of the tour were the memorial area, dedicated to all those who have given their lives in conflict. Over the exit door is a figure holding a broken sword, the symbol of the end of all conflict.  The other was the small cemetery for the dogs that have been pets of soldiers or mascots to a regiment. 

Only entrance to the Edinburgh Castle

Bridge across but no moat!

Three main levels in the castle

Dog Cemetery

View of the city 

Castle grounds

The roof of the Great Hall was constructed with Scandinavian timber, a marvellous example of wood joinery as no nails, bolts, screws, metal bracing/reinforcement, etc were used. It was similar in construction to the framing/ribbing of a boat turned upside down, and has served the test of time since its construction in 1510! 

Ceiling of the Great Hall

Following the castle was a coach tour of the city with a quick stop at Holyrood, the Queen's residence when in Scotland. We didn't go in....I guess she got her days mixed up as to when we were dropping in as she wasn't home. Pity, we were looking forward to meeting some of her Corgis....Maggie and Lilli, don't get jealous!!!

The afternoon was spent walking and shopping. We found a really good little pizza spot just around the corner from the hotel for lunch, called 'Dough'. One of the best we have experienced.....might try it again tomorrow!  Deb is looking for a store that sells Scottish tartan fabric, but most shops just sell finished goods and she has only found one where they sell it off the roll by the yard...might be returning.

MacRae Tartan

Tonight we were bussed off to the Jam House for our final night together, we joined in with a few other tour groups. A piper in full regimental regalia met us at the door and piped us in. For supper we both chose Scottish beef....first time we've had beef since arriving, and of course, you can't go to a Scottish celebration like this without Haggis, which we also had! It was a good meal, followed by a stage show featuring a Robbie Burns poetry reading, dancers, fiddling, piping, song and more dance....a true Scottish evening in flavour. Back at the Hotel, we all met for a nightcap in the lounge and cleaned out the hotel's supply of Baileys.

Piping us in!

Toast to the Haggis

It has been a good week with our new Canadian friends....perhaps our paths will cross again in the future at some point. Back at the hotel their was a night cap for all in the lounge. Most were departing for home early in the morning.