Edinburgh, Scotland (7Nov-9Nov)

We arrived via train in Edinburgh around 6pm on Friday night. Walked to the hotel which was approximately 10 minutes from the station. After asking directions and collecting a map. Dropped our luggage in the room and went out to find something to eat. Ate at a small old pub,the food was good, both Rick and I tried some typical Scottish food. I had Haggis which is a Scottish main dish, and Rick had something like a stew. Was good. Then back to the hotel to go thru the brochure to decide what we were going to do on Sat. We joined a free walk on Saturday morning at 11am, was a 3 hour tour of the city, was really good, our guide was young and energetic, we saw lots of the city. We started outside the Starbucks on The Royal Mile, past St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, Grassmarket area, Greyfriars Kirkyard(Cemetery), Mercat Cross, Burke & Hare Body Snatchers, Covenants Prison, National Museum, Scott Monument, Princes Street Gardens and heard the story of The Stone of Destiny. Was a very informative morning and saw lots. From here we went by the Scott Memorial, then boarded the tour bus to go around the city. After the tour, walked down a few of the streets in the new town, then headed back toward the hotel with a stop for dinner. Sunday morning we went thru Edinburgh Castle, which took some time, but what a great place, lots to see and so old, the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny were also there. Then we went to a place called Oink for lunch - roast pork sandwiches (served from the whole pig roasted)in the Grassmarket area. Then onto one of the other tour buses to visit the Royal Britannica Yacht which was out in Leith. What a great ship, enjoyed the tour, then back to the hotel to collect our baggage for the long trip home on the train.