Scotland Part 2

Saturday: The hostel bed, well it could have been thicker and more comfortable, but I have slept in worse places then before. Using the communal co-ed facilities was all unique, but not all the odd in the long run. A quick breakfast at a place called Deacon Brodie's Cafe (I would eat there again on Sunday morning) for scones and hot chocolate was a great way to start the morning. We met up with the Locurcio's and the students at Edinburgh Castle atop the Royal Mile. Preparations were already in place for the Edinburgh Tattoo, but it wouldn't start until after we left. One year I am going to have to time things to see the tattoo at least one evening. The castle has the most splendid sights of the city, and the history stretches back to roughly 1000AD. It was a great place to spend a few hours, visiting the Scottish Crown Jewels, two of the military museums within the walls, and finally the Scottish Great War Memorial. After that it was down the Royal Mile with the students, stopping and shopping, and pointing out the history. Lunch was a brief stop at a restaurant at the top of the mile, then back down the mile towards Holyrood Palace. By the time we got to the bottom, it was nearly 3:00. A bunch of the students went their own way, the Locurcio's went back to their B&B and I went into Holyrood Palace by myself. At 6, I went on a bus tour of the city with some people, one of those open top busses. It was fun and entertaining, and gave me a 24 hour free bus pass to use the next day. That evening it was off to dinner for Pizza and back to the same restaurant where we had lunch for desert.

Sunday: Started off brisk and cold. Back to Deacon Brodie's Cafe for a bacon sandwhich and some tea, then off to see more of the city. The bus tour took us around the city until we ended up at the Scottish National Galleries to see some art, both by Scottish artists and collected by Scotsman. I then saw a Native American musical group performing near the gallery and broke down and bought both their CDs because they were that good. If anyone wants some of the music for their Itunes library, let me know! Then it was back on the bus, and off to the Museum of Scotland to see a bunch of Scottish history for a few hours. Seven floors of stuff, though I never made it to the adjacent Royal Museum to see other exhibits. Then it was lunch at Greyfriar's Bobby pub and off to see the grave of the wee dog. Do a google search on Greyfriar's Bobby and you will see what I mean. Back on the bus, then dinner with the Locurcio's and all of the students around 9 at Deacon Brodie's Pub again. I should have gotten a tshirt!

Monday: I had moved into a hotel the night previously, not wanting to spend another night with my back and hip on the hostel bed. The Jury's Inn in Edinburgh was worth the expensive, and I would probably stay there again both because of the price, the location and the cleanliness of the hotel. Monday morning was off to the Bank Hotel restaurant for a wonderful Scottish breakfast and then met everyone at 11:45 for the exploration of Mary King's Close, a covered over, haunted and abandonned street from 17th century Edinburgh. It was a fun and intriguing hour long tour of a forgotten part of the city. Then it was shopping (and a brief visit to the Borders and Lothian police museum) and looking for a kilt. I went to a couple places, but I realized eventually that buying a kilt and all the accoutrements was going to be a $1200 dollar experience (A made to order kilt would take six weeks and cost 445 GBP alone!) I will think on whether I should treat myself at Xmas time or not. Anyway, it was time to head back to the hotel for a late check out and then meet up with everyone to head back to the airport. We probably left an hour earlier than we had to, but it was nice to relax and explore the airport, have some dinner, share some drinks and enjoy each other's company before flying back to London and returning to Oxford around 11pm.

Tomorrow night (Wednesday) is the last formal dinner in Oxford, and then spaghetti dinner on Thursday, finals on Friday, and grading on Saturday. I am going to spend the next few days doing things I haven't done yet. I had to run errands this morning and run by the supermarket for more Diet Coke and some laundry powder to do the last of my laundry on Thursday or Friday. Tonight was eating at the Eagle and Child Pub, the place where Tolkien and CS Lewis hung out and discussed their work. Great little pub with good food and I got to eat in one of the very special rooms that often fill up. It was a good evening, then back home to grade papers for my Civ Class. Finally, it was writing this blog to catch up.

I'll post up some of the pictures from Edinburgh.