We had set the alarm for 7:30 but none of us wanted to get up. We took our time getting ready and decided we were all too tired to hike to the top of Arthur's Seat a hill overlooking Edinburgh. So we went to Sainsbury’s to get pastries and yogurt for breakfast. Then we walked up to the castle. There was already quite a line to get in at 9:30. There were several tour groups and lots of other people. Our Explorer’s Pass we purchased at Doune Castle only made it slightly quicker to get it. When we did we went straight to the top of the castle. When we got to the cannonade it was fenced off with the fireworks for the Tattoo. That is one of the best views from the castle. We went up to the next level to St. Margaret’s Chapel and there was a good view of Edinburgh from there. We toured the chapel which is very small and saw the soldier’s pet cemetery. Then we went around to the Half Moon Battery and it was fenced off too as the platform for the Lone Piper was there. So we went in to see the Crown Jewels and the apartment of Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James. The exhibits in that building were very well done, we didn’t have time to see them last year. From there we went to the Scottish National War Memorial and then on to the Great Hall. We really enjoyed the Great Hall and found out that two women would be giving a demonstration on women’s fashion and dressing in the 16^th century in a little while.

While we waited we went to the Soldier’s Prison . When it was time for the demonstration we returned to the Great Hall. We were not disappointed. One of the women was fully dressed, the other one was in 16^th century underwear which covered most of her body. Then they put on each piece of clothing explaining as they went. Women wore padded things under their skirts to make them look more wide hipped than they were in order to get marriage proposals. The whole purpose of marriage in those days was to produce heirs so men wanted wives who would have little trouble in childbirth. Only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair loose. Married women had to wear a veil or be considered "loose."  The fashion of the day was to wear a kind of girdle around the waist that was stiffened with whale bone and came to a point on the bottom to make them appear slimmer than they were. It was not to make them slimmer however. It held their bosom in as a flat bosom was considered attractive. It was a very interesting and humorous presentation.

Next we walked down the hill and visited the prisons for prisoners of war . We bypassed the Highland Dragoons Exhibit and went for lunch more pastries, including shortbread, and tea. After lunch it was almost 1:00 so we went to the cannonade where they shoot an artillery cannon at 1:00. It was difficult to see because it was fenced off. At the same time as the cannon is shot a ball is dropped from the top of Calton Tower. We could see both. Larry watched the ball and Erin and I watched the cannon. A guy in uniform came out, lit the fuse, and BANG! It was simultaneous. I wonder if they got the idea for the Times Square Ball Drop from the castle! After all, Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish song! Next we went to see the west view from the castle and then to the Military Museum. By this time I was on information overload, I think we all were.

We left the castle with two errands in mind: to get t-shirts from Brew Dog and Worlds End Pub. We stopped and visited several shops. Erin bought shortbread cookies to share at work. We watched a lot of street performers including guitarists, a fiddle and squeeze box duo from Oregon and Washington, and several of those “statue” performers who only move when you put money in their container . Larry got a hat and t-shirt from Brew Dog. We sat down and had drinks at Worlds End. Then we went back up the Royal Mile and saw several more performers because they change every hour or so. We headed back to the hotel and walked through Princes Park. We happened on another musician originally from Australia who played what he called percussion guitar. Some of the songs he played with the guitar resting on his lap. He used the box of the guitar as a kind of drum and he used both hands to play the strings. He was amazing. We sat down on the grass and listened until he finished his set. Erin bought his CD.

We went back to the Old Waverley for a short rest and to drop off our purchases. We decided to eat on Rose Street again. We walked the whole pedestrian area and finally settled on the last pub we saw: The 1780. They had Scottish food. Larry and Erin had beer and I had cider. Erin ordered sausage and mash, Larry had haggis, neeps, and tatties, and I had steak and ale pie. The portions were small enough that we had room for sticky toffee pudding. We went back to the hotel for showers and to pack for leaving tomorrow.