Remember I said that we left a little late in the morning from Inverness Scotland? Well that little bit hurt us getting into Edinburgh before dark. I had printed directions off of Mapquest before leaving home, but they didn't work for us. The directions were not correct. So Edinburgh has about 500,000 people in it, which isn't huge but it has small streets, commuter traffic because we got in there at 3:30, and they drive on the left with roundabouts, old brick streets and street signs marked on the top side of the buildings. In the dark those street signs are hard to find. The first time we got lost, we stopped at a Red Cross office. They were very helpful and the gentleman printed off instructions and maps. I thought we were going to turn right at the busy street and Bud wasn't sure so I walked up to a gas station while he waited at the car so we wouldn't be towed. The man was very nice and told me to turn left and gave me a little more directions, we turned left and then got lost again by this time it is dark. We had to pullover several times and ask for directions. Then we hit pay dirt! The man who had just returned home from a bike ride knew exactly where we needed to go and he knew how to get us there! We followed his detailed directions and we made it to the hotel!!! It took us about an hour and a half to get there but we got there and it was only 5pm! Not too bad! We unloaded our suitcases because we were here for two nights. Then another stressful situation...parking the car. The hotel has a little parking area in the back of their hotel. It holds 6-7 cars depending on the size of the car. Luckily one car was leaving as Bud parked the car and Bud backed out and the guy pulled out and then Bud was able to park the car inside the car park! And the car has been there ever since. We walked where ever we needed to go. Our first night dinner was just up the street, a place called Olive Branch. The food was out of this world!
We both had the fish and chips and it was yummy!
Bud wanted to try a Scottish Beer because he had tried Guinness in Ireland. The waiter told him to try this Ennis and Gunn! He liked it!
Then we went back to the hotel and kicked back and watched tv. We have enjoyed the English Game Shows in the evening: Pointless, In It ToWin It, Millionaire,Never Mind Buzzcocks and Blankety Blank. And I played Farkle on Facebook and then couldn't keep my eyes open after 11pm.
This morning got up and got ready and went down for breakfast. I was kind of happy to see waffles on the menu so I ordered them. They ended up being very sweet so I couldn't eat them. But what was funny was, the owner of the hotel, or manager, Fiona came over ans asked us what we wanted for breakfast I had perused the menu so I know I wanted waffles so I ordered waffles and bacon. Bud hadn't looked at the menu so she said she would give him a few minutes so she left. Bud thought of getting the waffles but waffled and was going to order eggs and bacon. Well, a cook came out of the kitchen looked at me and asked what I wanted for breakfast I said waffles thinking he was also going to ask Bud what he wanted, the cook turned and went out real fast. I laughed and told Bud he was going to get waffles, but he thought someone was going to ask him what he wanted, didn't happen he got waffles!
See his questioning look! It was funny!
But we needed a good breakfast because we were going to walk all over Edinburgh! And we did!
These next pictures were taken from Calton Hill!
This is Hollyrood Palace!
We are now on our way to see Edinburgh Castle!
It was such a beautiful Castle and the walk was awesome. We were very grateful for the sunshine. It was cold but sunny! In 2004 when we rode the train up from London, we hopped on a double decker bus and we went up here to the Castle but didn't have time to get off the bus to take pictures! It was so nice to be able to walk up to the Castle and take pictures and walk around!
No comments:
Post a Comment