Edinburgh In The Rain – What Can You Say!

      Today was the last port in the British Isles. We head to France next. We decided before the cruise started to simply go ashore and find our own way. There is a train station 200 steps up from the landing of the tenders. We were off early. Once ashore, a local company offered a bus ride into the city centre and back for about the same cost. Too convenient!. They dropped us at the beginning of Princess street which is the main street of new town. There is a park in a valley that separates old and new town. We followed the street along towards the hill at the end.

Scot's Memorial

On Top Of The Memorial

Edinburgh Castle

     The street is filled with upscale stores and being Saturday they were filled with shoppers. We did venture into one upscale department store called Jenners. They were having Blue Cross sale. We were curious! It is an added sale but the a sales lady said there was not much difference in prices. Across the street is the Walter Scott Monument. Of course we went up to see the views of the city. Unfortunately is was a cloudy, misty foggy day and the views were good but not great. It has 4 levels of viewing with a total of 287 steps in a winding staircase. No lift here. Over 200 feet high, it was completed in 1844. The passageway was very narrow at the top as was the actual viewing area..

Bannerman's Pub

     We continued to the Regent Gardens at the end of the street. They also overlook the city. It has a partially completed Parthenon, a modern day Greek structure. It was never finished due to a lack of funds. We crossed the bridge and walked down the royal mile which leads to the Edinburgh Castle. We diverted from the main street looking for a place for lunch. We asked a policeman for a pub where the locals go. Withing 100 yards we found the Bannermans Bar. It was probably the most interesting pub of all the places we had visited. It is called a “Rock and Whisky” bar whatever that means.Definitely local. There were people in there dressed in their finest, probably going to a wedding which was going on across the street.

    Back to the mile for a stroll just as the rains moved in. We made our way to the castle where there was some type of concert going on. Now we were getting wet! We decided to head back to 

The Mile In The Rain

the bus pick up point. The mini bus ride back was quite enjoyable as the driver gave us a commentary on what we were passing. Sean Connery has a house in the area; and Harry Potter's Hogwarts School was close by although the fog and mist blocked the view. After all the rain it was good to get back to the ship for a little rest.

    We did attend manage to get to Skywakers for some pre dinner drinks and snacks, then headed to the art gallery for some champagne and cheese. We seem to get invited to these things all the time. We think it is because we have won some free art in the past and are now “collectors”. Dinner and a wonderful performance by a singer ended the evening. She was better comedian than a singer. Her voice was so deep that Judy said it scared her. She thinks that she was a male!