Friday June 11th, 2004

Slept pretty well considering the size of the bed! Still avoided the haggis for brekky. Packed up our luggage and checked out of our hotel. Hiked to the train station and caught the train for Edinburgh. The train stations in Scotland are wonderful as are the trains. Everything seems new and modern and I was most impressed! The scenery between Glasgow and Edinburgh was lovely and the trip seemed to go quickly.

Once in Edinburgh we got a taxi to our B&B's. We had to stay at 2 different ones this time but they were at least on the same street. Tom and I got out at the first B&B the taxi came to and sent Gary and Monica on to the other one. Ours turned out to be in a very old residence which has been fixed up wonderfully. Our room was to die for!! A huge bed!! And a gigantic gorgeous bathroom!! WOW!! I didn't want to leave the place!! But Tom and I walked up to Gary and Monica's place. Theirs was also very nice but where ours was modern, theirs had a country feel to it. We walked up to Holy Corner and caught a bus towards the castle. Our first goal was the HARD ROCK CAFE so that Gary could add to his collection of pins and t-shirts from Hard Rocks across the world! WE had lunch there ... finally a good salad! They had the Eric Clapton Signature Edition T-shirt that I had been looking for so I got one for me and one for Robbie. Then we were off to Edinburgh Castle. We didn't actually go in the castle but we did go into the tartan weaving mill right beside it. This place was huge and had even more Mackinnon stuff in it!! Tom bought me a cashmere sweater and ordered one for himself. They make them there! We all booked a bus-trip to Loch Lomand and Stirling Castle for the next day while there, too. Then Tom and I went across the street to a place where they had Scotch tastings. We caught a bus back close to Holy corner ... the buses in Scotland are not at all rider-friendly ... and made it back to our lovely B&B. Rested and read for awhile then met Gary and Monica for dinner.

Had a nice meal at a place called The Parrot. Laughed and ate and drank and enjoyed the company. That big bed kept calling to me, though so it was an early evening for us!