Today we started with a walk to Rose Street Cafe which is a small, diner style place. It was completely packed and cozy. I got pancakes, bacon, and hashbrowns. Very yummy! They had an “American style” breakfast on the menu that was something sad and simple like scrambled eggs and toast and made us all giggle. After breakfast we split our separate ways. Mom went to a local church that was having a craft fair while Scott and I headed up to Edinburgh Castle. And I say up because you literally have to climb up through the winding streets to get to it because it is on a massive hill. The views from the top of the castle are absolutely breathtaking. We were even able to see the house we are staying in from there.

After purchasing our tickets we headed inside. The castle is a formidable sight to be sure. Built in 1103, it has survived well through the ages. Once inside we were able to see inside several rooms that held exhibits on the history of the castle and the local area, the armed forces that had been stationed at the castle, and several impressive cannons. The Great Hall was one of my favorite rooms because it has been renovated to look as it would have back in Medieval times. Wood paneling, lots of swords and spears, and beautiful stained glass windows make you feel like you have been transported back in time.

After the castle we walked to find an antique shop Scott found online. Unicorn Antiques was truly delightful. Stuffed full of so many trinkets of every shape and size. We also got to talk to the owner about just life in general. That is honestly one of the best things about traveling is learning local culture and just how other people live. After leaving the store we had a long walk uphill to get home so I decided I needed a treat. I got several desserts from a local cafe and ate them with a cup of tea. I earned the calories with all the walking we have been doing and they were absolutely delicious!

We rested for a while in the afternoon then headed out for dinner at The Gardener’s Cottage where we had a reservation. However, when we came to the restaurant all we found was a dark building and a locked door. We knocked and walked around but no one was home so we had to find somewhere else to eat. We tried a Turkish place but the wait was really long. Then we tried the Italian place next door but they only took reservations and were fully booked. The chip shop next to that was take-out only with nowhere to sit. Then we came to the next place called Laila. We peeked in the window and saw a lot of empty tables with loads of pink decor and green jungle print curtains and we decided to give it a try. We were very happy to discover a warm, friendly atmosphere and delicious food. We got bruschetta and aracini for appetizers and I got spiced cod fillet with roasted potatoes and peas with chorizo. And yes you may think, hey isn’t that just a variation of fish and chips that you had for dinner the night before? Yes, yes it is but I could eat any variation of fish and potatoes any night of the week so I will not apologize.

After dinner we headed home to pack because tomorrow we are leaving Edinburgh to go to Isle of Skye.