The alarm went off at 8:00 but we were slow to get out of bed this morning. When we were ready we headed out to Sainsbury's, a grocery store, around the corner to find something for breakfast because it is not inclusive with our hotel. Larry and I got pastries and I got some yogurt. Erin wasn't hungry. Then we walked down Princes Street and found our way to Calton Hill. There are several memorials and a tower there. The views of Edinburgh were magnificent as we had another beautiful day. We went up in the tower for an even better view. It was really windy up there which is made it almost cold.

Our next destination was Holyrood Palace where the kings and queens of England still stay when they are in town . Larry and I had gone there last year with the tour group. This time we got the audio guide and it was very informative making the tour a different experience. Last year we had a tour guide. The highlight of the palace for me was the apartment of Mary Queen of Scots. It was here that her secretary and supposed lover was seized by her husband and his friends and stabbed 56 times. We also saw the ruins of Holyrood Abbey right next to the palace. Last year we didn't have time to see the gardens so we did this year. We didn't miss much last year as the gardens are mostly lawn. We were hungry by now so we stopped at the cafe. Larry and I had a scone sandwich filled with clotted cream and strawberries and split a shortbread. Erin had shortbread and another pastry. Erin had Irn Bru, I had Elderflower, and Larry had Earl Grey tea.

In the afternoon we walked up the Royal Mile between the Palace and the Castle. We stopped at the Church at Cannongate where the queen worships when she is in town . There is a special pew in the front that is roped off and marked with her crest. No one ever sits there but the royal party. On the other side of the aisle is another roped off pew marked Edinburgh Castle with markers for individuals who work there. We went out into the church yard where we located the grave of Adam Smith. There was some construction along the Royal Mile where they had demolished a row of buildings except for the original fronts. We had seen it from Calton Hill. We passed John Knox' House, the Museum of Edinburgh, and the Children's Museum. We stopped by the Worlds End Pub to read the menu where we ate supper later. The farther up the street we went the more busy it got with vendors, people hawking shows and exhibits, and street performers.

Our next stop was St. Giles Cathedral. I sat down for a while and actually dozed off for a bit. This year you had to go on tour to see the Thistle Chapel. We waited just a few minutes for the tour . The Thistle Chapel is where the Queen enrolls new members into the Order of the Thistle the highest position in chivalry in Scotland. The thistle is the national symbol. There are only 16 people in the order at a time. These are people who have done a lot for society and they don't have to be royalty or from certain families. There are also men and women now. The guide explained about how each of them gets a crest even if there isn't one for their family. There is a company which makes you a crest based on your life and interests. When we left the church we found the grave marker of John Knox, the leader of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland, out in the church parking lot. It was just a plaque on the ground. There was also a large sculpture of Charles II on his horse. We walked farther along looking at street performers etc. At this point I decided to return to the hotel as my feet were killing me.

Larry and Erin walked a little way up the Royal Mile and then went to see Greyfriar's Bobby a monument to a famous dog in Edinburgh . Then they came back to hotel where I was just ready to have a nap. So they went to walk up the Scott Monument right across from the hotel. It is a monument to Sir Walter Scott the writer. Then they went to Brew Dog a pub for a few drinks. Brew Dog is opening a brewery in Columbus soon. I met them there when I had slept for an hour. From the pub we walked to World's End Pub for supper. We had to wait for a table for half an hour in the pub. We got the same table we sat at last year when we ate there. Larry had what I had last year, Balmoral Chicken, chicken stuffed with haggis, mash and peas. Erin had haddock, chips and peas. I had a Bonnie Prince Charlie burger with black pudding and red onion chutney, salad and chips. Everything was very good. We walked back up the Royal Mile stopping to see some salsa dancers and a violinist. We also found a heart made of bricks on the pavement. This is the spot of the old cities jail where harsh punishments were given. To this day people still spit on that heart. We heard the beginning of the Tattoo and saw the fireworks that start if off. Then we headed back to the hotel for bed.