Scotland Day 2 and 3 - Edinburgh Castle and the Highlands

10/13
After the luggage fiasco, I was ready to get out and about and see a little of the city. We started out about noon and walked to the city center. It was about a fifteen minute walk, but me being so out of shape, it felt like 10 miles. About half way there, Sharon spotted a Starbucks. Sharon is a little obsessed with Starbucks. She actually squealed when she saw it. We stopped and had a drink, which was ok with me since I was sweating like a pig and needed to take a breath. After Starbucks we headed up the street and as we turned a corner, there it was, Edinburgh Castle, perched up on a high mountain in the middle of the city. A very impressive sight, I can see why it was built there. It is a very Strategic and beautiful spot. But, this spot causes a problem for the tourist...high hill means climbing up steep stairs to the top. Jeesh, didn't the kings and queens of Scotland have any sympathy for the poor tourists of the future? Selfish bastards!

The Castle is a gray/brown stone and all the Buildings are built for protection against attacks. All the outer buildings in the complex are built to protect the inner set of buildings which consist of the church and the palace where the royalty lived.

We toured all the buildings that where open to the public. The war memorial that used to be the church, the royal apartments which included a pretty thorough history reason regarding the Scottish royal family. We also got to see the Scottish Crown Jewels, which there were not much of, but considering how many times this country has been conquered and plundered, I was pleased this much had made it home. One of the high lights in the "Stone Of Destiny" which is the stone that all the Scottish kings and queens stood on when they were crowed. The English stole it and kept it for over 700 years, before finally returning it in 1998. How generous of them.

After the castle we meandered down the Royal mile to the Ensign Ewart pub for lunch. It was one of those pictures perfect pubs with old photos and mementoes on the walls and a very impressive crowd of regulars. It was the kind of place you could spend the whole afternoon at and be quite content. But no, we had more shopping and sight seeing to do. We left the pub and wound our way down the hill to Princes Street in "New Town" where all the newer shops are, stopping and shopping along the way. Princes street has all the modern, up to date shops and was very crowded. We lost interest after about half an hour and decided to go to the tourist office to book a tour to the highlands the next day. We got our tickets and decided to go home for a few hours to rest before going out to celebrate Alex's birthday.

After resting a bit we went out to look for a Neighborhood pub. There quite a few, but the forest one we went into was too packed so we headed for the one across the street. It was better. We had a few beers, talked and people watched for a few hours and then decided to call it a night since we had to be at the bus stop for the tour at 7:45 in the morning. On the walk home we saw a sight you see in every city at 11:30 on the Friday night; the drunk that is being roused/arrested by the police and paramedic. Just isn't a Friday night without that!

10/14
I got up at 7am and really didn't want to be awake. It was one of those mornings where it is still dark and you just want to curl up and pull the covers over your head. But we had already paid for the tickets and besides, if I had come to Scotland and not seen Loch Ness I would never have forgiven myself.

The taxi dropped us off at the Waterloo Place bus stop and we waited about 15 minutes with the other about 30 people. The little mini bus arrived and we all squeezed on. It was fully packed. I ended up in the middle seat of the very back row. It was the worst seat on the bus. Crammed in with a person either side of me, no air and having to try to take pictures over and around people's heads. Right before the lunch stop the lid next to me started to cry and look a little sick. I couldn't understand what he was saying to his father in German, but everyone knows the signs of a car sick kid. All I could think was this is last thing I need, a kid throwing up on me. Luckily we stopped for lunch and afterward he looked much better. Alex was also nice enough to trade seats with me so I could have the window. The tour took us up to the highlands, past castle, Ranoch Moor, pretty hills and to Glen Coe, and finally up to Loch Ness where we went on an hour long boat ride out on the lake. Unfortunately we didn't see the monster (if you don't count the wire mesh statue) but it was beautiful and peaceful. Our drive back passed through the mountains and then over the very impressive Forth Road Bridge back into Edinburgh. We were totally exhausted and wanted nothing more than to go to bed when we got home. My whole body ached from the long bus ride and all the walking the day before. We watched a little TV and it was off to bed.

this morning I woke up with a little bit of a soar throat and it was Alex's last day with us, so we decided to take it easy and just stay home. I am drinking tea, eating cough drops and watching TV. I am feeling better and should be ready to go tomorrow for more sight seeing and, of course, shopping.