Edinburgh - Day 2 Part 1

Despite getting to bed well after midnight, we were all up fairly early. Todd and Rachel went out to get coffee (thank you) while Holly and I waited for her suitcase...and waited...and waited. Finally Holly's suitcase tracker showed was here. After 5 minutes there still was no call. What's all this then?! 

 

Todd and I went up to the busy street...

...where we spotted a white van where a delivery guy promptly told us "I tried to call, but this number is f**cked." Ha! Despite Holly telling the airport luggage guy that it was +1, he still put down Scotland country code. No harm no foul! Bag in flat, we all made off for our first day of adventure.

 

As you might guess, there are plenty of corner bagpipe players.

 

 

 

On our way to Edinburgh Castle, we stopped at a couple of farmer's markets. We bought a tartan dog color for Henry (who is now named Lord Darnely) and ...

 

 ...also bought some delicious meat pies, salami and jerky. Yum!

The farmer's market also had great views of the castle.  

 

Entering the castle grounds there are statues of William Wallace and Robert da Bruce. As you might guess, this will become a very common site.

 

The castle dates back to the 12th century and has had many face lifts over the years. It currently houses the Crown Jewels of Scotland (please insert laughter from all 12 year old boys). We weren't allowed to take pics, so you'll have to take our word for it. 

The very highest point of the castle, and Edinburgh, is St Margaret's Chapel, which is the oldest building in the city (1120). It's a very popular spot for weddings now. In fact, if you're name is Margaret, you can get married there for free!

 Outside the chapel, the views are really great and there is even a cemetery for soldiers' dogs!

 

We also saw the Great Hall....

The little dark square on the right is how the King spied on people!

 ...and the Royal Apartment.

 

After the castle we stopped in for a spot of lunch at Amber Restaurant. All day we kept seeing zip ties attached to light poles. We wondered if it was a protest symbol, but our waiter set us straight: because it's too wet to use tape, people attach flyers onto poles with zip ties. Mystery solved!!

 Lunch included the first tasted of yummy hagas! 

More on the next post!