The Royal Mile

Today we slept in; way more than I expected! Jet lag hit us hard this trip. But it was needed. Seamus heard the many pipers out the front windows, but the rest of us were done. Finally we started our morning with Starbucks and I found one of my ornaments there too. I was way excited!

Next we were heading up to Edinburgh Castle for our tour. We purchased the Scottish Explorer pass which was a good deal for us to use in several spots! We had a 12:30 entry because we wanted to see the firing of the cannon at 1:00 for the boys. Unfortunately I didn’t have the email from them to get the pass but everyone was so nice it was easy to get it and go in to tour. Easy!

We love Edinburgh Castle and actually wanted to get married here. It’s definitely a highlight of the trip! The boys went off to explore and Joe and I found a Scottish Whiskey tasting to try. Little did we know a downpour started while we were tasting and shopping! It didn’t last long and we continued our touring of the Castle.

I forgot to mention we were able to wash clothes here, but, as usual, no dryers! So this was the scene for the day🤣🤣

Off to the castle we go to explore!

Walking up the Royal Mile here outside our apartment

St. Giles Cathedral on way up to the castle

Almost up to the top. I don’t know how the women wore the clothes they did and made it up here!

To the outside gates where the nicest people helped us with our Explorer passes

Scottish Whiskey tasting at the castle. Little did we know, the skies had opened up while we were here!

War Memorial. There’s no filming inside here but it was beautiful

Ok so I missed the big one

Seamus didn’t though

It was loud but cool. The castle was very crowded but we were able to see everything we wanted. The boys ventured out on their own and found lots of interesting places and things to buy.

The dog cemetery from the soldiers. You can’t get down to it but such a neat thing to see

This would have been buried in the ground when used

Inside where the Royal family would have worshipped

Preparing for the tattoo at the end of June

After touring we headed down the Royal Mile for some shopping before lunch at Pizza Hut. Lots of scarves and tartans in all the shoppes; the Harris tweed was a hot item to buy. We did not purchase any tweeds though. Maybe someday 😉

Lots of stores decorated up for the summer

Next up, our Ghost Walk with the graveyards and haunted vaults under Edinburgh. Our guide was a great storyteller. Some of the tombstones in Greyfriar’s Kirk are thought to be the inspiration for JK Rowling’s character. Moody, MacGonagel, and Tom Riddle are all there! We saw Greyfriar Bobby, the dog who stayed by his owner’s grave for 14 years!! The vaults were creepy but lots of good stories. Darren, our guide, was very good at telling his tales and the boys seemed to really enjoy the tour.

Bobby is not buried here; he’s just outside the gates it’s believed

We didn’t go in as there was a dress code. But our place was just up the street from here

Now comes the weird part of the night. Joe and I had run down to Waverly Station to get train tickets for tomorrow. The booth had closed so we headed back up to get dinner with the boys. We ended up at Bella Italia, just underneath our apartment. I sat down first with Seamus and then Joe and Max came in too. Max was wearing a Mason sweatshirt; after we ordered the guy next to us asked about his sweatshirt. Then I hear “Hayley? Is that you?!” I about fell out of my chair. Literally seated next to us in Edinburgh, Scotland was one of my first teaching partners in Mason, 28 years ago. I cannot make this up!! Cheri and I taught together for many years before she and our other friend, Kari, went down to 5th grade. We literally teach across the street from each other, but we wind up in Scotland at the same restaurant!!