The tour is over but we still have a couple of days before we head home. The only thing we have planned is our Main Character photo shoot. We want to go to the Museum of Scotland at some point but otherwise just wherever the day takes us.

Our photo shoot is bright and early Thursday morning. She recommended that we start early to get comfortable with it before it got really crowded so we planned to meet at 8. We didn’t give ourselves enough time for breakfast so we had to head out as soon as we got ready. We were meeting at St Giles which we had been to or by countless times but this morning we turned too soon. So instead of the gradually increasing road that wasn’t so bad we climbed the steps up to High Street. So I was a sweaty by the time we got there. And I am sad to report I was passed by someone carrying a suitcase. She was at least half my age but still I should have done better.

We got to the church and met the photographer. Kate was super nice and did her best to get us comfortable with the whole thing. We started with some pictures back behind the church where there were some steps and columns. Then we moved on the front steps of the church. we climbed back up to the view point of the castle Val and I did earlier in the trip. Glad another photographer was there taking pictures and we had to wait our turn. Gave me time to catch my breath.

We wandered around to other places and I think we got better as we went or at least it quit being so awkward. I got a few samples from her and I think they re promising that it went well. I might should have picked another dress but no changing that now.

After we were finished with the photos we went back to the hotel and dropped off a few things and headed to the museum. I have to say I have been surprised by the Edinburgh museums. They have some really high quality exhibits. The art museum and the portrait gallery were both really impressive and the National Museum of Scotland was top notch. It was in a nice big building with a front foyer that was four or five feet high which let in a lot of natural light. Each section of the museum went off from the main area. We primarily did the Scottish history portion but also wandered through the section on fashion and a little bit about technology. The fashion was basically how things changed over time both in textiles and style. They had a lot of great pieces. I only took one picture of a dress that reminded me of the fabric in the fancy dress I brought on the trip. It was an orange red instead of blue but had the same metallic thread running through it to make it sparkle.

We also saw Dolly the first cloned animal. She was in the technology section right beside a race car simulation you could test drive and some other interactive exhibits. We did not walk through the natural history or animal exhibits where all the dinosaur bones and large stones are held.

The Scottish history exhibit had several really nice items. My favorite being a casket box (nothing to do with bones or funerals) that is believed to be MQS and could possibly be where she held the letters between her and Bothwell that were her downfall and referred to as the casket letters because they were found in a box that was said to be in her possession.

Another favorite were the Lewis chessmen. The 12th century chess pieces found in the 1800s on Lewis island. A majority of the pieces are in the British Museum but Scotland has 11. They are stumpy little pieces carved out of ivory but you are able to identify the pieces.

Also saw some early road construction/design instruments. Since it plays into what I do I thought I should take a photo. the chain for measuring and the circle thing was for surveying. These were used for Scotlands first paved roadways.

The museum also has a terrace deck so we went up to get another view of the Edinburgh castle and skyline. At least this time no steps were involved.

After the museum we walked around the university of Edinburgh campus. It is right in the center of town just a few blacks off high street. It was created in 1583 and surprisingly Scotland has 3 Universities older than 1583. The part of the campus we saw the buildings were not from the 16th century probably more like the early 1800s with some 1970 thrown in for fun. Part of the original school is on the other side of High Street and we went in there with Kate on our photo shoot.

The rest of the day we just wandered around. We shopped a little bit but not too much and went out for an Italian dinner. Ended up having pizza and a salad and called it a night early.

It doesn’t sound like a busy day but we did 22,000 steps and 17 flights of stairs which were more than any other day on the trip. So all in all a busy day.