July 31 – Train to Edinburgh

Took a short taxi ride to the train station and then we were on to our last stop in Edinburgh.  At the Edinburgh station we caught a cab and were soon at the hotel.  We arrived mid-morning, so our room wasn’t ready.  We dropped off the luggage and then headed towards the old section of town to do a bit of sightseeing.   

We walked for a while through Princes Garden…

in the valley at the feet of Edinburgh Castle.

We also found Greyfriar’s Cemetery.  Very old and beautiful. 

We did a bit of exploring and found the grave of Thomas Riddell (namesake for Thomas Riddle, aka Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series). 

At the front of the church we found a memorial to Greyfriars Bobby, a terrier that is reported to have guarded his owner’s grave for 14 years. 

There was a bagpiper on the street, playing for tips. 

We walked a small portion of the Royal Mile that is 1.8 miles long in today’s miles.  Apparently there was an old Scottish unit of measure of a mile that equals todays 1.8 miles…got this from a guide so who knows if it is true.

There were a number of little walkways (called a Close) that branched off the main streets.  We explored a couple.  

For a first day in Edinburgh, it was pretty good.  Only downside is the large valley/ravine that is between our hotel and everything else.  We will get our exercise here.