Day 1 - Tuesday 5/26/15 -
Edinburgh
After a night spent at the Newark Airport Wyndham hotel, we spent the day at
the airport waiting for our flight to Edinburgh. At the gate we had to wait a while to find
out if we got business first, and we did, but we weren't seated together.
I sat next to some late 50ish goofball named Gred who was heading to Edinburgh
for 10 days of golf. Dinner was nice but took forever. I finally
got 3 hours of sleep before we landed in Edinburgh.
Immigration and customs went smoothly, and we found the bus into the city center which took about 40 minutes and was pretty packed. It stopped at Waverley Center where we took our bags and started walking. We were near the Scott Monument which is really quite impressive, so we parked me next to it so I could get some photos. Bill went across the street to change a good bit of money.
Then we started the hike to our hotel. The Main Street of old Edinburgh (called the Royal Mile is elevated from both sides. So we had to walk up, over, and then down to the Holiday Inn Express. We are a long block from Royal Mile. We couldn't check in until 3 since they had been full last night (and were also tonight). The nice desk clerk gave us a temporary key to use the bathrooms. We got what we needed and then checked our bags behind the desk.
The clerk told us that we could take the Hop on Hop off bus out to the Royal Yacht Britannia, so we decided to do that to kill time and since Bill really wanted to see it. We hiked back up to Royal Mile but had to wait 45 minutes before the bus we wanted started running. We sat up on the open top of the bus and rode for another 45 minutes to the Yacht. The bus was full, but we followed the queue until we were finally on the Yacht.
We decided to go get lunch in the Yacht Tea Room. It was pleasant. We both got the soup and sandwich combo. I got "eggs mayonnaise" (egg salad) with Cullen Skink (a Scottish pureed soup with fish and potato). That was on my list to eat, and it wasn't bad. Bill got a cheese salad with chutney and split pea soup. His soup was much greener than we are used to with a much stronger pea flavor.
We toured the Yacht quickly and were done in about 2.5 hours. We went back outside and caught the bus back to where we had started and went to the hotel and were able to check in.
We got to the room and basically collapsed in the bed and slept for 3 hours. We both felt crummy after the nap, so we checked the internet connectivity in our room (works but not very fast). I got an email from one of the B&Bs, the last one, saying they had to come to Edinburgh on our last night, but they gave us a couple of options. We decided to be upgraded to their better room for 2 nights, and they will find a room for our last night.
We needed to get something to eat to start living on this time zone, so Bill found a pub on my list that was nearby - The Royal McGregor Pub. We found it after a 10 minute walk and there was a table at the back. Bill ordered a Hoolyrood beer and fish and chips. I had a diet coke and steak and ale pie.
We started seeing dishes delivered to those around us and were astounded at the portion size. Bill's fish and chips covered his whole dinner plate. My steak and ale pie appeared smaller, and had peas, carrots and potatoes on it. The pie was in a little casserole dish and contained kind of roast beef chunks in an amazing sauce covered with a puff pastry. It was outstanding but deceptively large. I could only eat about half of it.
For dessert we split a cranachan - a very traditional dessert sort of like a parfait. It is mainly a whipped cream mixed with finely ground oatmeal, whisky, and honey. This is layered with fresh raspberries. It, too, was quite good. Overall, it was a surprisingly good meal and not outrageously expensive (both of our entrees were about $15).
Bill is now in bed half asleep, and I will be going as soon as I sent this and brush my teeth. Tomorrow we will wander around the Royal Mile since there really is a lot to see.
 |
| Edinburgh Castle |
Immigration and customs went smoothly, and we found the bus into the city center which took about 40 minutes and was pretty packed. It stopped at Waverley Center where we took our bags and started walking. We were near the Scott Monument which is really quite impressive, so we parked me next to it so I could get some photos. Bill went across the street to change a good bit of money.
Then we started the hike to our hotel. The Main Street of old Edinburgh (called the Royal Mile is elevated from both sides. So we had to walk up, over, and then down to the Holiday Inn Express. We are a long block from Royal Mile. We couldn't check in until 3 since they had been full last night (and were also tonight). The nice desk clerk gave us a temporary key to use the bathrooms. We got what we needed and then checked our bags behind the desk.
The clerk told us that we could take the Hop on Hop off bus out to the Royal Yacht Britannia, so we decided to do that to kill time and since Bill really wanted to see it. We hiked back up to Royal Mile but had to wait 45 minutes before the bus we wanted started running. We sat up on the open top of the bus and rode for another 45 minutes to the Yacht. The bus was full, but we followed the queue until we were finally on the Yacht.
We decided to go get lunch in the Yacht Tea Room. It was pleasant. We both got the soup and sandwich combo. I got "eggs mayonnaise" (egg salad) with Cullen Skink (a Scottish pureed soup with fish and potato). That was on my list to eat, and it wasn't bad. Bill got a cheese salad with chutney and split pea soup. His soup was much greener than we are used to with a much stronger pea flavor.
We toured the Yacht quickly and were done in about 2.5 hours. We went back outside and caught the bus back to where we had started and went to the hotel and were able to check in.
We got to the room and basically collapsed in the bed and slept for 3 hours. We both felt crummy after the nap, so we checked the internet connectivity in our room (works but not very fast). I got an email from one of the B&Bs, the last one, saying they had to come to Edinburgh on our last night, but they gave us a couple of options. We decided to be upgraded to their better room for 2 nights, and they will find a room for our last night.
We needed to get something to eat to start living on this time zone, so Bill found a pub on my list that was nearby - The Royal McGregor Pub. We found it after a 10 minute walk and there was a table at the back. Bill ordered a Hoolyrood beer and fish and chips. I had a diet coke and steak and ale pie.
We started seeing dishes delivered to those around us and were astounded at the portion size. Bill's fish and chips covered his whole dinner plate. My steak and ale pie appeared smaller, and had peas, carrots and potatoes on it. The pie was in a little casserole dish and contained kind of roast beef chunks in an amazing sauce covered with a puff pastry. It was outstanding but deceptively large. I could only eat about half of it.
For dessert we split a cranachan - a very traditional dessert sort of like a parfait. It is mainly a whipped cream mixed with finely ground oatmeal, whisky, and honey. This is layered with fresh raspberries. It, too, was quite good. Overall, it was a surprisingly good meal and not outrageously expensive (both of our entrees were about $15).
Bill is now in bed half asleep, and I will be going as soon as I sent this and brush my teeth. Tomorrow we will wander around the Royal Mile since there really is a lot to see.
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