Yesterday

Yesterday we continued touring on the hop-on-hop-off buses and hopped off at Edinburgh Castle to do a bit of looking around. 

It was quite a maze of paths and buildings, stairs up and stairs down. We had a map but it was still quite a job to make sure we didn't miss things.

This beautiful stone ceiling was in a small chapel and was the oldest building remaining.

We were able to view the Crown Jewels. There was quite a story about how the Crown Jewels came about and how, why and who had them modified and how they went underground at the start of a war for safe keeping and stayed there for one hundred years. The whole story was depicted on wall murals and with life like models. As to be expected no photos were allowed of the actual jewels.

When we arrived at the great hall we were just in time to see and hear a Choir from Belgium performing. How lucky we have been!

We are also feeling lucky that we didn't have to queue to get our tickets. One of the benefits of purchasing them with our bus tour and travelling in off- peak season.

After leaving the Castle we walked down the entire length of the Royal Mile. We had travelled it in the bus a couple of times but to enjoy the sights up close we decided a walk was a must. There is so much to see besides shops selling lambswool and Cashmere scarves. Many little lanes and closes come off the Mile, some a way through to another street, some the access to the back of shops and businesses. One we looked into had the exhaust from a kitchen blowing into the alley and Rod and I looked at each other and said 'chocolate'. Sure enough one of the shops on the Mile made and sold Fudge. We felt that we were being beckoned in, it was futile to resist. Much to our surprise we were entertained with the art of fudge making, free samples of any flavour we wanted to try and much joking and banter from behind the counter. A memorable visit for sure.

At the bottom of the Mile our final tour through the gates into Holyroodhouse Palace and Abbey.

Our timing did not coincide with Liz being in residence but we were still not allowed to take photos inside.

The ruin of the Abbey butts right up to the palace.

In the evening we dined again at the Salisbury Inn. For a bit of excitement the power went out, not just in the building but in the surrounding area apparently. We had nowhere else to go so we sipped on a cider and enjoyed rustic bread by candlelight, prepared for the possible lengthy wait, which was only about 40 minutes as it turned out.