Edinburgh Scotland –
What to do with only one day in this wonderful city of stunning architecture, cafes, restaurants, museums and a vast array of sites to suit every whim – all overlooked by the imposing Edinburgh Castle. Well, you start out early and carry on until your legs give out.
Pix by Rick – Our Edinburgh Photos
Edinburgh Castle is our first photo shoot – while the impending rain stays at bay. But the weather fools us – the dark clouds dissipate as we leave the castle to walk down the Royal Way, and the sun shows off the ornate buildings in grand fashion. St. Giles Cathedral with parts dating back to the 12th century is outstanding with its superb stained glass and crown steeple the commands a place in the skyline of the city. Princes Street was next, the city’s shopping Mecca. Nearby is sizeable canopy of dark stone that shelters a white granite statue of a sitting Sir Walter Scott, yet another a tribute to this 
great historical novelist, playwright and poet.
Lunch at the small eatery that is “the birthplace of Harry Potter” is a must in order to stay on good terms with our grandchildren. J. K. Rowling sat many a day in this, the Elephant Café, no doubt inspired by the view of Edinburgh Castle through the window. Every square inch of wall in the bathrooms (Rick can vouch for the Men’s) is filled with kudos, thank-yous and loving sentiments for this wizard of words.
We go on to the National Museum with its array of themes and exhibits covering three floors. My thrill was seeing Dolly, the University of Edinburgh’s 1962 successful clone of a sheep – now turning on a pedestal in her taxidermy form. Rick is drawn to the Science and Technology section and to the gigantic replica of the Bouton and Watt steam engine (for the partnership between James Watt and Matthew Bouton, who provided funding) , the pistons and cogs coming to life at set times throughout the day evinces how this steamy invention changed the world.
That evening we toast Scotland with Scotch, and drink the whole bottle!
Early the next morning we board a train for Cardiff Wales.
Some Scottish news to watch for:
The local buzz while we were there is about the 2014 referendum to determine if Scotland will remain a part of the UK.