We are in Edinburgh. The hotel is older but higher end (if that makes any sense). There are multiple sections to our day; there will be subheadings.
Breakfast: Full English/Irish/Scottish. Yesterday’s fare had only include fried as the egg option. Today scrambled & hardboiled were also on offer. For beverages, beyond juice, lattes, coffee, and tea there was some strange looking green smoothie. I had the orange juice and ignored pureed green vegetables.
Our bus left the hotel at 1000 to Holyrood Palace (usual Wiki Link Provided). Distance wise, it wasn’t all that far but trying to herd a group of older adults a couple of kms might be even more challenging than herding cats. Especially if you actually care about how long the journey will take.
Follow the above link, etc. Again, no photos allowed. What was actually creepy? The palace tours provided gratis headphones to everyone. As a result, there are dozens and dozens of people walking through, looking at things, and there is NO conversation and minimal noise.
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- Central Monument
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- Entry into the central courtyard
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- Ironwork Gates
From there, we were on our own. I think I had located perhaps the only remaining yarn store in Edinburgh, at least near the city center. According to my map, it was ~ 1.4 miles to Ginger Twist Studio. They had both a section with lovely yarns (including hand dyed fingering weight along with the much loved DK & Aran weights) and a small fabric section with notions and a good selection of designed patterns. Yes, I bought two hanks of yarn since I finished the shawl started on the plane on the way over.
I asked about potential cross stitch supplies and the proprietor suggested the Edinburgh Fabric Store. About 1.3 miles, up the hill and on the other side of the Royal Mile. Ok, another nice walk. And passed the Robert Burns Monument on the way
But when we got there, I discovered that they did have fabrics and notions. Also DMC floss and some stitching fabrics on the bolt. But no patterns or kits. Needlework stores, I asked? Gone out of business with the pandemic. Apparently it was only store-front with no on-line component.
On our way to the fabric store, we had passed the location of the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons, Edinburgh. They had a museum in their lovely new building. History of surgery (and dentistry) along with a huge pathology section. It was worth the look and wander. As long as you are not someone who is going to be grossed out at surgical instruments, and two floors of old fashion pathology specimens in jars.
Emblem of the Royal College
Following that we walked back to the hotel which added another 1.4 miles to our steps for the day and involved mostly downhill this time.
As this was the final night of the tour, we had a dinner out at the CannonBall located on the left side of the Royal mile facing the castle gate. Close enough that we could see a bit of the Tattoo tear down in progress.
It actually wasn’t all that late when we returned to the hotel as some of our fellow travelers have 0600 departures.
