A British vacation (but I'm also going to Japan)

[rbjhan]

I've booked the 2.30pm tour at the Scottish Parliament, so we skip Holyroodhouse.


The tour was very interesting! As someone who didn't know a lot re Scottish history, I certainly find it highly informative.

Photos were not allowed until we reached the debating chamber.


Obviously very different from the Westminster style we are familiar with....I quite like it though. (Apparently it's popular in continental Europe?)

PS If you haven't been to the Victorian one, highly recommend.

 

[rbjhan]

Dinner at Makars mash.


Mother wanted low carb, so she had the non mash version with broccolini.


Delicious!
This was probably my favourite meal in Edinburgh.

 

[VPS]

Lunch was at Wedgwood the Restaurant

Smoked Salmon
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Cod
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Passionfruit posset
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I had a great lunch there

 

[rbjhan]

Day 11

Charlotte Square was so pretty! Sadly a private garden so no entry.


A rare sunny day.
And he certainly knew how to position himself!


Royal Mile

 

[rbjhan]

Booked a guided tour of St Giles at 10.30am.
There were seven of us, two Irish girls, two locals, two Americans and me. Mother was not interested in tours, decided to look around herself.

Well you see, their website said the tour should be 45 mins. I thought it was going to be some walking around, some history chat, etc...you know, like a normal tour.

Except, this day our guide, ah she was a history lover, and talked non stop.

So we started at 10.30, about 11.40 I realised that we were only half way through the church, history-wise Charles I just got his head chopped off...and the Americans had managed to disappear without trace....

I quickly evaluated the situation, thought about the Jacobites and how much time that would take....And found a good moment when the others were not looking and made a dash for the exit

Honestly, I love history and found her stories interesting. Except I only planned one hour max here!

Managed one picture.

 

[rbjhan]

Next stop National Museum of Scotland.

My favourite again!


Lots of Mary Queen of Scots, ofc.




Dolly the sheep


The Grand Gallery




Rooftop.
Sadly the lift up was broken that day, mother couldn't make it...

 

[rbjhan]

Went to Victoria Street, wow so many people....


Several shops had queues outside, including Oink...


Ha yes this was a simple shop selling hog roast in a roll...delicious though!

 

[rbjhan]

Booked 2pm tickets to Edinburgh Castle.



There were not joking about the Long Stairs!


Argyle Battery

 

[rbjhan]

One o'Clock Gun






Calton Hill, ah there will be stories later...

 

[rbjhan]

Finally reached the Royal Palace.
There was a queue to see the Honours of Scotland, no pictures ofc.

Great Hall


It was a lovely day but super windy up there!


I had to go get a hot chocolate.....

We left about 4pm?

 

[rbjhan]

Here I made a mistake, really should had taken mother back to hotel first.....instead we went to Calton Hill together....

Well first of all she didn't like the stairs so we had to take a really long walk:
The red line was our route!


Then as we arrived a bit early, shooting condition was not right


So I decided to wait.
Well, didn't take into account that not everyone has the patience to wait for good lighting conditions for photos...

Mother kept asking "It is okay now" which drove me bonkers
At the end we had to leave earlier than I'd like, not a happy bunny!

 

[rbjhan]

Day 12
The night before mother said she wanted a late breakfast, so I went out for a moring walk myself.




Oh look


Vennel View Point


Autumn was so beautiful

 

[rbjhan]

It started raining on my way back.
Indoor activities were preferable ofc, but imagine my shock when mother said "let's go shopping"

I was not wrong though, she made it to one M&S, for two mins and then couldn't stand the indoor tempreture and left

Honestly, what were she thinking I had no idea....she hates spending money, and hates aircon....

I decided to put a stop to this "shopping", and drag her to the Portrait Gallery.

The Great Hall




Reading room

 

[rbjhan]

Since we had a 4pm check out, mother wanted to go back and rest in her room...
I went to Dean Village




Sun!


Now that's a cozy place....


Google maps told me to go back to hotel via Deans Bridge...hmmm....there might be a problem....

 

[rbjhan]

After check out and get mother settled on one of the sofas....I went back to Calton Hill, because, you know, I wanted that photo!

Instead I got two of my favourites of this trip.




Now I know, photographers really should be on their own

 

[rbjhan]

Back to the hotel and waited....waited....waited.....
Finally 10PM! Time to move

Edinburgh Waverley here we came.
Okay more waiting


Boarding started at 10.30, it was, very manual....I was a bit shocked tbh....your names were literally checked off a printed list....

Anyways, got our key cards. Off to the Caledonian Sleeper.

Oh my was it narrow or what!
Luckily we were small, but if you are not, think twice about this....


I booked two classic rooms.

* the ladder was a perfect block so that my medium suitcase couldn't be put under the bed! Honestly I'm not too sure how two people share one room as two cases would take up the whole space....

Why not the ensuite? Because they can't be connected.


The bed was comfy, I slept till 6 or something next morning.