Pity we couldn't catch the tram to the city centre. Like Sydney's newest tram line, the construction budget blew out to astronomical figures and timelines. It was supposed to run on to Holyroodhouse Palace, the royal accommodation in Edinburgh, but it was curtailed. It will probably be extended one day. We had to catch a bus to the centre of the city. While I could see it running past, I could not work out how to get down to the bus stop from our very elevated hotel. I asked hotel staff and they pointed me in the direction of stairs down to the road.
This was the day when hotel staff cleared away our rubbish, including my very fine pretty blue throw away plastic water bottle bought in South Africa last year. Given all theses photos were taken with phones, I guess I forgot to take the camera with me too. My current water bottle is from England.and contained Tango Orange Juice. It's a nice strong bottle.
I had no idea what this Gothic building is until now when checking. It is the Scott Monument, Sir Walter Scott that would be. It was quite hot and I really wished we were fitter and gone down to the monument, near the famous Jenners Department Store and the Waverley train station.
While Edinburgh is very hilly, the Golden Mile, Princes Street, is flat, with very upmarket and downmarket stores on one side and falling away to the lovely Princes Gardens on the other side with Edinburgh Castle on the far side of the valley.
Ah, what fun. A bagpipe player. I don't mind bagpipes in small doses.
A Harry Potter busker character, I think.
Jesus, more bagpipes.
An optional tour was a visit to Edinburgh Castle but we chose to just see the outside. I busied myself with my phone and found a public bus we could travel on for one stop, one very long and very steep stop. Well done me. We entered as far as we could without paying, like to the end of a queue. My allah was it busy.
I am not sure where we took these two photos. Obviously somewhere elevated.
Now down in the lovely Princes Gardens, where I came across the nasty ice cream seller.
As they say in Geordie Town, it was boilin' (by Scottish standards), at least 25 degrees.
Oh god, another bagpipe player, I think welcoming us for dinner and a show.
The show was quite entertaining.
I expect every Scottish person will have heard Robbie Burns', Address to the Haggis. I tried haggis and I did not vomit.
Laddie, show me your sporran.
Right, we've heard quite enough bagpipes for one day.
I think this was where the dinner show was held. I also think we had a fixed price menu.
Back to our stinking hot hotel for another night of restless sleep.