“Operation tourist”

A change of plan takes us back to Edinburgh where we stay at a campsite, yes a real campsite with toilets, washing machines and middle aged woman walking around half naked.


So two days with no internet connection even though we’re in the capital city, seems crazy compared to some of the out of the way places we’ve found connections.

We catch a bus into town which was a surprisingly painless experience and head for the Royal mile.

Once there it’s an uphill push to the castle which is packed with tourists from all round the world.

with amazing views across the city

Four hours exploring later we’re all castled out and head back down the Royal Mile where a procession has just started we stand around with the hoards taking photos of things- as you do and discover that we’ve stumbled upon some old tradition called “riding of the marches”
find out more here http://www.edinburghridingthemarches.co.uk/

which seems to be about some bloke on a horse who’s been given the flag of Edinburgh by the lord mayor, he then rides round the cities boundaries surveying them to make sure that they are intact, he then reports back to the mayor 10 days later (which is the bit we’re watching) with 250 of his colleagues (commoners) riding horses, he declares all boundaries intact and returns the Edinburgh standard also intact and unsullied back to its rightful owner. Then another bloke sings a song he wrote about Edinburgh, three cheers are given and the whole place reeks of horse urine.

We walk on down the rest of the Royal mile to the new Scottish Parliament

ironically located door to Holyrood Palace (the Queens official Edinburgh residence).

After seeing the royal yacht Brittania we eat and head back through the city where night has descended,

a few photos later and we’re all touristed out, another bus takes us back to the campsite.

view from our bedroom window

now you know why we don't stay in many campsites