We were in a new city and so the day began with new spreads for the toast ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050652 as I took my foods from the buffet ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050653 and organized them ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050654 after which my breakfast ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050655 and Suzanne's arrived. ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050656 We then headed towards town, gathering these signs for the dog collection ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050657 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050658 and arrived at the Sir Walter Scott memorial ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050659 and then heading through a close to reach the Royal Mile and walking ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050660 past the Toolbooth Tavern ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050661 and this preordained church ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050662 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050663 after which I posed with my friend ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050664 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050665 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050666 and we came upon the Scottish Parliament ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050667 but I was distracted by the DPD truck ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050668 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050669 before we could enter and see the heads made of match heads ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050670 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050671 and observed the actual room where parliament meets ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050672 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050673 along with the voting mechanism ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050674 before we reached the royal palace where the tour was great bit photos were not allowed ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050675 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050676 though we could take pictures in the more ancient abbey on the site ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050677 and so I recorded these memorials ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050678 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050679 and the roof ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050680 and the palace restrictions ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050681 in full detail ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050682 before noting the walls of the abbey ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050683 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050684 and the displaced then replaced vault ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050685 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050686 within the amazing structure ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050687 including the beams that were partial ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050688 and the outside area where only the foundation of the chapel existed ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050689 but the plantings were elegant ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050690 among the foundations ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050691 before we observed flower ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050692 and statue ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050693 and more flowers in the royal gardens ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050694 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050695 before we took our last exterior photos ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050696 and saluted King Edward ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050697 and took this self portrait ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050698 and this picture of the guard area ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050699 before recording the queen in her earlier days. ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050700 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050701 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050702 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050703 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050704

Next we headed to the palace cafe ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050705 where all we had was this water to sustain us on the walk back up the Royal Mile ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050706 where we ran into Adam Smith ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050707 and Hume ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050708 and then made our way to the Princes Street Gardens where there were remarkable flower arrangements ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050709 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050710 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050711 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050712 including this working clock ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050713 and the usual amazing roses ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050714 as we looked up to the castle in the distance ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050715 and then began the trek home past Thomas Chalmers. ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050716

After a break, we headed out to the Witchery ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050717 where Boswell and Johnson had met ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050718 and this was the menu ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050719 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050720 and these were the breads ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050721 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050722 and the starters including Suzanne's haggis ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050724 and my salad ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050725 and then Suzanne's salmon ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050726 and my artichoke pie ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050727 ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050728 before we concluded with this plate of cheeses ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050729 and paid the bill. ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050730 On our walk to our next venue, we passed this interesting store front ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050731 and then stopped at the Doric bar ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050732 where this was a close up of the bar. ../../../Sabbat/2013/06.25-07.14.13EnglandAndScotland//P1050733