Today we return to my memories and a review of a tour I took in 2005. This is a small group tour which allows for more attention from the guides and more detailed journeys but does cost more money than the bigger tours so that is something that if we ever get out of our houses is something you can decide on.
Tuesday, August 16
(note—taking a tour to the UK in August is also going to cost you more money as well—August is generally one of the warmer months and thus is more in demand than say December or even April and about the first half of May)
the
(and it was on this day that I found just because you have a plan doesn’t mean you stick to it. I believe we did but it was 15 years ago) stop at
Falkland (but the rest of the day didn’t go as planned—-the tour stated:)
The East Neuk of Fife is noted for its charming fishing villages, as well as historic sites and lovely scenery. (we were to stop at)
Crail, picturesque fishing village before touring the intriguing
Fishing Museum in
Anstruther with its attractive harbor. (but we did none of that—at one point the guide—a rather dour man who was not known for his charming personality—though the driver was nice—mumbled about the fact that some of the older people on the tour were tired and we were skipping that part of the tour—-I had not heard anybody say anything about that but since I was
younger some of the people there I did not protest—-that is one of my issues with tours–that you may loose out due to rest of the tour—or a grump guide).
Then we went on tour our hotel, a lovely Georgian Townhouse hotel, locate
d close to the city’s historic sites and Festival venues: The Roxburghe Hotel, 38 Charlotte Square (Hotel is now
(we arrived well before dinner time so while everybody was resting I wandered out to enjoy Edinburgh on my own and got back in time for dinner in the hotel and:) After dinner an evening performance of the exciting
Tattoo on the Castle Esplande, complete with bagpipers, bands and traditional dancers from numerous countries around the world. (which was great) and then back to the hotel for the night)
Wednesday August 17
We were off to explore’s
Edinburgh’s ancient and stately splendor of Castle and the
Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse in the
Old Town (by far my favorite part of the city—I returned to Edinburgh on my own in 2012 —when we rented an apartment on the
Royal Mile and in 2016 when we stayed in an Hotel just off it just off of it—-both trips with friends and planned by me with some day tours to get out and about) We began at the top of the Royal Mile the massive
Edinburgh Castle, located on a site on the top of the hill that has been inhabited for almost 3,000 year by Picts, Saxons, Scots and the English, Catholics and Protestants, royalty and military. We were allowed to explore and could see depending on our interests:
we meet up and leave the castle crossing the Esplanade where we attended the Tattoo the evening before.
We continued walking with a visit to
Gladstone’s Land, with its remarkable painted ceilings completed in 1620 for a wealthy Edinburgh citizen. This restored six-story tenement building demonstrates how crowded housing conditions were at this time in the city. Further along to the eerie
Deacon Brodie’s Close—where we learned the spooky tale of this man (who some says is the inspiration or Dr. Jekyll and Hyde character—-just click on Deacon Brodie’s Close and you’ll get the whole story…) after getting all the gossip on the man we continued walking past the
John Knox House, and other intresting building.
We ate lunch on our own (they gave us money for lunch since all of our meals were included.
the Queen’s official residence in Scotland. We toured the building as well as the grounds whose history covered eight centuries of royal history in Scotland.
We went back to hotel and then out to dinner after which we attended an evenight performance of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony with the
Royal Scottish National Orchestra as part of the Edinburgh Festival and then back to the hotel.
(note we were in the city at prime period not only was the Edinburgh Festival going on as well as the Tattoo—but there was a huge book even taking place daily in a down town park and the Royal Mile was full of persons involved in the city’s Fringe Festival—which I may add is the original).
Now the next day I ran away—I had breakfast with the group but then advised that I was going out on my own for the day — I got some money for lunch and went back to Old Town where I explored every close–the alleys hat run off The Royal Mile–and most of the listed attractions that we didn’t make the day before and a few they hadn’t even mentioned—-stopped at a divine Chocolate Cafe —- I can’t remember the name but they even had chocolate cocktails and generally had a great day and returned in time for dinner—-but will show you the plan for the rest of the group.
August 18, Thursday
The group continued their exploration of Edinburgh which included a walking tour of the New Town on the other side of Princess Street, so called because it is a mere 200 years old as compared with the 1,000 years of history encompassed by the Old Town. From the Calton Hill enjoy Robert Lewis Stevenson’s favorite view of his beloved city and beyond to Arthur’s Seat, the Firth of Forth and the Lomond Hills of Fife. They sauntered down George Street with it lovely architecture and cross pretty Charlotte Square, completely surrounded by beautiful Georgian “rows”. Designed by the great Robert Adams, the north side of the square is considered to be “one of Europe’s finest pieces of civic architecture.” They had the option to visit the Georgian House, Bute House beautifully restored and elegantly furnished by the National Trust for Scotland, which also own next door, now the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland.
After lunch they enjoyed a free afternoon, perhaps to visit some of the many excellent museums and galleries in this delightful city.
I met them later for a special farewell dinner with traditional Scottish music.
Picturesque Notes
by
Robert Louis Stevenson
This eBook (click on Edinburgh above) is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
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with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
On Friday August 19 after our breakfast at the hotel we were taken to the Edinburgh Airport and caught our flight back to the USA.
As I mentioned before meals were all paid for (well at least till we got back to the airport—-bu there were other things that they regulate or not or what ever. You’ll find something like what you see below included in all your tour package materials .
Walking–In order to visit castles and museums, fishing village (not a problem they skipped those) and palaces, Old and New Edinburgh etc., it will be necessary to do considerable walking. We refer you to page 113 of our 2005 Big Book Catalog, under the heading of health.
Admissions: You will receive a Historic Scotland Pass when you arrive in Scotland. This will entitle you to visit any Historic Scotland property throughout Scotland at any time and as often as you like during your stay….
Admission to National Trust properties (i.e. Georgian House) that are part of our group itinery are also included in the program cost. However, because of restrictions on numbers of people touring in these historic buildings at one time, the group may have to divide up to avoid delays in entering.
Fees for admission to all properties, museums and sites that are part of the group itinerary are included in the program cost.
Itinerary: We reserve the right to make appropriate alterations in this itinerary. should inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances occur. Although some activities may be moved to different days of of the week, week, we expect the itinerary to remain essentially as it appears here.
I did two tours on this trip—-I will do the one of Ireland one of these days and I must I REALLY enjoyed them and think they were very much worth the price and though I do my own tours for me a few friends now. I must admit I learned a lot that has continued to help me by taking these two wonderful tours.
