Great News! Just uploading my pictures now to the website - just remember to click on "show oldest first" and you will get them in order of my trip.

Well! so much has happened since I signed off yesterday. Where to begin? Can't believe that is only day 3 of 14 - time either goes really fast or really really slow.... guess I'm still a little jet lagged.

Yesterday Doris and I walked nearly 15 kms - I think. Well, after breakfast we walked to Edinburgh castle. The castle was neat - I didn't get there last time because of a little problem with passing out. It was nice to be able to see it. All the cobble stones, the great hall, the "royal" apartments etc etc etc. It was very cool. We spent a couple of hours at the castle - had a little problem finding the washrooms (the public "toilets" as they are called here) it appears that it got flooded out due to all of the rain. So we were on the lookout for a washroom - then went to the cafe and used the washroom there. (just a little side note - the weather - nice sunny, then windy, cold, sunny again, clouded over, etc etc etc). Was a little disappointed with the castle, but not everything can last from medieval times.

After Edinburgh castle, we went to Holyrood Palace (we walked - of course.... ;-)) Although we seemed to know where we were going, it appears we got a little off track. After trekking up and down the steep streets of Edinburgh, we finally arrived at Holyrood Palace - only to find that it was closed as a "dignitary" was staying there.... D was really upset - this was the one place she wanted to see in Edinburgh and it was closed. Took a couple of pictures through the gate. Then started the trek back to the hostel.

Haven't spoken much about the hostel. We were sleeping in dorm rooms - approximately 8 beds (4 bunk beds) to a room. The showers were right outside our room. Which was nice, except the other morning, it appears that I interrupted some nocturnal activities of a couple in the shower when I came in. That's the thing - anybody can walk in anytime..... just keep in mind that the whole floor is sharing that shower... so I'm getting used to changing behind wet shower curtains in the morning. ;-)

Ok - back to the day. Went back to the hostel - wrote a few postcards - kept up my journal - had a conversation with some "boys" from Hamilton. They were very intent on celebrating May 24 weekend in Edinburgh.

Met D's friend Steph for dinner @ 2100 at a nice restaurant called Guilano's. Steph brought her friend Beth as well. They are really nice ladies. Very good Italian food at the restaurant. The one thing I've noticed here is that when you're in a restaurant you have to ask for your bill - they don't bring it to you automatically. anyway, we sat in the restaurant until midnight - it was very nice to meet them.

Walked back to the hostel - notice a trend here? It was about 0:30 when our heads hit the pillow - very long day - lots of activity but it was good to sleep.

*no Jamie found*