Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Day started much the same as yesterday, arrived at Waverley St bus tours @10am. I had an email from Nina just as we departed on the blue route to the Botanic Gardens. She highly recommended the Britannia tour, but, with a glass of champers on board! We approached the Botanic Gardens stop, driver says: anyone off for here? He doesn’t stop, as we expected him to do, regardless of anyone getting off, we were up stairs and couldn’t get down, so we did the whole loop and arrived back again an hour later! It’s actually quite good to stay on and get orientated.
The Botanical gardens are beautiful, the range of trees, shrubs, plants and exotics, the landscaping and design. This is a very old established garden, so well manicured. I was reminded of my comment about the seals yesterday, when today we saw SQUIRRELS, cute little things and so friendly, I asked a couple of ladies we met, have you seen the squirrels? Oh yes, there are hundreds here!!! They weren’t excited like us. We went thru the 10 hot houses as well, spent about and hour ooohing and aaahing. Edinburgh has the most green Park area out of any European city.
It was getting on for 1.45pm by the time we stepped on board the Queens super yacht, well its not hers any more, a Trust runs it. Five deck levels were open to the public. It is impressive, comes complete with a Bentley (on loan), in a glass garage now, and the launch and about 200 staff to run it every time she went sailing. A lot of the rooms which we couldn’t go into, had glass windows in the wall.
The Queen and Duke have single beds in their huge individual bedrooms, looked quite incongruously odd. It would have been nice to have seen more of the guest cabins, but we did see every other part of the ship. The staff, crew and officers seem to have been very well looked after. All had their own well equip mess rooms. Also very well equipped was the medical suite, complete with operating theatre. The idea was that if ever needed, within 24hrs it could be converted to a floating military hospital. You’ll be delighted to know Nina that we had lunch in the tea room, which would have been the original upper deck reception area, I had the champagne, & toasted you, very nice too, and Cullen Skink soup - equally as nice.
Funny sort of weather again, 4 seasons in a day as we boarded the bus to return to Edinburgh, the rain came down. 20mtrs up the street from our pad, we swapped onto the Red tour, rode that for an hour and alighted back where we’d got on. It was 6.45pm, so quite a long day.
The Red tour took us thru the Grassmarket area, seeing this area ( down in the hollow from the castle on the west side), made me realise that it’s a part of the old town - which where we are staying is much younger. Originally a marketplace for horse and cattle from the 14th century right up until the early 19th century, the Grassmarket was also renowned for its public executions. Known as one of the poorer parts of the capital it was associated with early 19th century immigrants from Ireland.
Canongate, where we are, derives from the Canons' Gait, being the walk where the Canons from the Holyrood Palace walk up to the Castle.
We're walking more than a mile: The Royal Mile is Edinburgh's most famous street. It connects Edinburgh Castle (to the west) with the Palace of Holyroodhouse (to the east). Peculiarly, its length which measures 1.81 km is approximately one Scots mile long, which is longer than an English mile but hasn't been used since the eighteenth century.
Bed now, 10pm.
Jasha
2018-08-25
Totally enjoying reading your account each day. Thank you for putting all the effort and time into this. I see you both are well equiped for the weather and walking. You will be very fit on your return. Hop-on-hop-off : doing the loop first is a good idea.
Graeme
2018-08-25
Your commentary plus photos is superb JuDith. Has Kevin conditioned himself to the local brew ?
jukes
2018-08-25
Thanks Jasha and yes Graeme, he's been trying different ones. I have a Graeme NZ and a Graeme UK - which one is this??..
Brony
2018-08-25
Loving reading your take on the sights Jude - most of these places we went to not so long ago! The hop on hop off bus with the commentary is great. In the background of the photo of Kevy with his champagne on Britannia is some tall buildings - we stayed in one of those in June.
Bernice
2018-08-25
A story well told enjoying it all. Great photos.
Pam
2018-08-26
Enjoying reading about your trip and viewing photos. My grandfather came from Water of Leith Dean village. ,Edinburgh.
jukes
2018-08-26
We went passed there on arriving in Edinburgh and also when we did the trip to Inchcolm Is.
Connie
2018-08-26
Hey there you two, really enjoying your travel updates.