Bonnie Scotland

This morning I woke up and there was no castle in our window.  The fog was so thick that I could see nothing but now a couple of hours later it is starting to lift and hopefully it won't be the bad day they are forecasting.  We've been pretty lucky so far here with the weather and although it is not brilliant blue skies, as my daughter Cait says, "If it's not an utterly miserable day in Edinburgh, it's considered OK."

On Tuesday we hired a car and set off for the day to the surrounding areas.  We had to go down to the Port of Leith to pick up the car and that is near where the Britannia is moored so called in there quickly on the way out of Edinburgh.  We headed along the coast road up to St Andrews, famous of course for being the home of golf.  Aside from that it is a beautiful little town set right on the coast and we enjoyed a coffee and a wander here.  We then headed up past Dundee and Perth to Loch Earn where we had lunch on the side of the Loch.  I had cullen skink, a wonderful soup recommended by my friend, Deb Beattie.  It is made of potatoes, leek and smoked haddock.  Ended off with a scone and it was perfect. 

On our way down to Stirling Castle and Bannockburn, we called in at a little village in a beautiful glen where Rob Roy was buried.  Apparently he died of old age in his home and at his funeral they processed him 24 miles down this glen.  Stirling and Bannockburn were interesting.  John had visited Bannockburn with its impressive statue of Robert the Bruce 30 odd years ago and apparently it was better then with a very progressive display etc than it had now.  Still it was sobering to stand on the hill where the standard was planted and realise how many lives were lost in the fields in front of us.

We headed then down to the border country to the little town of Peebles.  This was stunning countryside and we visited the oldest house in Scotland, Traquir House and Neiderpath Castle before heading back to Edinburgh.  It was a great day and we really enjoyed it.  thanks to Dani and Aaron for their suggestions.

Yesterday we spent hours at Edinburgh Castle and had a fantastic day.  We enjoyed wandering around this castle that is our next door neighbour and has fantastic views of the city.  We were lucky as there was a wedding in the little chapel while we were there and they had a piper pipe the bride in and playing after the wedding.  Very very nice.  The Scottish boys look quite charming indeed in their kilts and with bagpipes slung over their shoulders.  I can appreciate that!!!  We saw the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Great Hall with its painting of Sargeant Ewark and the standard, the Prisoner of War Museum, the Scottish War Memorial and while John visited Museums to the famous regiments of Scotland I went to a fiddle concert put on by a wonderful group from the States.  They played in the Great Hall and I thoroughly enjoyed that.

We had a walk down the Royal Mile, the road that connects the Castle to Holyrood Palace.  The Queen is actually here for the week too.  You can't have anything on your own, hey?  William and Kate are coming in today and he is being given the Order of the Thistle at St Giles today.  We might go down for a look - we'll see how we go.

So all in all we have had a great time.  This has all been interspersed with a good dose of tennis and everyone here is excited that Murray might have a chance this time.  Great chatting with everyone again and we are glad everything seems fine at home.