From the journal:

Arrival 5 October
Flights were long. BA LHR Terminal 5 a bit strange - you don't clear customs on arrival, but in EDI instead. Unfortunately have to go through security again after immigration.

Driving was fun! Have a Vauxhall with suicide doors (Meriva). Navigation app worked well. Got to hotel (very nice) and napped for an hour. Walked along Prince St - sunlight - castle is very imposing. Walked down to Charlotte Sq, then back along George St.

Ate at The Abbotsford upstairs. Filled with Americans. Haggis appetizer (very good!), steak and ale pie for me, duck for Debby (entrees were adequate). The sun sets around 1830h. Crashed after dinner.

Sunday October 6
Woke up at 7am (thanks Melatonin!) Ate breakfast at a Pret a Manger (yummy ham cheese tomato croissant, raisin palmier). Cabbed over to Edinburgh Castle to be there for opening at 9am. Was second in line. Tour guide was originally from Greece, but had a nice thick Scottish burr despite. Edinburgh Castle is very similar to the Tower of London and the Quebec Citadelle in many ways - a few military museums, partial active garrison. The Castle also has crown jewels. Very nice Great Hall. Military regimental museum (dragoons) had a Napoleanic eagle and colors captured at Waterloo.

Afterwards, walked down the Royal Mile to the Hub (used to be a church, now the center that runs the Edinburgh Festivals), then walked down the George IV bridge to the Scottish National Museum. Very interesting modern museum, telling the story from 3000BC to modern Scotland. Saw 2 F1 cars (Stewart's Tyrell Ford, Stewart Ford Grand Prix team), several full size antique technology exhibits (steam locomotive (small), whiskey still, Newcombe engine, etc.) Several clocks. Historical part about the Picts, Scots, and PreChristian times were very good. Ate lunch at the museum's cafe (good salami-pesto-cheddar sandwich, good mexicali chicken wrap.)

Stopped at St Giles church, including chapel belonging the Order of the Thistle. Walked past the Tron Kirk (closed), buskers, rest of Royal Mile to Holyrood House and Scottish Parliament. Took the tour of the Holyrood palace - functional rooms similar in many ways to the White House tour (nicer and nicer sitting rooms until reaching the great hall.) Historical part of palace includes Mary Queen of Scots apartments. Abbey ruins are very nice.

Dinner tonight at number one:

First Amuse- Foie gras macaroon, chorizo cream puff, tulipe of smoked fish cream

Second Amuse - salt cod with Jerusalem artichoke.

Appetizers: (me) Saute foie gras, Jamaican Pepper, Plum, Pistachio, and Duck Confit; (her) Partridge, Cepe Ravioli, Truffle, Lapsang Consomme' (excellent)

Mains: (me) Grouse, Rainbow Chard, Brambles (berries), Celeriac and Truffle Puree, Bread Sauce (excellent); (her) Dry Aged Orkney Beef, Ale Onions, Barwheys

Dessert: (me) Cheese Platter - all Scottish: sheep's milk bleu, smoked cheddar, and a brielike cheese were excellent; (her) Caramelia and Praline Mousse, Kumquat, PX, Smoked Hazelnut Ice Cream.

Petit Fours: Salted Caramel (excellent), bergamot Turkish delight, passion fruit macaroon.

Overall assessment: excellent, deserves its star.