Edinburgh 10/7 - 10/8/05

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Our trip to the Edinburgh Travelodge from the fairgrounds takes us about 45 minutes. We find our digs for the night.  We park, check in, organize what does into the room with us, proceed towards that shower.
Our room is well appointed I was a bit concerned as they state that the family room suits 2 adults and 2 children. Patrick is no little kid. The way the room was laid out was a queen bed for John and I. A Day bed with a trundle bed underneath it. The trundle pulls completely out not tied to the bed above it for part of its structure. I really like this. The amenities meet our sleep needs
Shortly after getting settled in Patrick is raring to go, his needs: are food, poking in shops and if we can to get to Edinburgh castle, that too!
We set off to accomplish as many of these things. Before we reach critical exhaustion. John sets our direction on his GPS makes finding the Travelodge much easier.
We set off on foot.  The plan is to leave our mini van in the parking of the Travelodge until Saturday the next day, when we will move onto our next adventure.
On foot we walk along finding some very interesting views of the city, museums, local landmarks.
We ask a fellow walker where’s good to eat she asks a friend. We turn around take an alley through Jury’s.  Many places in the UK that we have walked, we have had these side alleys with all kinds of interesting nooks, and crannies. In CA alleys are usually places to avoid.

We pop across the alley to Forsythe’s Tea Room. This place is nearly empty. This should have been a warning. I am determined to have tea so we quickly take seats, read the menu. We have a few questions that the wait staff should be able to answer.

This lady comes huffing and puffing to our table. Our waitress. She seems rather frazzled I inquire about her day. She let loose this torrent of complaints, worries, and over all dissatisfaction with her general universe. Seems she usually works behind scenes. The person usually working the front had injured her hand they were basically hoping no one wanted tea and that they could close up. We foiled that plan. In hindsight I should have thought to move on. In my own defense I was having a hard time understanding her rant and as it had taken quite a bit of effort on our part to find a place to eat I was reluctant to try yet another place. It was one of my less stellar moments this tea, was to be ALL about me. I was looking forward to the ceremony of it. I was to learn soon that I was wrong. The lady went off on her way to consult about our soup inquires

The lady returns to our table requests that we write down on her pad of paper our orders. This is odd. We willing help her out. Again we should have left. The waitress returns with our place settings. She kind of threw them at our table and stomped off. Once she leaves John and I both laugh it was that or get up and leave. We’re short a few pieces of cutlery. The meal arrives. The waitress is called back to the kitchen seems she’d brought the wrong soup. We quickly dine, drink and leave.


 

U.S. to Glasgow to Edinburgh          Edinburgh

Alnwick       Edlington       Corbridge       Roman Vindolanda

Housesteads       Croxteth Hall/Liverpool       Langholm - "The Muckle Toon"

Edinburgh Castle       Sterling to Callendar & The Trussochs to Glasgow