We landed in port and, once again, discovered we were no where near our destination, Edinburgh. We planned to go to Edinburgh Castle and see the city with our friends, Linda Hirsh and Bob Seigel. We planned this with them after reacquainting ourselves since we had met them on a previous cruise. So we took a shuttle to town, a small town near the port and once again discovered that there was a train to the city, which was about 14 miles away. So, we hired a taxi for 30 pounds, which we thought was reasonable, and off we went.

So, the taxi dropped us off in Edinburgh right by the bus stop for all the tour buses and with our first view of the castle as well as other sights in view. The tour bus was of the hop on hop off variety, but we took one with a live speaker rather than a recording with headphones. We passed by many landmarks, such as the statue of Wellingon and the memorial at Regents Bridge. The guide on the bus was a vertiable fount of information. I will try to recount some of it. First, we passed a building with very interesting windows. She said they were window seats. We passed by a pub called the Peoples' Story but I don't know the story of it. Then we passed a place where there is above a door between two businesses a bust of a boy embedded in the wall. Apparently there was a fire inn the building that stood there and the building collapsed killing 33 inhabitants. As the rescuers were clearing away the rubble looking for survivors and had given up, they heard a cry for help and found a young boy who had survived. The bust above the door is a likeness of the surviving boy. Then we passed a pub called Greyfriers Bobby with a statue of a dog in front of it. The statue is of Bobby, who, when his master died, sat outside the pub for fourteen years looking for the dead master. As we passed by the Central Library the guide pointed out the lettering above the door that says "Let There Be Light," the motto of Andrew Carnegie's charitable foundation that contributed the funds to set up the library. Carnegie came from humble beginnings near Edinburgh before he emigrated to the United States and became one of the richest people in the world.

There was a protest demonstration afoot in Edinburgh this day so the bus tour was shortened, not that we saw or heard any sign of the demonstration. But it prevented entry into Hollyrood Park and Palace, where the legislature sits. So, we proceeded to the street that leads UP to the castle. It is a bustling way with thousands of people shopping and moving to and from the castle. Actually, this street and environs reminded me of Hollywood Boulevard in LA with all the performers and tourists intermingled. So we passed by a fully decked out bagpiper , a woman posing for a photograper, and saw the herd moving to the castle entry. Within the castle grounds are great vistas of the city from up high.
There are many parts to the castle's cavernous environs. We were particularly taken with the entry to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Regimental Museum with a figure of a bagpiper outside (with a recording playing continuously). We checked out the prisoners latrines as well.  

We concluded our Endinburgh visit by stopping at an inviting cafe, Hub Cafe, where we had a fine lunch of potato leek soup and Scottish Smoked Salmon sandwiches. As we left the cafe to catch a taxi back to the ship, I saw a group of girls at a table with a blow-up doll under the table. Who knows?