Here’s a warning travel friends. While traveling, don’t do anything that you don’t want everyone back home knowing about. Why? People are watching. Yes, people you know. Within 24 hours of landing in Edinburgh, we learned that two of Denise’s friends from PRSA and their spouses were in town, and we learned that our friend Laura Buckmaster and her fiancé were here as well.

 It gets better. While walking on the Royal Mile this morning, we heard Denise’s name shouted from a nearby tour bus. Yep, her friends spotted us and even took our picture from the bus to mark the event. The Lady who thought she was doing some anonymous shopping was so glad she was with her real husband and not one of her many boyfriends. Me too! 

Caught on the Street

 So Day 1 of our tour included having the morning on our own. We headed to the Royal Mile and in addition to scoping out some shops to visit later we were able to see The World’s End restaurant where we visited on a stormy night almost 20 years ago with Katie and Bryan. Some things endure.

 We made it back to the hotel with minutes to spare for a quick lunch of a bowl of soup.  Then it was off to Sterling Castle for the afternoon.

 

A side note: our group of 24 travelers was missing 10 people, all stranded by this airline or that and even the famous British Railway. As expected, they all made it in time for the opening dinner, which the Lady calls the “Opening Ceremonies.” As usual the entourage is filled with people from all over: Canada, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, North Caroline, Virginia, and DC. We look forward to making many new friends.

 

From https://www.stirlingcastle.scot/discover/about-the-castle/; Stirling Castle was the key to the kingdom of Scotland, dominating a vast volcanic rock above the river Forth at the meeting point between Lowlands and Highlands. Its origins are ancient and over the centuries it grew into a great royal residence and a powerful stronghold.

The Palace at Stirling

 The castle has been well restored allowing us to visit the Palace, the Great Hall, the Great Kitchens, Queen Anne garden and Stirling Heads. This visit gave us an appreciation of life in the Castle during the time of Mary Queen of Scots. The palace restoration involved learning that the original colors for the wall coverings and decorations were brilliant. Some old ‘fuddy duddies’ didn’t like that, but what are you going to do. I liked it.

Brilliant Colors in the restoration

 Back at the hotel, we headed to the “Opening Ceremonies.” Over drinks we began to learn about our travel mates. That learning was interrupted by this raucous noise coming from the hallway outside our room. I was ready to call the authorities because the noise was intrusive and totally without redeeming social value. Turns out it was our entertainment for the evening, bagpipe. Wow were they loud. Once the piper ran out of breath and stopped to catch his, he explained that he had lost 70% of hearing by playing that so called instrument. He patiently answered our many questions and then in the tradition of Scottish hospitality piped us to the room where we were to have dinner.

Before dinner could start, he reappeared piping in a Haggis. He then proceeded to recite Robert Burns’ poem, Address to Haggis, in the native tongue. That tongue did not sound very nice but I guess it goes along with the reputation that Haggis has as a dinner dish.

 A busy day, Day 1. What will Day 2 bring? Stay tuned.