Thursday, September 11, 2014 - The Scotland Saga

Mark up at 6:15 AM, Deb up at 7:15 AM, Glenda up at 8:15 AM (the record to reflect this fact, as this is the first time in Deb & Glenda's travels together that Deb is up, showered, dressed and ready to go before Glenda is out of bed! Properly noted.)

The day begins as we stroll back towards the Royal Mile (affectionately known to locals as the Tartan Ghetto, for all the plaids and kilts on offer to the tourists.) We stop at the Patisserie Valerie for breakfast of poached eggs, granary toast, a rasher of crispy bacon, a scone and a chocolate pastry. Not all was enjoyed by each - I will leave it to the reader to guess who broke fast with which. Coffee was had by each.

On to the Edinburgh Museum, lovely building and a marvelous free museum.  There was so much to see and so well displayed, we were only able to get through one floor, and then only with a cursory glance, as we had to depart for the "Writers Tour of Edinburgh." 

This tour proved to be a high spot of our trip so far.  Led by author Allan Foster, we walked for an hour and a half, learning all kinds of facts and tidbits about a myriad of authors born, or living, or studying and writing in Edinburgh. All of this within a few square blocks. We ended up back at the Writers Museum on Ladycross Stairs Close, where we picked up a few of Mr. Foster's books and had him autograph them for us.

Next off to Kathy's Knitting store, followed by a lunch at Henderson's restaurant.  This proved to be a vegetarian restaurant serving French-Scotch cuisine by a lovely young french girl - Glenda was able to practice her French.  The food was excellent, Deb telling the chef that if she had him to cook for her every day, she would rarely eat meat again.  Deb is now on a quest to find a recipe for vegetarian lentil /roast vegetable lasagna.

Next on to the Scottish National Gallery, again with barely enough time to scratch the surface of this wonderful, and again free, museum.  We had a coffee on the terrace and then journeyed across the way to the west Princes Gardens. Stunning is the only word.

Back to old Town on the South side, in search of detective Rebus' favorite pub - the Royal Oak.  We imbibed in scotch ale and bad red wine.  We were entertained by a young spanish guitarist, Serchio.  He was talented, handsome, and Deb struck up a conversation, hoping to introduce him to Darcy. 

We dined at what was formerly the favorite pub of Robert Louis Stevenson, J.M. Barrie, and Arthur Conan Doyle, then known as Rutherford's. Now owned by the neighboring Italian Restaurant, and serving Italian fare with a pirate ship theme - very strange.

The end of a very long and walk filled day; we settled into our apartment, enjoyed a glass of wine and plotted our route for the rest of our trip. Tomorrow we pick up our car and start to explore the hinterlands.