We’ve wrapped up a wonderful week in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. We stayed in a cozy two bedroom apartment in a building near the south base of the Edinburgh Castle, in the old town area. A nondescript door between two used book shops led into a peaceful multi-tiered courtyard with 26 flats; ours was up three flights of stairs, so between that and the steps around town we got plenty of exercise each day! The location was ideal for exploring the city on foot, and one night we were even able to hear the Jessie J concert going on up at the castle from our front stoop! (I had no idea who she was, but did recognize a couple of songs from the radio)
We decided to limit ourselves to Edinburgh on this, our first trip to Scotland. Day trips to the highlands were quite long, and we didn’t think the youngest member of our party would appreciate it (which would make for a very long bus ride). So, we explored the family-friendly options that the city had to offer. The Castle of Edinburgh, the Camera Obscura, with exhibits on optical illusions and special effects, and the National Museum of Scotland were all big hits with the entire family. Caroline and I took a morning and explored an underground portion of the city called Mary King’s Close, getting a taste of what life was like back in the 17th century.
We all got out of the city on one day, taking a harbor cruise in the Firth of Forth to Inchcolm Island, site of Inchcolm Abbey, which dates back to the 12th Century. Many of the rooms were largely intact, so it was quite fun to explore. There were also interesting wartime fortifications scattered about on the island.
Edinburgh is a great city for just roaming around and people-watching. Princes Street gardens, with its wide open grass areas and playground for the kids, provided a nice place to relax in the evenings. Our week went by quickly; we will definitely return some day so we can see more of what Scotland has to offer!
Favorite Activity:
A: Edinburgh Castle
B: Edinburgh Castle
C: Camera Obscura
D: Exploring Inchcolm Abbey
Favorite Food: (we weren’t too adventurous…never tried haggis, though we did have haggis potato chips one day)
A: oatcakes
B: Punk IPA from BrewDog, a Scottish brewery
C: Shortbread cookies
D: Shortbread cookies
Expenses:
Food: $350
Entertainment: $240
Lodging: $925
Currency: GBP, with 1 pound equalling $1.52
Today we journeyed to London via train, arriving at our apartment on the Southbank, near Tower Bridge. Week of fun and sun ahead (supposed to get up to 90 degrees in a few days).
ABCD World Travels 
Hi Anita, This was fun. When I spent 6 weeks around the Western European area in 1980, partly with Mother and Alice, and partly with a group of Japanese colleagues and students, I visited around 9 countries, some of them VERY briefly, like motoring through on the train, but my favorite place was Edinburgh where I was for something like 3 nights with the Japanese student group. We stayed in dorm rooms at the university and went back and forth by bus or on foot. Being a professional Presbyterian, I was especially interested in John Knox’s house and St. Giles Cathedral. After that trip I thought I would like to go back and spend a year in London, which has so very much to offer, so I know you will have a great time there. We spent quite a few nights there in various places, beginning and ending with a hotel called something like Royal Scots, and one day we took a day trip out to Stratford on Avon to see “Romeo and Juliet” at the Shakespeare Theater. That was quite a day. Thank you for the running account of your adventures. Love, Aunt Priscilla
>________________________________ > From: ABCD World Travels >To: abbopris@yahoo.com >Sent: Saturday, July 20, 2013 11:55 AM >Subject: [New post] So long Scotland > > > WordPress.com >abcdworldtravels posted: “We’ve wrapped up a wonderful week in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. We stayed in a cozy two bedroom apartment in a building near the south base of the Edinburgh Castle, in the old town area. A nondescript door between two used book shops led into a p” >