3 August

3 August

Following our very comfortable night at Hardwicke Hall Manor we decided to continue our travels north.

Today was Peter's turn to drive while Barry became the navagitor. Notice that I will never be the map reader and for very good reason !!! We possibily would not arrive at our choosen destination.

The roads here are well marked and the Brits love a roundabout or two. We have managed at times to take the wrong exit and that becomes the new scenic route - very important to count the correct amount of exits. Barry also has a nav man that has been an enoromous help.

Our first desination was Smithy Street South Shields.  This street was where Peter's Great great grandmother lived as a young girl.  There is no house where Mary Burns lived.  Today, just a bus stop! The area is close to the port/harbour. The sound of seagulls was common.

After the brief visit, it was time to push on to Edinburgh, Scotland.  We took some minor 'highways'.  The countryside was very picturesque.  Green fields, the ocassional fallow field, stone walls and sheep were the common view.  We passed through a number of quaint villages.  Eventually we arrived at the border crossing.  Time for mandatory photos.

Selling Scottish souvenirs, right on the border.

Just across the border was the beautiful township of Jedburgh.  A smallish town but very well maintained.  We visited the Mary Queen of Scots House.  Apparently, Mary had visited at some time whilst Queen and before Elizabeth 1 had dispatched her!

Pops of colour in pots.

Jedburgh town centre.

On to Edinburgh.  First impression: A charming old city.  We found our apartment.  A perfect central location. You can see Edinburgh Castle from our window and its only a 2-3 minute walk.  The only downside was carrying the bags up three flights of stairs.  I allowed Karen a rest when she was finshed.

The view from our apartment window, Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh Castle

 Edinburgh Castle is built high on an impressive 700 million year old extinct volcano called Castle Rock. People have lived on Castle Rock since the Bronze Age, around 850 BC, and there has been a royal castle on the site since at least the 12th century.

A  klit shop, Barry, Wendy and Peter head inside.

A quick settle in and orientation.  We went to the Grassmarket 'mall' area.  Oddly named because there was no evidence of grass or markets!  But there were pubs and restaurants  We had a beer at the The White Hart. Barry and Wendy's son-in-law had once managed the pub.
 

We had dinner at a cinema which had been converted to a bar and restaurant.  We had a traditional Scottish Chicken Tikka Curry.
 


Then off to bed.  A brief interruption by fireworks (a rehearsal for the Opening Night).