Day 5: A Day in Scotland's Capital

Our day in Edinburgh was a free day, the importance of this- not having to get up at 5.30 am, and not having to pack up the suitcase( still neat after almost 7 days). Somewhere during this trip I have managed to tweak my back a little ( insert Griswald reference here) so not having to lug around my bag is a bonus.

We arranged our day over breakfast coming to the same conclusion that the Whiskey Tour should be done last.

With this in mind we set off for Edinburgh Castle.

We wandered around the Castle with about 30000 others( about 29990 more than the last time I was here) enjoying the views within and without the castle walls, trying to keep our feet, as the wet cobblestones had turned into some sort of extreme slip and slide. I blame all those soldiers/ prisoners/ horses and royals for wearing down the anti slip surface.

Weather Update:

Scotland not being renowned for any consistency of weather lived up to its reputation, cold and rainy 90% of the day. According to the locals, temperature hasn't climbed above 22 deg all summer, certainly not kilt weather.

After being wet and soggy for a couple of hours where else could we turn but the Scotch Whiskey Experience, nothing says warm more than a single malt travelling through your veins. What a fantastic tour, firstly a ride in a barrel like carriage describing the process, then another presentation, and then Sandys Mecca

 A room with 3 walls, floor to ceiling scotch... 3400 bottles. I don't think Sandy blinked the whole time we were in there. After this we were taken to the bar where we were given another 4 to try (just starting to warm up now).

This tour certainly rates and as well as being tasty is also very informative. There were so many we wanted to buy but given it is only the beginning of our trip we abstained.

Now suitably warmed we tackled some souvenir shops... so much we could have bought with particular reference to our wee scottish dog at home. 

I had all intentions of buying some junior bagpipes, as I can imagine them coming in handy in the next few weeks, but disappointed as my fellow travellers will be I didn't get back to the store. We still have a couple of days left in Scotland so I still have my hopes up, Sandy is excited as well as she is more than aware of my natural musical ability.

Today's lessons: Our personal whisky collection is crap, and wine by the glass comes in three sizes ( no guessing Sandys preferred size).

Day 4: The Road to Scotland

Expat Explore Bus Tour Day 2:  We rose and shone  at 5.30 in our eagerness to get to Scotland before the day was done.  Our first mission was breakfast, smooth sailing except of course for the black pudding challenge, which both of us happily failed at. We left York at 7.10 in the rain.

Our first stop ( apart from our comfort stop) was Hadrians Wall, a wall built by the Romans in about 100 AD, a UNESCO site, and I know I keep banging  on about the history but it really is quite overwhelming. I failed to take a picture of the wall but here is some beautiful English countryside surrounding it.

At this stop it was quite obvious that the comfort stop was a little too far away for some ( Sandy and Tour Leader) who appeared from behind a wall( not the famous wall) with a look of apparent relief.

Back on the bus and a number of people had a telling off for climbing the wall and not respecting the significance of the site, wasn't us thankfully. We were now heading towards the border ( rolling hills, old houses, villages, sheep with black faces), about 5 mins from the border the sound of bagpipes filled the bus and increased in volume until we arrived.

On departing the bus there was a bagpiper playing and it was surprisingly moving, especially since neither of us are Scottish ( just tired I think..). 

Back on the bus we made our way to Jedburgh, a border town for lunch, beautiful typically scottish village with spectacular Abbey ruins.

After Jedburgh it was off to Edinburgh where we have a full free day to explore, and a sleep in. It was another long and satisfying day. What did I learn today; Scottish people speak funny and I don't think haggis should be an option on a toasted sandwich.