Bit slow to get going today due to a broken sleep - the bain of world travellers. Never mind can't let a little impediment like that interfere with the day's exploration. Headed out to Princes Street firstly to make enquiries at a Vodafone shop about my UK phone plan. Got that sorted promptly - by the way my phone number over here is +447899294620 if you have need to call or text but remember we are 9 hours behind you over here so no calls in the middle of the night thanks. After that I tracked down the Oxford bar where I went in to see if John Rebus was in (sorry no under 18s allowed so this was a personal visit). Of course Rebus wasn't there because he's now retired and eased back on his bar attendance - besides in case you didn't know he's a fictional character, the famous Edinburgh detective created by author Ian Rankin. Having read many of the novels I felt it was proper that I get acquainted with this renowned haunt. It's over 200 years old built on the corner of two laneways, with a small public bar and small dining room to one side. You'd be hard pressed to fit more than 30 customers in both spaces. It would've been rude to just breeze in, take my pictures and leave without buying a drink in support of the establishment 😄 So on the recommendation of the bar lass I had a small breakfast whisky. I met an interesting chap named Larry Hutchison who has been a regular there for 60 years! He was impressed with our family venture with our western front homage and tribute to my great uncle's memory. He expressed quite a deep knowledge of WW1 and has visited the battlefields and cemeteries. After that brief stop by I linked back up with the girls who were having a morning snack. Browsed shops or at least waited for Sue while she did. Had lunch in a square outside the national gallery then went in and checked out the artwork. Returned to the Royal Mile where the tourists are swarming. Despite the forecast to the contrary apart from a couple of brief morning showers the weather has been fine and sunny - t-shirt weather. Had arvo ice creams in a lovely little venue before heading back to,our rooms for a break. More soon... We headed out along the Royal mile again so much to see and shops to browse. Lillian bought a cute Scottish sheep money box. We walked to the bottom end for the first time and came by a really old church. There is a statue of a prominent Scottish poet, Robert Ferguson, who preceded and greatly influenced Robert Burns. He had a rather tragic life only living to 24 years old and yet was a prolific writer of poetry in his short life. I won't bore you with further details now. At the east end of the mile is Holyrood palace, home of the Scottish crown jewels. Wandered back to a Turkish bistro, Cafe Truva, close by to our hotel and enjoyed a lovely meal with a difference. Tomorrow we hope to meet family relatives of Susan, her auntie Anne and cousin Carol, from Glasgow.
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