Crossing the heartland of Scotland

We departed Edinburgh today after picking up some picnicking food for our journey. We headed north across the Firth of Forth (river).

Across the river we stopped at the port town of Rosyth and took some pictures off the bridges. The wind was sort strong and almost blew us over.

Next we headed to Dunfermline and visited the abbey and palace there. "visit" but we never went inside since we didn't want to pay or really to spend much time looking at their old stuff. I feel like the Scottish have gotten a lot more protective off their ruins since the last time I was here. Last time the people working at castles were warning us we might not like their ruins and asked if we wanted to look before paying least we're disappointed and this time they're worried we might sneak a peep without paying. Odd.

Next we stopped by Kinross to visit Loch Leven where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned. It was so windy by the river that I almost fell in. Again we didn't pay to ride the boat across the lake but that may have been a perilous journey in that wind.

Next we lunched in Perth by the river Tay.

Now we are in Pitlochy where we took a pleasant walk across a swinging suspension bridge across the river and are now sipping tea and enjoying the panoramic view of the river.

(will upload more pictures when we arrive in Aviemore for the night)

Walking around Edinburgh 1

Walking around Edinburgh

We headed to the center of town and walked most of the old city and the new city. We saw the castle (from outside since we were to cheap to pay the entrance), parliament, the tartan weaving store, the grassmarket (no they don't sell grass there), the queen's residence, St Andrews square...and generally meandered a lot. There was a bit of rain but luckily we drank tea during that time.

They're having this Britain aerial view display throughout the city which is both cool and pretty but also informative of stuff to see in the UK.

Now we're at a pub enjoying yummy cider.

Finally made it to the hotel in Edinburgh

I finally made it. It was quite an ordeal. The car rental was pretty ridiculous. But let's not talk about that now.

The weather has been a bit schizophrenic - sunny one moment and then pouring the next. Now it's just a bit gloomy. We'll see what happens next...

Now we are pleasantly settled and having their very extensive breakfast buffet which awesomely lasts until noon. Yum yum. The waffles are fantastic! And with Canadian maple syrup! (never had it, Vermont must have a monopoly in the US)