The train ride was 1.5 hours from Newcastle after a half hour ride on the metro to get to Newcastle. There was lots to see from the train as we rode along the North Sea. It was a quick ride and we were in Edinburgh before we knew it. A quick taxi ride to the apartment where we dropped off our luggage and a quick bit to eat left us a few hours to wander about the old town. We poked into shops along the way and saw the many advertisements for Fringe events. Crowds of people were lined up at the Harry Potter shop. We saw walking tours, bus tours, bike tours and one dancing tour!
Newcastle Train Station
Sage Gateshead concert venue in Newcastle
Idyllic villages by the sea
Farmsteads
Holy Island has a castle on it and not much else
The surf is up
Beautiful seaside views
Almost at the border between England and Scotland
The Royal Border Bridge in Tweedmouth
The Tweed River needs bridges
The rugged coastline of Scotland
Big houses
Lonely Lighthouses
One gigantic trash dump. Look close at all the birds flying above the heap
Classic old churches
We have arrived at the Edinburgh Station
What an impressive array of hanging baskets
Got here too early to check in so we had a quick bite
Are they selling glasses?
A piper serenaded us while we ate
Up Bow street a bit from pour place
It is just a wee pub, the smallest in Scotland
Which Shortbread container is the curest?
A very cool loom
Flower-punzle, flower-punzle let down your blooms
Who got kilt?
The Edinburgh castle and the bleachers for the Military Tattoo to the right
The Royal Military Tattoo is is a big deal in these parts
Don't complain about your drinks...
Raise the bar higher and there will be no kicking
Another set of fine hanging baskets
OK, which is more odd, the shirtless man or the florescent hair?
Sturdy building
An elevated walkway along an elevated street
Ouch!
We stopped here 7 years ago and had haggis for lunch
This little dog was so loyal that he is commemorated in bronze
Faithful is an understatement
Attack of the Monster
He has me in a headlock
"Let there be light" is etched above the library door
A fine gate just outside
Edinburgh is packed thick with delightful old buildings
David Hume the philosopher has a new hat
The Royal mile. It is a miracle how many folks can fit here
The street is filled with pedestrians except for giant busses that seem to want to go fast
Looming large
Another piper
Crochet the dog
The dancing tour of the city
The leader of the band
Oi, its Oink
A bike tour of the city
Painted facades
This ends this section of the tour
Join us again for the Royal Tattoo section of today's activities
