The Royal Mile

Thanks goodness the wind has died down today. It was a lovely day for sightseeing. Our first point of call, Edinburgh Castle.

There are some things you just have to see in person to really appreciate and feel their magnificence and this is one of them. 

This is the best I can do to show you how imposing the castle is. It doesn't sit on the rock, it grows out of it and looms over you as you walk past. I can imagine it would feel very daunting on a dark bleak wintery day. 

The views over the city were magnificent and we had the perfect day for it. The castle is set up as a museum of Scottish history and was very interesting, you could spend a days there reading all the information. But days we don't have, so on forth.

In the forecourt they are preparing for Edinburgh Tattoo in early August and you get an idea of the crowds of people we have to deal with sometimes.

We walked "The Royal Mile", with lots of shops and cafes and interesting buildings, to Holyrood Palace.

This is the Queen's Scottish palace, which she uses when she has royal business while on holiday at Balmoral. Again very interesting. 

An unexpected pleasure was being able to the walk around the palace gardens, beautiful and expansive. 

We had intended touring the Royal Yacht Britannia as well but we were running out of time so we walked to the top of Calton Hill to admire the palace and Edinburgh from that vantage point.

A little leg weary we hopped on the bus back to base, but ended up having tour of the 'burbs' because it was going the wrong way. Oh well it was a relaxing way to spend the end of the day.

TOODLES