Well here it is, our wee trip report - which might be long LOL"¦
Edinburgh 9th - 13th July

Flight from Belfast to Edinburgh with Easyjet, on time and a full plane. Very smooth flight. Though had to wait ages on the bags :o(

Got the airport bus to Waverley Bridge, £5 each open return. Walked around to St Marys Street to the Travelodge. It was early, around 11am so we did not expect to be able to check in, but luckily there was a room ready! I had booked a family room for a wee bit more room. The room was fine for us, a few niggles but nothing major.

So unpacked and got ready to go out. Went to the Mitre on the Royal Mile for a yummy Sunday Roast Dinner. Then took a walk up the Royal Mile and round to Princes Street.

Went back to hotel and got changed into my ITALIA top to go and find a pub for the match. Worked our way up the mile again and visited the pubs along the way, had a game of pool in Bannermans in Niddry St, then ended up in The Globe. (cheapest drink around) Sat a lovely couple who live on the Royal Mile and then another local group, so hello to John & Liz, Gary, Stuart and Pam. Of course Italy won!!!!! and there was a nice £50 waiting for me on my bet :o) Went to the Chippy on the Royal Mile for some chips...yum!

Had a lie in the next morning, too much drink the night before! Went to Rabbie Burns on the Royal Mile for a fry up, it was around £6. We just spent the day exploring the Royal Mile. Castle looked packed so we didn't go in (been before though) I couldn't believe how many tourists and backpackers there were.

Went into a few graveyards, one on Cannongate and one off Waterloo place. Went to the museum of Childhood (very interesting) and 2 museums on Cannongate, facing the graveyard. Best of all these were FREE! :o)

Walked over to the Omni to check out film times and ended up having dinner in Witherspoons in the Omni. Headed back to hotel around 9pm as we had to be up early the next day.

Tuesday we were off to Newcastle on the train. Virgin trains were great, delayed coming back though. Had a great day in Newcastle with our friends. (Ate lunch in Witherspoons in the Metro Centre!)

Wednesday we went to a morning show of Pirates of the Caribbean and then shopping day in St James and Princes Street. And yes you guessed it we ended up in Witherspoons on George St for Tea! Headed back to hotel to get ready to go out later on that night"¦ . Auld Reekies Terror Tour!!! (£9 each)

It was at 10pm and around 15 of us on the tour. The guide was excellent and I was nervous about going into the vaults. Seen a real witches coven in the vaults. Then we were taken into different vaults and told stories about them. In one of them, the men had to stand on one side and the women on the other. I have to say I clung onto another women from England. Then another staff member scared the wits out of us all jumping out and of course we all screamed LOL! Ended up in Nicol Edwards for a few drinks then of course to the chippy before it closed! Hi to Brian and Christine.

Thursday was home day :o( we packed up and left the cases at reception, went to Rabbie burns for a fry up.

Then walked up to Mary Kings Close. (£8 each and 20 people on each tour) Found the tour guide a tad rude at the beginning, she said no flash photography so myself along with a few other people turned the flash off. Then as we were walking down another staff member (in front of her tour group) said to our tour guide, I can see a weapon of witchcraft (my camera) and our tour guide said they have been told to turn them off. At this point I was embarrassed to say the least and another visitor said that you said 'no flash photography' then our tour guide said I meant no photography as it's a government building. Well to me and a few others she should have been more clear and there should have been a sign or something up saying no photography/video etc. Rant over !

Anyhow, we both found the tour interesting and found it hard to imagine what it was like to live 400 years ago. Glad we went on it but the tour guides need to be less miserable and enjoy what they are doing, at some stages you could tell she didn't want to be there.

Then we walked to Greyfrairs graveyard, creepy! Seen some interesting headstones. Does anyone know why skull and crossbones are on a lot of the headstones? And skeltons on others? Went to Bobby's Bar for a drink.
Took our time walking over to Princes St again to get some last minute bits and Haggis! Love Jenners foodhall! Then it was time to go to the airport. Got all our belongings and dragged them to the airport bus. Check in was quick and flight was ½ hr delayed coming home but again a smooth flight.

So we had a lovely 5 days in Edinburgh, didn't do ½ of what we wanted to do so that's an excuse to go back! Though we would go back in December time, we prefer it then. We did walk a lot though and just took in the atmosphere especially in the Old Town, I really love it there.

I chickened out of doing the City of the Dead Graveyard Tour"¦maybe next time (ekkk), actually does anyone know why there was a thistle through the lock on the gates of the Covenanters Prison gates? It looked it was placed there specifically.

Sorry that we didn't get to eat in some of the recommended places. We just ate where we were near and to my husbands delight it was always near Witherspoons! Cheap n Cheerful! LOL

Well if you have made it to the end! Thanks for reading and thanks for all the advice! Hope to be back soon :o)