Wednesday, May 28, 2025
May 27 - London to Edinburgh
So yes it worked out just as we had hoped, you know how you can’t sleep wake up early when you know it’s a travel day well that’s just what happened we were up by 8 had 2 hours for breakfast and to finish packing… little snag returning the apartment key they had a lock box on a bike rack around the corner in front of the Rising Sun pub, but I had forgotten the combo and erased the email from the hostess….
Luckily she responded to me message within a minute as it was threatening rain so 948 we were able to get up to the street and turn the corner to see our 17 bus halfway down the block… the bus stop was a long block down but, there was heavy stopped traffic so little ole me hustled the three bags with my backpack on over the lumpy stone sidewalk and rough crossings to the bus stop before the second light changed and we were able to board for the 15 mins ride to Kings Cross station
Had a nice conversation with a woman from Australia on here way to work, she’s been here 25 years loves it says we will really enjoy scotland it stays light quite late the evenings are lovely up there…
Then get to the station beautiful clean tho crowded place well, upstairs to the first class waiting room for the LNER it was a bit crowded but we found seats and the complimentary beverages and biscuits (thin round butter cookies of course, lightly sugared)…
About 15 mins before departure time they posted our platform zero, which the staff had told me was the only platform where the lift wasn’t working to, so we had to wait first for a lift, then walk all the way around through the regular entry which is the gated things you have to put your phone up to read the rf id before it would open, well, I am pushing two large bags with 2 on top, and trying to do the phone as well, and I have both tickets on my phone so I get halfway through the gate closes on the bags M still back on the other side but luckily a LNER rail station staff rushed over got the gate to stay open for her, and of course we are the furthest platform away 8 and trains are emptying people all crossing to exit in our path… but we finally make it to platform zero find our first class coach “K” and yes we are towards the last to get on the luggage racks are packed full and more in the aisle blocking our way to our seats, eventually with people waiting behind make it to our 2 seats one forward facing one back on the right side with a table in between and luggage rack up above. Well in Italy 3 years ago my back was messed up I could not lift the bags here I started looking around the healthy looking guy sitting across said oh you can do it, so I was surprised I could heft the two yellow suitcases up there but I did it!
We were in our seats 8 minutes ahead of departure… and here’s the menu, breakfast or lunch ? Pick one of each see what they ask for… first they come through with cold drinks and chips, then a little while later, it was lunch I opted for the bangers (sausage) and mash (potatoes) oh it was so good! China with silverware, M had the mushroom risotto she said better than she could do then a little later here comes desert I had the cheese plate which was great and M the caramel bowl pudding which she loved as well… short while later here comes coffee tea or wine beer whatever you want all of this is complementary with the first class ticket and the staff is so friendly and happy it was a real treat…now we have just finished all and settle in just stopped at York we have had a delay something was on the tracks up ahead so we will be 15 mins later but now here they come again anything more for lunch or desert ? It’s all complementary you can have all you want !
Oh now here they come again, well since we are headed to scotland and M has said we will be trying the single malt out I better get in practice so a dewars on the rocks please… figure we will be snoozing a bit before we get there.
Well here now are the sheepies (insert photos here) out the window so got to try to get a pic tho I expect we will see more sheep up north.
Stop at Newcastle, Mark Knopflers hometown right (Newcastle upon Tyne) ? Also made known to me from that Humble Pie song “30 days in the hole” “new castle brown, will sure smack you down…… Pretty bridges and the river Tyne to see…
out to the North see, which our lead waitstaff Jackie say we will soon see the color of grey at the border or Britain and Scotland, they apparently don’t still get along going back to Hadrians wall… something to look up later maybe in the Scottish history museum in Edinburgh, the waitstaff changed as well as the conductor/captain/driver (he called himself the train manager) they are all Scottish now, were all definitely British before… different accent for sure, hard to understand lol we are just getting started….and oooh no they are not nearly as personable as the brit staff were…
Ok so we are now officially in Scotland… and soon the big hills will be starting. But first, the view of the north sea out the right windows we sit beside.
We are the last off the train in Edinburgh (pronounced Edinbru like brush),
once we find our way out call for an uber he's here in a couple mins a white skoda suprema nice car driver Robert says they are made in Czech republic and similar to Audi's, 1.2 mi down Easter road to 2/1 St Claire Place hm the outside appearance cracked sidewalks and steps is misleading once inside, it's newly renovated spacious rooms high ceilings and first rate kitchen appliances and kitchen cooking items. Our host Jean (and Paul) is into yoga and self improvement and apparently is a teacher of some sort 4 or 5 budda statues or pictures, nice calming decor and a fantastic selection of books.
Once we settle in unpack a bit I go to a Lidl around the corner get groceries for 3 days and M get's a little rest, then we are off to get on the tram and explore town. tho we find the bus is better goes more places. Anyway,
We walk around find the tram take it down to the end at the harbor on the Firth of Forth (really)... and back up the hill to Princes street which is a busy area. Oh it's busy and we are tired so look around a little bit then head back to the room we will just keep it low key have a pasta dinner and rest for tonight. It stays light until way past 9 here, the clouds are special looking high wispy windblown
and oh it turns chilly as the sun goes down, tho we see locals, including 3 young girls bare shouldered dresses acting like it's a hot summer day... anyway here's the end of the day photo out our back window on the back yard and look at those clouds.
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