10 - 12 August, Edinburgh

Wednesday 10th August

love shops like this

Pleasant night in the Premier Inn. Finishing the drive to Kirkcaldy today, so we start off at the local Wetherspoons for their excellent eggs benedict, and then we are on our way.

  All goes well until we are on the A1 just past Alnwick, when an accident causes us to be diverted. The next hour is spent following the diversion signs around in the a circle, which we realise as we pass the Chathill railway station for the second time.  Other motorists are similarly confused.  Giving up trying to follow the signs and unable to follow the sat nav as she just wants to take us back to the A1, which the radio keeps informing us is well blocked, so we head towards Seahouses. Unfortunately holiday traffic is appalling and the trip is long and slow before we pass the astounding Bamburg Castle and we finally resurface on the A1.  Detour briefly to check out Holy Island but it is starting to rain so we don't stop for a walk around.Continue on to Berwick upon Tweed, where we stop for some sandwiches and a leg stretch on the city ramparts.
Then it is back to the horrors of the journey to Edinburgh. After an all too brief good run, the traffic grinds to a halt again as we take the Edinburgh bypass and traffic is (according to the radio) heavier than normal over the Forth Bridge, so it is about 7pm when we finally arrive at our Airbnb.  Thankfully Joe is there to meet us as promised and he gives us a quick run down - yay, someone to explain how to work the shower - be sure to turn on the switch outside the bathroom door before expecting any hot water, before leaving us to it.  I make a quick run down to the Asda at the end of the road for some ready meals and we are set for the night.  Now to hope the weather clears a bit for the Tattoo tomorrow night.

Thursday 11th August

Very comfortable night in our apartment in Kirkcaldy. The morning is a bit damp but clears as the morning goes on.
First on the agenda is a trip to see the Falkirk wheel.  A whole different type of lock.
It is about a 45 minute drive so we set off mid morning.

A very impressive structure and they have gone out of their way to make an attraction of it, with an excellent play area featuring various ways of moving water for the kids.  The tourist boat goes through every half hour or so which is good as it would be a shame not to see it in operation.
Afterwards we drove out for a brief look at the Kelpies.

As the weather was turning, we stop, but they are certainly massive structure.

Back home for a bite to eat and to don most of our winter clothing for the night ahead. We have picked up some plastic ponchos in case the promised rain eventuates, as I suspect the waterproofing of our coats may not survive a couple of hours soaking, not to mention legs and feet.

Just after 4pm we set off into Edinburgh, through the traffic and are very lucky to get a street park just where we want, so no need to fall back onto plan B. Bit of a hike around the castle rock to find the ticket shop but there is no queue to collect the tickets and everything goes smoothly. We now have a couple of hours to pass until the performance so we wander around the streets enjoying the busking performances as Edinburgh is in full flow of the fringe festival.  Grab a bite to eat at a pie shop then head up to the castle.

There has been some light rain during the evening but it is starting to clear and we are hopeful.
The queue up the Royal Mile is quick moving and after a perfunctory bag check we are onto the esplanade.  Somehow not as large as it looks on the tv, but the anticipation is high.  Plenty of performers coming in and out of the castle in search of coffees, so we snag a couple of photos.

Once we take out seats, it is not long before the compere comes on and warms up the crowd with lots of welcomes and even gets us to sing happy birthday to someone in the audience. Then the offical guest arrives and is escorted up the red carpet and bang on the dot of 9pm the show begins.

The weather holds off for us, though sitting still for a couple of hours gets a bit chilly at times.  Really glad we put on the thermals. Absolutely spectacular show.  Even Holly is enthralled enough to stay awake until the end.

The esplanade empties out very efficiently at the end and apart from nearly getting blown away down in the freezing wind as we walk from the castle we make it home shortly before midnight.

Friday 12 August

Everyone managed a bit of a sleep in after our late night. We wake to some sunshine but it soon blows away.  Stir ourselves to be on our way into Edinburgh via the Park and Ride and the tram which is about a 25 minute trip. Happen to sit next to a young woman playing pokemon, so I get a quick lesson as we tootle along.
As it is about 12.30 once we find our way through the streets, we go to the castle first up.  Huge queues to buy tickets but our EH membership gets us in the fast lane and we are straight up the hill and through the portcullis ready for the 1 o'clock canon firing. Unfortunately 1/2 the population of Edinburgh is already waiting, so we can't see from the back, but it certainly goes off with a bang. We then wait for the guided tour and spend the next couple of hours exploring the castle.

By now the rain is back, so we head back into the town in search of food. End up in TGI Fridays where we all chow down on burgers before dragging the kids on a walking tour of the rest of the city, including a hike up Carlton Hill where it appears Edinburgh has dumped all it's monuments and left them untended.