UK Trip: Day 2

The second day began bright and early as Matt headed off to work and April, Steve, and I caught the ferry to the Tube to King's Cross Station for an "overground" train ride to Edinburgh.

It was four hours of staring out the window and playing Bananagrams.  It was foggy again, so we didn't see much on the first leg of our journey.

We traveled through York, Darlington, and Newark.  We Americans aren't very creative with our town names, are we?

This is Berwick-upon-Tweed.  Pronounced "Berrick-up'n-Tweed", I think.

The streets of Edinburgh, Matt's old stomping ground:

This is the view from our hostel-- Edinburgh Castle, part of which dates back to 1100 or so.

Our hostel:

After depositing our bags, we went next door for a quick meal.  I unknowingly ordered a fried potato patty on a large hamburger-type bun (it was called a "potato roll" on the menu), and Steve opted for some good ol' Bangers and Mash.

Then we climbed up many, many, steps to go on a tour of the castle.

The view from the castle's parking lot (which does NOT date back to 600 AD!)  You can see Arthur's Seat (the tall hill) in the background to the left.

Grandpa Robert (the Bruce):

This is for my cousin Kenny-- the Wilson ancestors, including King Kenneth:

After the castle we had some dinner, walked around town (we stood on John Knox's grave, which is now covered by a parking lot.. kind of a yucky story, ask Matt about it sometime) and then watched Food Network in our hostel room.  You're never too far from American television's influence.
When Matt arrived late that night, he and Steve went to the legendary Royal Oak for a pint.