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MaiTaiTom Gets The Royal Treatment…Two Weeks Exploring London and Scotland

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MaiTaiTom Gets The Royal Treatment…Two Weeks Exploring London and Scotland

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Old Jul 16th, 2017, 02:38 AM
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"James VI (by the way in Scotland, he is James I)"

other way around, this guy is James VI in Scotland,and James I in England.

Actually pretty interesting person, he spent most of his youth avoiding being murdered by his court, famously gay he had a few problems but did commission a bible in English.
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Old Jul 16th, 2017, 04:29 AM
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James VI becoming James I & VI was the "union of the crowns" which created the United Kingdom. The union was completed a century later when the Scottish Parliament (according to Burns, a "parcel of rogues") dissolved itself and merged with London in the "union of the parliaments."
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Old Jul 16th, 2017, 06:55 AM
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Great Scot! Thanks Bill. Sometimes my fingers go faster than my brain. Thankfully Wordpress allows edits. I can't even Preview on this site anymore. I really must return to Scotland. It was magical.

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Old Jul 16th, 2017, 06:55 AM
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Maitaitom--Love your narration and pictures on your posts. We too loved St Giles. When we visited a boys choir was practicing and it made for a lovely visit.

The National Museum of Scotland was great to visit. Did you go to the Camera Obscura down the Royal Mile?
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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 03:21 PM
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"Did you go to the Camera Obscura down the Royal Mile?"

We did not to the Camera Obscura...always leave some stuff for next time...and there will be a "next time" for Edinburgh.

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Old Jul 17th, 2017, 04:11 PM
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I am loving your report. We leave for our two week tour of Scotland at the end of August.
I do love your favorite restaurant in Lamole! It is the best.
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Old Jul 19th, 2017, 08:47 AM
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Great report! We can identify with the feeling of anticipation of a return visit. . .except that we have this feeling about so many places we visit.

Will stay tuned for more!
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Old Jul 19th, 2017, 11:08 AM
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Wonderful report. We are headed there the end of August so we appreciate the tips!
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Old Jul 22nd, 2017, 01:53 PM
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By the end of this day, our collective feet were screaming, “Help!” Edinburgh’s Royal Mile stretches from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace, and there’s enough in between to keep you occupied for days. Princess Anne screwed up a little bit of our plans (I had asked her to wait to visit until after we left). In any event, there was still lots to see along the way, including a little whisky tasting, walking by a pub named after a man that inspired a famous book, and a church where they had a Royal wedding. For lunch, we diverted off the Royal Mile and ate at a place named after a loyal, dead dog. We saw his grave, rubbed his nose (well, his statue’s nose) and walked around the cemetery where his owner is buried. We ended the day with a terrific French dinner. The link below takes you to our first full day in Edinburgh…and we made the most of it!

PS - This will be one of my last posts as a non-senior citizen...I hope I make it through the entire report

<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/chapter-five-walking-edinburghs-royal-mile/</B>

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Old Jul 22nd, 2017, 03:58 PM
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Terrific!

That photo of the entry to Lady Stair's Close . . . that was the front door of our flat last August when I went to the Tattoo. Just as you get through the 'tunnel' to walk across the pavement to the Writers Museum - if you had turned to the right and looked up there were the stair to my flat. It overlooked the Royal Mile from the 2nd (3rd) floor.

Next time -- do visit Gladstone's Land. Really interesting.

That stained glass window of St Margaret in the Castle -- used a photo I took of it for my Christmas cards for about 3 or 4 years.

First rule for anyone I ever travel with: KEEP your mitts off my Sticky Toffee Pudding!!!!!!




A couple of little corrections to clean things up:

>> including this view of a church near Princes Gardens<< and >>took a walk through Princes Gardens<< . . . Princes Street Gardens
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Old Jul 22nd, 2017, 04:02 PM
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Great to read about all that we didn't see! A return trip is in the cards for us. Thanks to your rec we did enjoy our meal at Le Escargot Bleu.
Happy Birthday!
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Old Jul 22nd, 2017, 06:07 PM
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Felicitations and congratulations on your upcoming birthday. You're now a grown up.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 02:20 AM
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That Manikin in the kilt has really got the transgender bug...
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 05:53 AM
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Marvelous, simply marvelous!
I vote you the best storyteller (among the many excellent storytellers) on Fodors.

I just finished the London part of your TR. The photos are such a wonderful addition to the story. I agree that London is addictive. Having only visited once I took many notes from your delightful journey. Places I will search out when I return someday.

Looking forward to the Scotland part of your trip.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 07:52 AM
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"Step daughter"---awwwwful, Tom! As always, fun TR, excellent shots.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 09:55 AM
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"Felicitations and congratulations on your upcoming birthday. You're now a grown up."

Well, not too grown up.

Today is also our 23rd wedding anniversary. Tracy asked if we were going out. I said, "Of course not, I have a trip report to write." I believe divorce papers have already been filed.

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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 05:30 PM
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Trust you're having a wonderful anniversary celebration! And Bday wise your still just a kid. I had 46 anniversaries...hope you'll do the same or better. -
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Old Jul 23rd, 2017, 05:37 PM
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Tracy knew what she was doing when she set the wedding date . . . having it on your birthday guaranteed you'd remember your anniversary

Congratulations to both of you



(Hope those work with no %$#@%^& preview function)
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 10:38 AM
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Great report as always. Sorry you got shut out of Holyrood. I went a long time ago. I thought it was a pretty stuffy and boring tour. I was a history major and knew a fair bit about Mary Queen of Scots, but the tour guide never touched any of her story. All about the furnishings. Glad you saw the castle, which to me is the highlight of Edinburgh.

If it's okay with you, I would love to use a couple of your photos. I am still due to make a family-only photo book for our trip last year. (On Shutterfly or Mixbooks.) I didn't have 2 pounds to buy the photo pass at St Giles, and they couldn't break the bill I had.
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Old Jul 24th, 2017, 02:37 PM
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No problem 5Alive. Thanks.

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