The Ultimate Scottish Vacation: Day Two

Edinburgh: Day two was the first real day of vacation. Day one was strictly travel but day two started early for my sister and I. Our hotel was in Leith, which is in the eastern side of Edinburgh on the water. She and I jogged the streets in the morning. It was a bit odd to be in a foreign country and running by people as if they were figments of our immagination but it was quite enjoyable. The hotel was quite a ways from downtown. My wife and my sister did not want to take cabs for some reason. I recommend to you now, that taking a cab in Scotland is safe and the best way to travel in either Glasgow or Edinburgh. Even in the rural areas, you can still get a cab.

Day two was spent at the Edinburgh castle. Worth every minute. Best castle in Scotland to visit. I learned about wars I never heard of before. Ever heard of Aden? It's in South Arabia and the Brits fought a war there at the end of the 1950's. How about Oman? Click this link to the site for more wars you never heard of.

We spent most of the day at the castle and enjoyed it. The castle is still a working garrison for a scottish regiment. The royal jewels are stowed in a vault-like room. A great museum. Even a cemetary for regimental dogs. One dog liked to chase cannonballs during battle. They had the dog stuffed and is in a display case.

If you go in August, you must see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. It is excellent. Military bands from around the world come together and put on a show. One regiment likes to jump cars on motorcycles and that's pretty cool. The Tattoo is intended to show you how far the British empire grew and as influenced the world.

Have a pint at night in any of the fine pubs near the castle. We did and had a great time.

A few corrections in the video...WE went to the Jolly Judge Pub near the castle not Judge Jones pub. The video was cut down due to the download limitations. The piper at the end of the video is how they end the Tattoo every evening. They have a platform for him now but in days past, when the lights went out some pipers took a fatal fall down the side of the castle.

Check out the video below of Day Two.