Rambling has ended - Touristing has begun

Thursday, June 23
Royal Mackintosh Hotel, Dunbar to Premier Inn, Edinburgh. 

7.63 miles.   18,417 Steps.  

“Life is too short for the indulgence of animosity.”  Sir Walter Scott

Trouble sleeping as I kept going over what kind of travel plans to make with the Big train strike affecting Britain.  

 At breakfast asked about where to catch the bus to Edinburgh.   Right outside the hotel, just raise my hand to have it stop.  Mentioned I already had a train ticket and wondered if it could be used on the bus instead.  It was suggested going down to the train station and ask.  

On arrival learned there were some trains running today, and my ticket could be used on a later train.   I was Happy.  Wandered around Dunbar soaking up the last views of the North Sea. 

Caught train and 25 minutes later got off at Waverley Station, Edinburgh. Quick compared to the 3 days it took to walk that distance.  😁



Scrambled eggs and salmon.  



Fountain for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee 1897. 



Dunbar Parish Church and graveyard. Original church on this site was from 1176.  

I had been wandering about the graveyard looking for John Muir’s grandparents stone.  Asked a man taking a short cut through there.  He helped me locate the correct one.  



Stone for David and Ann Gilye (grandparents of John Muir).  



I would have called these peaches.  



Royal Mackintosh Hotel.  My room was at the back, top floor, windows looked out on rooftops and chimney’s, which became the early morning hangout for BIRDS.  NOISY creatures.  



Dunbar Bowling Green.  



In train station.  

A couple boarded the train with an infant in the same foldable stroller that Olivia has.  













Doormen/Footmen at the Balmoral Hotel.  



Balmoral Hotel. Built in 1896.  



Wellington - with head piece.  





Monument on Calton Hill to Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson to celebrate his victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.  



Edinburgh from the top of Calton Hill. 



Mannequin being dressed in greens and flowers. 



Scottish National Gallery.  Just like in London, wander in for free and have a great browse.  Great way to start the Edinburgh time - ART HISTORY!



Three Legends of St Nicholas. 





Campbell Sisters.  1821.  Italian sculptor Lorenzo Bartolini carved this of Scottish patron’s daughters









Jenners famous department store (where Irene would take Bertie to purchase special foods - Scotland Street would be about 8 blocks north to the right.)





Waiting for the wife to shop can be tiring.  

Bittersweet leaving Dunbar, the coast, the walking adventure.  Felt sad on the train.  At Waverley station after riding 3 sets of escalators up to street level, emerged onto Princes Street and felt new enthusiasm for the next stage of this trip.  

Premier Inn gave me a handicap room.  Guess it is fitting with the knee issues.  

“A glass of good wine is a gracious creature.”  Sir Walter Scott

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