Thursday 16th April 2009

This morning we were up at 6.00am and down to breakfast by 7.00am with luggage for collection outside our room. Deb wasn’t able to take a shower last night or this morning as the bathroom was the traditional British style with a shower over the bath. I managed to get in and out without any mishap, but Deb didn’t want to take the risk – so she had a “pommy wash” and hoped that the hotel in Edinburgh would be better – our Tour guide Ian has been telephoning ahead and warning the hotels that we need accessible rooms, because Globus had not bothered to pass on our request for this type of accommodation.
The hotel at York had a strange way of organising a buffet breakfast, but we managed to get all that we wanted, and still be ready to board the bus at 8.00am
Most of today was spent getting from York to Edinburgh with a couple of stops along the way.
The first stop was to see a section of Hadrian’s Wall – which was exactly that – a small section of the wall which was close to the main road that we were travelling on. We only stopped for 15 minutes – just long enough to take photos and get back on the bus.
Then we travelled on the M1 northwards through the Northumberland National Park. Most of us dozed as we travelled as there really wasn’t much to see from the highway.
We crossed the Scottish border just before lunch which we had at a small coach stopping place called Jedburgh. We only had 45 minutes for lunch then it was back on the bus to a place called Abbotsford House with a guided tour of the house which was the home of Sir Walter Scott – once again no photos in the house, so we could only photograph the grounds which were quite nice.
The interior of the house was quite remarkable and full of ancient memorabilia that he had collected in his life. It was a pity that we couldn’t take photos but security prevented it.
So it was back on the bus and off the Edinburgh, where we arrived around 3.30pm. The Thistle Hotel is in Leith Street right in the heart of the city. I am going to the optional Scottish Dinner tonight, but Deb has decided not to go as she has been to many over time.
When we checked in we found that once again there were no freestanding showers – just one over the bath. Ian had told us that he was aware that they had a room with a shower, but that someone was booked into it the following night – anyway we have ended up with this room (actually a suite) for the night – it is supposed to be accessible, and the person coming in is supposed to be in a wheelchair – but they will have “Buckley’s” in being able to use a wheelchair in the room, and if they are paralysed they won’t be able to use the shower as there are no grab handles, in fact nothing that a disabled person could use in the shower, and there is a step over ledge to get into it. It is really disappointing that Deb is faced with these difficulties.
The other thing we discovered is that there are no laundry facilities at any of the places we stop at.
We had hoped to be able to wash our clothes along the way – no chance, there are no laundrettes apparently in towns these days as everyone has a washing machine in their home.
Because we are here two nights we have washed all the underclothes, but are going to have to wear the outer clothes for some time without them being washed – oh pooh.
Thank goodness we are going back to the YHA after this tour – at least they have washing machines so we will be able to wash there on our return.
Cont’d on Friday 17th April
Well, we changed our mind and sent out some clothes to be laundered – 2 trousers and 2 shirts, and washed everything else that needed to be washed. The bathroom towel heaters and the room heaters were draped with all the washing for the night, with the hope that the clothes would dry by morning.
I went to the Scottish Dinner last night – it was really great and I enjoyed it. There were 18 of us from the bus who went, and the function was held in our hotel, so we didn’t have to travel too far.
Deb decided to have room service for her dinner as she was too tired to go out once she got settled in the room.
The function was a traditional evening of Scottish song and dance. This followed a lovely dinner of vegetable soup, choice of salmon, chicken or beef and vegs, and a raspberry and cream desert, then tea/coffee and shortbread. Served with red and white wines.
They had some very talented Scottish dancers, singers, and a compere who was quite humerous.
They piped in the haggis, and the compere recited Robbie Burns’ “Ode to the Haggis”. The haggis was then distributed to all who wanted to taste it along with ‘bashed neeps and boiled pratties’ – mashed potato and turnips. I decided not to have a taste – although some did – and said that it was quite tasty.
The evening finished around 10.30pm and I was glad just to take the lift up to the room and crash for the night.