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Visit Scotland Expo 2014
Glasgow, Perthshire Highlands, Stirling, the Trossachs & Edinburgh
April 2, 2014 – April 6th, 2014
April 6
We left after breakfast which I have to say was very good and
arrived at Edinburgh Castle around 9:30 a.m. What I enjoyed
seeing was the Stone of Destiny – heavily guarded as the
nation’s treasures are here as well and the room where Mary
Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI in 1566! But there was
sure a lot more to see including Mons Meg, one of Europe’s
oldest siege guns that fired stones weighing 330 lbs over 2
miles…awesome history here.
www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk The view from up here was
incredible and from here we wandered down the hill to catch our
Majestic Tour Bus to Ocean Terminal for something I have waited
to see for a long time… the Royal Yacht Britannia. It was very
interesting to see all the rooms that were used by the ship’s
crew and where the Royal family stayed while on board. Their
rooms were much smaller than I had expected and also quite
ordinary. The audio tour is fascinating and really adds to the
enjoyment. The dining room for formal dinners was beautiful as
was the seating area where it was dressed in light and happy
colours and floral fabrics. I think all who enjoy the history of
the Royals will love visiting here. Afterwards we met up on the
Royal Deck Tea Room for a delicious lunch of sandwiches and
soup…just perfect!!
http://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/
Afterward my visit and lunch I hoped back on the Majestic Bus to
go to the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens (Scotland’s oldest) and had
a most wonderful visit there. Huge gardens ... perfect for
strolling or for getting seriously into the plant material with
over 25 glasshouses. Established in Inverleith Row in 1820, the
gardens comprise 70 acres of ground and over 36,000 plants. The
radical design of the 1967 glasshouses was hailed as the most
innovative since Paxton's Great Conservatory at Chatsworth,
built in the 1830s (which was superseded at Chatsworth by a
prototype for the Glasshouses here at the Royal Botanic Garden
Edinburgh). And the gift shop, wow, it was grand.
http://www.rbge.org.uk/
Did you know?
-that you can buy an Explorer Pass and visit many of the
attractions in Historic Scotland
www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/explorer
Then met the group to go to the Sheraton Grand where we would be
spending our night and enjoying dinner. This is a gorgeous hotel
and the views here out onto the Castle were so magical from our
Castle View rooms…and the bathrooms are exquisite. Our dinner at
One Square Restaurant in the private dining room was so posh and
delicious and gave us all time to sit and relax after a very
busy and totally fact filled trip. We were even offered a tour
of the kitchens which were pretty cool too!
http://www.sheratonedinburgh.co.uk/
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