Onwards

After celebrating "The Wall" we caught the train to Edinburgh - briefly catching up with Phil at the station and sadly fare welling Di, Tric and Trish.  Booking into our hotel we caught the red double decker tour bus to orientate ourselves before dinner and bed.

Next morning eager to explore we boarded the bus and went to Edinburgh Castle in (guess) the rain.  Quite magnificent but very crowded so back on the bus and off to Holyrood House - Home of the Queen in Scotland - this was really beautiful and despite the rain we really loved it -well presented and good audios giving just the right amount of information.

After dinner Margaret, Judy and Lesley went to Mary King's Close - a remnant of the horrible conditions of the 16th centuries when people lived in squalor at the bottom of the Close or relative splendour at the top.  Over the years dwellings were boarded over and another layer added giving the appearance of underground living - these Closes have been known of for years but only opened I. The past 20 years or so. We were glad that we didn't live these times especially at the bottom of the heap -b but an incredible social history.

All in all a very exciting day - but the excitement was not over and a real adventure began - at 3.30 in the morning - here's Jackie.

We were woken by the raucous screech of the fire alarms! Lesley and Margaret poked their heads out their door to be greeted by the man in the room opposite clad only in his jocks.  Judy knocked on my door and then disappeared down the fire exit.  I pulled on jeans and a jacket, grabbed my bag and followed a women down the stairs, to minus 2 level before emerging well below the hotel and confronted with flights of stone steps up to the Royal Mile - along way from the hotel.  Looking back it seems quite funny but at the time was confronting.  One lady, clad in black and with a shiny bald head was following me and one or two people looked very out of breath.  In the street we attracted the attentions of a collection of drunks and "ladies of the night" as well as late revellers scrounging for taxis.  Some of the local street beggars also felt free to comment as we climbed the steps in various stages of undress.

No explanation of the evacuation was given although the management thanked us for our "co-operation - little choice in the matter. One of the scary moments occurred because we all managed to go down separate exits and thus didn't,t see each other until we got back to our rooms.  We were all safe which is the main thing but we certainly don't wish to "enjoy" another fire emergency.

Picking up the cars we departed for St Andrews to touch "the hallowed turf" - quite different to our expectations -people going everywhere and crossing fairways on foot, bike and car!  After admiring the velvet greens we travelled on to Falkirk via a few detours because the GPS was most odd and tried to go back to the airport before arriving at the hotel - we spoke firmly and "Serena" finally got there.

Tomorrow we,re off to the Falkirk Wheel and Stirling Castle.

Jackie and Lesley.