Edinburgh Day 2

in front of Edinburgh Castle.

Looking down the Royal Mile.

Stopping at Haggis Cafe to have cup of tea (or smoothie in Sarah's case).

Eating brunch before visiting Edinburgh Castle. clockwise from top...Jessie, John, Ann, and Mom.

We got up and around as quickly as 12 people can (one of them being a baby who decided to have a blow out as we were walking out the door) in the morning and finally made into town 11ish. We stopped and had brunch and then all walked up (and I mean UP) to Edinburgh Castle . There was a piper playing outside of our street cafe so Mom and I went to listen while waiting for our food and got this photo op. I could get used to this. I haven't heard a piper in person since our wedding! By the time we finished what seemed to be a bazillion steps to the top of the mount that the castle is situated on and found out that the entrance fee was £14, the `wrinklies` (John, Jessie, and Ann) decided to have a rest at Haggis Cafe while we all went in. It was wonderful. We all split ways and explored for about 3 hours before we all met up again for a spot of tea at the cafe. My favorite part was the Prisoner of War exhibit that showed where lots of POW from th 17th century and on were kept. They had it done up as it would have been and then showed actual items that were made by the prisoners. They were allowed tools and materials to make crafts to sell to people through the castle gate each afternoon. Earn their keep as they say. The American POWs that were caught during the Revolutionary war time were treated the worst as they were not recognized as part of a military. They were considered pirates. Some were kept for decades. 100s at a time. It's interesting to hear about that period in history from a different point of view. Especially a British one....not quite as revered as we think of the revolutionaries.