Edinburgh, 1 June 2008

Marian and I took a half day off on Friday 30 May and drove down to Shannon Airport, where we hopped on the Ryan Air flight to Prestwick (south of Glasgow). A train took us into Glasgow where we had a short walk across town to the other train station to board another train to Edinburgh, where Brad and Sue met us at the station.

We woke the following morning to a brilliantly sunny day. We spent the morning having a look around Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia, which is now permanently docked at Edinburgh next to the Ocean Terminal shopping Mall.

The Queen and Prince Philip chose the furniture and fittings and the rooms looked homely and comfortable rather than opulent or extravagant. The tour was well worth it.

HM Royal Yacht Britannia Rum Barrel
Me on the Rear Deck where the Royals Hung Out and Played Quoits

Marian in the Officers' Mess

Me in the not so salubrious Royal Marines' Bar

The Dining Room (lots of souvenirs on the wall)
The Drawing Room (note card tables)

Just what I need. In the Laundry

After lunch we took the bus into town and walked up Calton Hill which overlooks the New Town and offers fine views of the city and the Firth of Forth. At the top is the partially completed National Monument which is modelled on the Parthenon.

View of the New Town from Calton Hill

A Wedding Party enjoying the View from Calton Hill

National Monument, Calton Hill

Looking towards the Old Town and Castle from Calton Hill View of the Castle from Calton Hill

Looking down onto Scottish Parliament (on Right ) from Salisbury Crags

View of the Castle from Princes Gardens

That evening, after a pub meal in town, we did a ghost tour of the Old Town, including some underground vaults which supposedly housed assorted ghosts and spooky type entities. We didn't see any unfortunately, despite Brad brazenly stepping inside a cursed stone circle.

Marian Strolling Down Royal Mile

Ghost Tour Guide in a Dark Vault under the Old Town

The following morning we headed to Murrayfield for the International Sevens Tournament. The weather was freezing, a complete contrast to the previous day. Nevertheless, we had a good time, especially as New Zealand won.