June 7, 2022

Our journey through the Highlands complete, we make our way down to Edinburgh. Another sunny day accompanies us as we drive through rolling hills and birch and fir lined highways, our days of single lane roads mostly behind us except for the occasional bridge. Some of the roads are even “dual carriageways” meaning two lanes going one way and two going the other! The only trick here is remembering that slower traffic stays left…

Today we were on a mission to find a yarn shop. Due to our newly discovered Siri person helper in our car, we located two along the way. One was in the uber-charming town of Pitolchry. So charming that there were several tour buses there. I think the local distilleries probably had something to do with that as well. We followed Siri through town and before we knew it we were past where the yarn shop was supposed to be and out driving where only the sheep roam. Guess it’s not there anymore, or if it is we couldn’t see it. Back to town where we parked to use the “toilet”. Did I mention that all parking lots that we’ve come across are pay parking lots and all toilets are pay toilets? You can pay for all this with credit and even Apple Pay but honestly coins are handy especially for the toilets.

The next shop was very close to Edinburgh in Dumfermline. We again wandered around searching for yarn with our Siri guiding us and were delighted to pass by something we learned about when we watched an informational show on Scotland before we left – the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie. We were disappointed because we didn’t have time to stop and not because we had yarn to buy – never did find that shop either. I think yarn shops in the outskirts probably did not survive Covid. We had to go because we were meeting the Bride and Groom at the train station in Edinburgh!

We checked into the Hotel du Vin – chosen by Al and what a nice job he did. Right in the middle of the Royal Mile area. Edinburgh is picture postcard beautiful (you won’t believe this – more sunshine). We didn’t quite meet the train but we all (our oldest, Joe, as well) convened just near the station at St Giles Church. Made our way back to the hotel where the bride and I secreted her dress off to our room to hang up. As her parents could not make the trip, I am the surrogate MOB and as a seamstress I am tasked with easing the wrinkles out of the gorgeous dress and veil. That won’t happen until we get to the actual wedding venue – the Carlowrie Castle (I still don’t know how to say it, it always gets garbled in my mouth). She is going to be gorgeous on Thursday.

After we all freshened up we went out to get a pint and then look for a place to grab some food. It was 8:30 p.m. You would have thought it was midnight. Kitchen closed. Kitchen closed. Or – no room for five. Or – great looking menu but you had to order on a restaurant app and they were out of most stuff. Off we went in search of something, anything. The guys educated me to the fact that in any city in the world the falafel/kabob shop will be open til 3 a.m., so never fear. It seemed they had a lot of experience with that…

Finally we landed at Whiski a pub and grill. We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table in the long crowded tavern. We waited and waited and waited for someone to take our order. Decided maybe we had to order at the bar. Nope, someone would be with us. We waited another fifteen minutes (it had been literally 30 minutes by now). A couple of guys were seated next to us (two feet away ) and within 10 minutes had ordered food. OK – so we flagged down the guy who had been running around working his feet off and he took our order. It was another 45 minutes before our food arrived. In the meantime our next door neighbors had gotten their food. Our oldest and I are both Survivor fans and he was the hungriest of all and I told him to just pretend he was on Survivor and was having to watch his competitors who had won the reward challenge.

When the food finally came it was worth waiting for. For Al, a haggis burger. For Joe, Raina and I a steak and potatoes pie (the “pie crust” was a yummy flaky disc on top of beef stew with carrot, potatoes and beautifully seasoned pot roast) and Jeff got the “haggis tower” which was potatoes with haggis on top. I watched anxiously as he took a bit and the verdict was “it’s delicious”. Raina then tried it and before you know it everyone’s haggis-phobia was a foolish memory. I explained that in my now haggis expertise that much like Thanksgiving turkey stuffing, there are as many haggis recipes as there are cooks in Scotland. Some are better than others depending on your palate.

Didn’t think we’d still be there for the live music that began at 10 p.m. but we were- we had just gotten our food when he started and he was not bad at all. One guy playing amp acoustic guitar (is that a thing?) and singing everything from Johnny Cash to Pink Floyd. I did notice that every other night but last night was Scottish folk music but we were happy with Jason. Made me want to start performing again, actually. If I’m ever home long enough to practice now that we are on the road again I may just do that, if nothing else to play piano.

Finally we had to track down the overworked server for our check and we headed home to get some sleep. Early 7 a.m. breakfast and heading to Edinburgh Castle for 9:30 tour.