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Published: September 12th 2011
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September 2nd - September 6th -- Edinburgh
Traveling usually involves some delays and we experienced one on our trip to Edinburgh. Our train was delayed for three hours because of fires beside the track that had been started by a steam train -- now there’s something you don’t hear every day! We were compensated, however, as we met a man who had very similar interests and even occupation to David. We had a great conversation until he left us about half way to Edinburgh.
We arrived at our B&B at about 10:30 pm and were met by Ian, who carried my very heavy suitcase up the three flights of stairs to our room on the top floor. Davenport house is an 1820 Georgian townhouse on a cobblestone street - absolutely spectacular! Our room had 12’ ceilings. From our window we could see over the rooftops of Edinburgh. I felt like any moment Dick Van Dyke would appear and start singing and dancing “Chim Chim Cher-ee”!
On our first day, David and I headed out the front door and went wherever our feet took us -- after the four days, we decided any direction you go in Edinburgh is worthwhile.
27 George Street
David's mother's home in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is a city bursting with history and is a sight to behold!
One of the highlights of our trip was meeting with Robbie and Pat Richards. I met Robbie through Ancestry.com when I was researching our family trees. Robbie sent me 48 pages on David’s family! His wife Pat is David’s third cousin. We had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant and afterwards Robbie showed us where Helen, David’s mother and her family lived in Edinburgh. They were on George Street -- one of the major historical streets in the city and a stone’s throw from the statue of George IV who sports a very short kilt, and we’re told was the subject of the nursery rhyme “Georgie Porgy Puddin’ and Pie”. (He was somewhat portly, wore pink tights with his very short kilt and liked kissin’ the women.)
The next day, David and I went on a search for some of the places his other family members lived. We found a number of places and, with more time, we could have found many others. We found where his Grandfather, Sydney Cecil Gray attended school, where his relatives had their business and where they lived. One of
the addresses was just around the corner from the B&B where we were staying. It was great fun and led us to places in the city we might never have explored otherwise.
The following day, we did what most tourists do -- we went to Edinburgh Castle and took the hop on, hop off bus tour. The castle is really wonderful and well worth a visit. We also went to another castle. Craigmiller Castle is just outside the city, and ... we were the only people there! It’s not nearly as well known or even decorated. In fact, it’s more of a ruin than castle - the kind of castle every kid wishes he or she could explore! There were two large trees growing in the court yard -- something like you’d see in Lord of the Rings. There were pigeons in the tower -- scared the heck out of me! (David went up the towers first after that.) And of course, there was a dungeon, a wine cellar and many, many rooms.
On arriving in Edinburgh we discovered we had arrived for their yearly fringe festival. So, on our last night, we were treated to a fireworks
display off the tops of the Edinburgh Castle! We spoke to some locals who said it was one of the first times in many years that it hadn’t been raining or windy -- it was a glorious night!
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