For those who asked about the photos...that was obviously me and John, and our kids, Adam and Bonnie. In addition, we were joined in Edinburgh, for the weekend, by our dear friends John and Judith...the ones whose son's wedding we went to a month ago... They live in the Wiltshire (about an hour and a half west of London.
We had really good weather in Edinburgh, and our hotel (the Parliament House Hotel) was just off Princes Street and near the Royal Mile. So, we were able to walk to Edinburgh Castle and to Holyrood Palace. These are at either end of the Royal Mile...Edinburgh Castle being the old medieval edifice and Holyrood being the Renaissance-built favorite of Mary Queen of Scots.
Bonnie and Adam wanted to do a nighttime Ghost Tour of Edinburgh, so we did that too, and found out about all the horrible ways folks died in Edinburgh over the centuries and how their ghosts are still roaming free. We ended in some underground caverns...pretty creepy. But fun for a change of pace.
We did High Tea at the Balmoral Hotel...very fancy, very posh. There were several wedding receptions going on while we were there, so there was a bagpiper in full kilt regalia standing at the door and 'piping in the bride'. Sounds nasty, but it was merely musical. There are a couple of photos of our very English-tea-proper goodies...cucumber sandwiches and scones and the like. Lots of fingerfood size desserts, too. Yum.
We had our last day, Monday, at St Andrews, just wandering around...looked at the golf course and did some shopping and just sort of relaxed...let the kids do their school thing during the day, ate out that night, and then said goodbye till Christmas break.
It was all very nice and very lovely. And yes, Scotland always looks beautiful because it just is.
The Ghost Tour sounds spine-tingling frightful - but the high tea at Balmoral sounds truly delightful!
I have no idea why I decided to make that rhyme - but there's a wee poem for you (though it's not very bonny :)
Posted by: tinker | Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 10:55 PM
ahhhh *sigh* I have just LOVED this recounting of your trip-- I hope one day to go and experience it for myself!
Posted by: Elizabeth | Saturday, October 28, 2006 at 10:38 AM