Sunday June 29, 2014

This should be the week to get to John O’Groats.  We are a little concerned that it has taken us longer than we thought, but on the other hand it is not a race.  I think because this was seen as more of a challenge ride rather than a trip around the UK it has become something different from NZ and Australia.  The diversion to Edinburgh has been good for us.  So what if it takes longer we are still seeing a lot of England and Scotland.  The disadvantage we may find is that the weather will turn against us as we get to Italy/Greece later and we do not have gear that is rated below 0 degrees.

Today we had a nice lie-in and a good breakfast.  We decide to take a “free” walking tour of Edinburgh.  These ‘free’ walking tours are provided throughout Europe and you pay what you think it is worth at the end of the tour.

Our tour started at 11:00 and took 2.5 hours, our guide was called Billy and he was very good. Lots of information about Scotland, the City of Edinburgh and places to return to see when we have more time.

Billy took us down little side streets which are called closies in Edinburgh and you can find some interesting history down these streets. Down this particular closie was the Writers museum – Robbie Burns, Robert Louis Stephenson – not sure if JK Rowling is in there or not.

Did you know that equestrian statues have a distinct history – one leg up means that the rider suffered an injury in battle, two feet up means that the rider died in battle, all feet down means that the rider dies a natural death.  Things you learn from this blog! The above photo is Billy describing the equestrian statue – one hoof up.

We passed the café where JK Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter novel.  She looked over Greyfriars cemetery and the school which she used as Hogwarts.

The school was donated to the city by George Heriot to provide an education for the orphans and poor of the City.  It is now a very expensive private school – which still accepts 73 scholarships a year – apparently.  We also went in to the Greyfriars cemetery which houses the grave of Bobby, the terrier who sat on his masters grave for 14 years.  At that time in Edinburgh he would have been considered a stray dog.

However, the story of his loyalty to his dead master became well known and the City Councilors awarded him the keys of the City, giving him the right of a citizen of the City – which actually meant he could vote in an election – several years before women had the right to vote.!!   If you work at 113 Collier Street (my former employer) the tiles in the fireplace on the second floor which used to be Chris Jones’ office and is now Dan Amadio’s office depicts the story of Greyfriars Bobby.

We passed the Grass Market which used to be the site of the gallows.  The story of Maggie Dickson was related to us, she was hung here, and was taken to the cemetery.  However, she wasn’t dead, she was bought back to be hung again when someone shouted she had already paid for her crime and could not be hung again.  She was left to go free and married the young lawyer who had shouted she had already paid for her crime.  There is a pub named after her.  The other noteworthy pub is called the “Last Drop”  the pub that the convicted were allowed to have their last drink in.

The castle currently has an abomination of a structure attached to it.  It is built for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a stadium which houses 7,000 spectators.  There is a 3 year waiting list for tickets. Our tour took us only in the old city – the new city was built in the 18^th century!

After our tour we had a bit of lunch then wandered back up Princes street.

I got back to the Backpackers and updated the blog, but was unable to post.  Our hostel is within 100 metres of the Balmoral Hotel.  I am guessing we are paying a lot less than people who are staying in the Balmoral.

Our hostel is the one with the blue door!

We got a free dinner tonight Chilli con Carne. After dinner we chatted to a group of young Spanish people.  We have noticed that there are a lot of Spanish here in the UK.  A lot of them are disillusioned with their government in Spain and the high level of unemployment (55% for young people aged between 18 and 28)!  27% unemployment overall.