ANCIENT AND MODERN

Today was the day for my Fitness Class coach trip to Edinburgh.  Pick up in Gateshead was 9.30am.  3 hours later we arrived in Edinburgh.

First of all I went to the Tourist Info place to get a street map.  Had to wait in a long queue to get it.  ( As they are free you would think they would just leave them in a rack so folk could help themselves. ) Then I headed for Princes Street and had a mooch around a few shops there.  Next I made my way towards The Castle.  Stopped off at a The Cafe on The Mound - had a nice cappuccino.

On Castlehill I saw the William Wallace street entertainer.  He was collecting for charity.  ( I hope its OK to post the shot with the two children - I waited for ages but every time one lot of children left the scene more came along ). I went into the grounds of the Castle but there were too many tourists around and it was very crowded so I decided not to go any further.  I have put a shot of the Castle in my Extras - I took it using the " Painting " feature on my phone. I have also added a shot of the window of one of the many souvenir shops in the city.

Next I headed for The Royal Mile and did a bit of shopping there.  Again there were lots of tourists - mostly Americans and Chinese. 

Near to the Scottish National Gallery I spotted the street entertainer " Mr Freak Bubbles "

The coach left Edinburgh at 5pm and we reached Gateshead around 7.35pm.  It had been a nice dry day in Edinburgh but as we travelled South we hit rain and it was raining heavily when we got to Gateshead.

Becky and Mike have been on the move.  They have spent time in Mammoth Lakes, Twin Lakes and Yosemite National Park.  They now have a 2 night stay in a lodge in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Looking at Becky's photos on Instagram I can see how wonderful it is in that part of California.  Beautiful lakes, mountains and forests - and delicious food. 



Steps today - 10,984