Bluejake

7:30am Wakeup call. No sleep- Karen says 4 hours but it seems unlikely. Water pipes and traffic all through the night- and still jet lagged.
8:30am Bread (dry) and jam in the dining room- outside raining and cold.
9:15am At Edinburgh Castle after walk through rain- streets empty.
9:30am Ticket window open- walk in and up on slick gray paths. Amazing angle to street, men in kilts, Japanese tourists. Highlights: Scottish Crown Jewels, St. Margarets chapel- small and white. WWI Memorial built in 1920s with rocks from 1600s. Rain quite hard at times. Stomachache- slightly fried from lack of sleep.
11:30am Walk to Greyfriars Kirk, mood a little dicey. Enjoyed seeing statue of dog (loyal) Bobby. The rain tapered off as we walked into Kirk graveyard- lovely views of southside of castle hill.
12pm Blue sky coming out- a quick trip through Museum of Scotland- lovely train models and roof deck. Cool postmod building.
1pm Down Royal Mile- stopping for Whiskey (small bottles- Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie) and Tartan scarf for Karen. Sandwiches- takeaway- because of stomachache.
2pm Holyrood Castle- very French- like small Fontainebleau. Nice views of Salisbury Crag. Loved seeing Mary Queen of Scots' bedroom and stuff.
3pm Up to Camera Obscura for more views of city and holography/mirrors. Very 19th century.
4pm Tickets back to London changed to morning 1st class to escape crazed unpleasant crowds.
5pm Walk back across North Bridge to New Town for a rest. Stop at EasyInternet for mail check- letters from David Schuiteman and IMs with Josh.
5:15pm Back at hotel.
6:30pm Walk through New Town looking for dinner- very like that fashionable part of Barcelona above Las Ramblas.
7pm Drink at nouveau Scottish bar (All Bar None) on George Street.
7:30pm Dinner at Zest, an Indian restaurant in a nice modern space next to hotel.
9:15pm Back in room, watching Queen's Golden Jubilee Concert on BBC.

Travelogue