Aberdeen 14 - 15 June 2012

We travelled from Edinburgh to Aberdeen on Thursday 14^th June.  Luckily we got to sit with 2 locals from Aderdeen so we managed to find out all the important things like the best places to eat and what they think about the upcoming referendum on scottish independence.

Here you can see the old train track across the river (it collapsed, we were told).  Luckily they finished the new one in time for our trip.

Aberdeen is fairly ‘non-descript’, or maybe ‘god forsaken’is a better description. They made the whole town out of granite, so it glints in the sun, but don’t let that fool you, it is very windy and cold. First we went to the maritime museum. Not worth the entry fee, and that is saying something as it is free. It needs a good overhaul (hence, no pictures as there was nothing worth taking). We decided to take a tour of a whisky distillery, Glenfiddich, still family owned, which is a rarity in Scotland. 

It was an OK tour as tours go.The best part was the ‘wee drams’ of whisky we tried at the end of the tour, 12, 15 & 18 year old whiskys.Chris bought a 15 year old, it had been aged in an old sherry barrel so it had a nice spice to it (now I sound like one of those really pretentious a……s!).Part of the tour also included a castle owned by Lady Russell.She has lots of photos strategically placed around on tables and walls of the royal family i.e. Christmas cards from Charles and the boys, wedding invitation to Kate and William’s wedding, letters from the Queen mother etc.The castle wasn’t that grand as far as castles go, but we could tick it off the bucket list. It had a nice garden, a stream for salmon fishing and a couple of llamas (as you do).  Picture below. 

We stayed 2 nights in Aberdeen (1 too many really). Had a great meal at Bistro Verde (read my review on trip advisor) and the next night had a curry at the Jewel in the Crown. Lesson No 3, the restaurant portions are huge in Indian restaurants in the UK. One naan took up half the table (we originally ordered 2 but the waiter said one was enough) and would have fed a small 3^rdworld country for a day.

Edinburgh - 13th June

Yesterday we didn't do a lot.  Spent the morning just deciding the next few days itinerary, booking train tickets and accom as we wanted to take advantage of the internet in the hotel.  Can't believe how long it took (internet connection is really slow in these apartments).  Anyway, we finally got outside and got some lunch. Note size of Chris' beer battered fish (a bit deceptive as the plate is also really large).

The Cafe was really cute and the pics don't do it justice.

We then went to the National Portrait Gallery (conveniently just across the road from the hotel), which was better than it sounds. 

Just round the corner from our hotel.

The portrait gallery is very beautiful from the inside.

The portrait gallery is also very beautiful from the outside.

There is lots of scaffolding and road works around Edinburgh as they are putting in  tram tracks.

This is all we saw of Edinburgh Castle.  Kind of glad we missed it as the torch relay went through there yesterday. We may get a chance this morning (we are getting the train to Aberdeen so maybe not).  

York - 12th of June

Yesterday, 12th of June, we tried to fit a bit more touristy stuff in before catching the train. 

York is surrounded by a fortress wall which is in various states of disintegration.  This bit looks ok.

First stop was the jorvik Centre (a real dig of an ancient Viking village).   It was pretty impressive.

We did yet some more walking. I swear there are about 50 old churches in York, all with beautiful stained glass windows.

The cathedral is so big, it is impossible to get back far enough to get a camera shot of the whole thing.

In the afternoon we travelled by train from York to Edinburg. 

A very uninteresting bit of footage from the train

 pulling into a station along the way.

We have an appartment in Edinburgh for 2 days so we can spread out a bit (and hopefully do some washing).  Not sure what we will do today but the National Portrait Gallery is across the road and Edinburgh Castle is on the hill behind us, if only we can find the way to get up there (very imposing).  I know if we ask the girl at the desk we will be none the wiser.  She gave us directions to the supermarket last night  (probably only 10 minutes away), well, 1 hour later we managed to find it and buy something for dinner and breakfast this morning.

It was so nice to make our own breakfast.  The English look at you a bit strange if you ask for 'just toast', they don't know the concept.  They love their 'full english breakfasts'.

So, more walking today.  Our first mission will be to get some voltaren gel for Chris' knees.