Of course, we had to start the day with rain. I didn't timed it getting in, but it took me about 15 minutes to get to the Supermarket bus stop in Keswick. Of course, there was a closer bus stop to the b&b, but I wasn't sure where exactly it was. Besides, I was waiting at the bus stop for about 40 minutes because I didn't know if today was a Bank Holiday in Britain or not (it was). So, if I needed anything for my trip, I could just hop into the supermarket to get it.
When I got to Penrith Rail station, I had to wait for about an hour since the trains were running late due to rail maintenance. At least, I got into Edinburgh in good shape. I decided to take a taxi to the hotel since I didn't know where the bus stop was. The rail station is big. The taxi ride was worth it. The total cost was about £8.25. Once I got to the hotel, it was 14:00, which is check in time. When I got to the front desk, the person told me that the previous guest had a late check out and that thermometer won't be ready until probably 15:00. So I had lunch at the restaurant at the hotel. Then the front desk person found me and said that my room was ready. So I headed to my room. Once I went it, the room was obviously not ready as everything was a mess.
So, I headed back downstairs to tell the person that the room is obviously not ready at all. She had to get a hold of housekeeping then. So I sat and waited for a bit. I noticed a computer in the lobby so while I wait I could at least check my emails. However, in order to use it, you have to pay (£5 for 1 hour or £16 for 24 hours). Since my room wouldn't be ready for another hour, the kind person at the desk offered my a free hour on the internet, which I took. I only checked my emails on the computer because the computer was so slow in loading and sending. After about 16:00, I went up to my room to check if it has been cleaned. It was, and I was tired from all that waiting. I couldn't take a nap since we had to meet the tour manager at 16:30. Oh, in the elevator, I met some people joining the tour at Scotland, they were from Calgary too. Well, two were and one from regina, who flew in from Calgary.
Upon meeting the tour manager, he informed us that seven people have joined the tour at Scotland. Apparently, tour already started in London, and it was kinda like a hop on and off type of tour as people get off or on in Edinburgh or at Dublin. There will be 16 people leaving the tour at Glasgow and 16 people joining in Dublin. There is over 40 people on this tour. For me, I thought that there would be around 20 to 30 people. After the meeting/information section, the tour manager told us that tonight there was an extra exclusion, that everyone is attending, for a Scottish experience with dinner and a bagpipe performance. Of course, if everyone was going, then I naturally joined too.
So, we met up in the lobby at 17:45 and hopped on the bus. We had a little introduction first and then we were on our say to tour the city first and then to dinner. The city your was a little disjointed as there were construction everywhere. The manager did his best to show us some sites to do tomorrow as it is a free day. He showed us Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood palace, and Balmoral hotel. Ok, Harry Potter fans, Balmoral hotel is where JK Rowling wrote the very last page of her last book. The manager said that if we go there and the hotel is not busy, the staff might show us the table where JK Rowlings wrote.
After the tour, we went to the Scottish Experience Dinner. We had our own room and show just for our tour. There was a three course menu, including haggis which I didn't get, and then the bagpiper performance. Apparently, the haggis is very good. It came as a little appetizer course. I had tomato and basil soup, stuff chicken with potato and turnip puree, and toffee pudding for dessert. Everything was good and filling. After the meal, the piper, Andrew, played us a few songs and entertained us with his stories. He was really good. He was also a good sport of having pictures taken with him.
After dinner, we had a choice of going for a night out on the town of drinking and dancing or head back to the hotel. Most of the people went out. I didnt, of course. It took us a while to get back since of the construction around the city. On our way back, the inside window of the bus broke. It was a good thing no one was sitting there and the bus driver is off tomorrow. I hope the bus is fixed before we get on.
When I got back to the hotel, my roommate showed up. Apparently, she didn't arrive until 20:00 not knowing there was an excursion on. She is very nice and from Australia, and we talked for a bit before getting ready for bed. She's like me and not really into partying.
Tomorrow's agenda: Free day in Edinburgh
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