Edinburgh Weekend
When we arrived at the airport in Edinburgh, which is small enough to find your way round easily, we where directed to the exit where we got a taxi. This was very well organised. Soon we were travelling into the city to our accommodation in Frederick Street, not far from Princes Street. The taxi driver was lovely, waited to make sure we were at our bed and breakfast accommodation before leaving. Maybe our chat about our Scottish heritage, my grandfather having been born in the Murrayfield area of Edinburgh and a rugby fan all his life, made us bond with him!
The room we had was very nice, twin beds and a sofa, on which my daughter had no difficulty sleeping and a separate bathroom. The next day we were up and out after breakfast which was very good and set us up for the day. The Castle came into view as we walked, it had snowed, not very much, but someone had traced a big heart with a loving message in the snow on the hill just below the Castle, this was Friday 13th February. By Valentine's Day the snow had melted, so I hope the person it was intended for saw it!
We walked along Princes Street, our aim to visit the Scotlands People Centre at the far end of the Street, where you can have a 2 hour free session to trace your ancestry, which we did. If your relations have an unusual name it is easier to trace your family. We had some success, but I would need to go again and pay the fee for the day, for a fuller search.
On Saturday we walked up to the Castle, along the Royal mile, past St Giles church, where a wedding was taking place. Near the Castle there is a 'museum' called Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, where you can taste many varieties of whiskies. Just about opposite this place there is a small alleyway which is named 'Semple's Close' (which is my maiden name) although it doesn't appear on any map I can find!
We had a very nice weekend and did manage to do some shopping, in the main chain store shops and also in the sort of shops that only a Scottish location would have.