Day 8 - Ed-in-bur-a

Our first of 4 nights in Edinburgh met with a few hotel issues involving showers and drains and toilets, but the hotel sorted that out and we're headed into our second night with everything in working order. The hotel's in a great spot, right along the Leith river, and a shortish walk to Princes street and all the shopping. Edinburgh's small so you can cover a lot of ground walking, if you can accept that you're usually climbing up or down - we had some thigh-burn going on navigating some of the steps that get you from one street level to the next.

We started our day with a bus tour to orient ourselves around the city, joined by our local guide Ross. He showed up in full kilt, and of course answered all the obvious questions a man gets when wearing a pleated skirt. Apparently the difference between wearing a skirt and a kilt is only one is worn with underwear. Who knew?

Ross showed us the sights from New Town, Holyrood Palace, Arthur's Seat, the Royal Mile, Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, and St. Giles Cathedral. Edinburgh is also the home of many famous authors, scientists, inventors, etc., but probably the best known among our crew is J. K. Rowling. After our tour we headed down to the Grassmarket, and open square that has lots of cafes and restaurants, but also used to be the area where the city held its executions. I guess people felt a bit peckish after watching a hanging? After lunch our groups split up and headed towards the shops, Edinburgh Castle, or the Scottish Museum. Dungeons also seem to be a theme for some, and of course Edinburgh could oblige.

One famous story in Edinburgh is of Greyfriar's Bobby, a dog who sat at his master's grave every day for years after he was buried. The dog has his won statue that people rub for good luck as they walk by, providing they don't need help to reach it (Maddy and Abby).

For supper we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe, on Georges Street in the New Town part of the city (250 years old, mind you), where one of our group celebrated her 17th birthday on top of a chair with dessert and a song.

Tomorrow we split into groups, one headed on a walk down the river Leith, the other planning an assault of the volcanic peak called Arthur's Seat. The wind is supposed to calm down tomorrow so we're looking forward to a nice day.