Para bailar La Bamba

Friday was driving..... .

We drove from Inverness, through the Cairngorm National Park,  Aviemore, a quick stop at House of Bruar, a quick look at Ruthven Barracks.  We were going to stop at Perth, but we decided on Dunfermline instead -  so we kept on driving.  

We arrived in Dunfermline in the still brilliant Sun.  We can't quite believe the weather that we have been having.  It's been immense. 

We wandered through the park to the Abbey - Boy was stunned; he remembered the park, but not the Abbey.  It was wonderfully cool and shaded inside - a relief from the 21 degree heat outside.  The grass was full of office workers taking a few minutes in the sunshine. 

We wandered up the high street and pointed out all the places we had been, and decided, probably unwisely that we would eat in the re-designed, re-named, re-done pub which we both used to manage.   Delighted to say that Dunfermlinie didn't let us down.  All the tables were filthy, we had to ask for a cloth to clean one sufficiently to allow us to sit there.  They got the order wrong, and we had to wait until every other meal had been complete before the replacement correct order had arrived.  :-(    Nice to see some things never change. 

We then took a quick run round the old haunts - down to the Naval Dockyard where so many tears were shed in years past.  There's barely anything left to recognise now.   The Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales were in dry dock - so they got a wee look at that. 

Then it was across the bridges to have the view from the other side.   The drone of death was removed  from it's box and Boy sent it over the forth and under the bridges, and back and forth along the railbridge.  The shots were amazing.    I'm just not sure the stress I feel letting something that expensive fly away out of arms reach is something I'm comfortable with. 

Then it was Edinburgh.    Oh, heavens.  I was so delighted that J found Edinburgh just as I hoped.  The awe was written all over her face as soon as we hit the Western Approach Road, and she could see the castle and Arthur's Seat and the Craggs.  As we drove up Lothian Road, and into the old town, and specifically the Grassmarket and Cowgate.   

We were booked into the Hub off the Royal Mile - and it was ideal.   The kids wandered up to the High Street for a Drink while I recovered.    Then we headed out and met them in the World's End.  - £3.50 more for a pint than it had been in Inverness!!!! 

Then we went and ate typically Scottish - Mexican.  It was a delish meal and we discovered J is a bit of a Margarita Fiend. 

Then we wandered down the Cowgate, and along to the Grassmarket.  Edinburgh was buzzing.  I can't remember the last time I was out on an evening when it was so busy.   The weather was doing the job.  Shirt Sleeves at 11pm. 

We arrived in the Grassmarket, and I took J along to the "best chair".  We sat down and just smiled.   J sat there and said  "how can you just sit there and not be awestruck,  how can you sit there and no ...."  But I totally got it.  That chair - overlooking the row of Grassmarket pubs with the Castle sitting over the top - is the best view in the world.  You don't need to say anything. 

After a quick pint in The Last Drop - we headed back along the Grassmarket, up Victoria Street, and took the stairs to the High Street.   All accompanied by J staring in wonder at everything. 

I took her to Riddle's Close to let her see the Inscription "“Vivendo Discimus”  - By Living We Learn, over the doorway.     *In 1887 the building held it;s firist summer university and became a seat of learning - hence the carving....   J loves that phrase. 


We wandered down the high street and took in all the crazy little buildings and closes.  J wandered quite happily down all of them - even in the dark. 


It was a lovely day, and a perfect end to our trip.