Our Europe Trip Report, Day 8!
Posted by
Mop🧹 (aka rburriel)
Sep 19 '24, 09:41
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We're in Edinburgh. The schedule today is mercifully light. After breakfast at the hotel, we have tickets to the castle. He hoof it up the Royal Mile and to the castle. It's barely 10 AM and already there's signs out indicating that they're sold out for the day. But I bought tickets long ago, online. We get it with a quick scan of some bar codes and we continue climbing uphill. The kids seem to get a kick out of the medieval castle, the ramparts, the cannons, etc. The overlook of the city is gorgeous and gives you some concept of just how much up-hill walking you've done to get there. You wonder how anyone ever conquered this castle, and yet it appears to have happened repeatedly.
There's a military museum here, and we spend a good chunk of time going through the exhibits. I'm beginning to forget about how humid it was during this period, but I vaguely remember being soaked most of the time. After maybe 2 hours in the museum, we exit to explore the rest of the castle. There's surprisingly little else to see. We make our way higher and higher and eventually you make it to a line to see the Scottish Crown Jewels. It's about 10 minutes in line and 2 minutes through a room with a crown and a scepter (no pictures, please). Then we're done. Well, almost. There's one more room where they have an animation showing the life - and conquests - of the castle. It's very well done. Then we head back to the hotel. After a stop at Tesco, we're in our rooms by 1 PM. Now the real fun begins!
I now introduce a new section to my trip report, A Tour of the Laundromats of Europe.
I collect all the dirty laundry from my kids and stuff it into my big suitcase. One of my kids is definitely producing much more dirty laundry than the others. I'll have to manage. The suitcase barely closes.
I've looked it up and there's a laundromat just down the street, less than a 15 minute walk away. And I'm smart enough to hit an ATM on the way. Yup, that's me, walking down a street in Edinburgh, trailing a large suitcase full of dirty laundry behind me.
When I walk it, I get the same treatment as every other tourist who walks in: A friendly greeting and a quick explanation. It's cash-only. 20 quid gets me enough money for the giant washer (the attendant suggests I can stuff everything into one washer, despite my objections) with enough money left over for the detergent, with change enough to run the dryer. It's a convenient system they've got here. You give them £20 and they'll give you a ziplock with 20 coins.
I kick up my feet and wait. As other tourists arrive, I pass on the same information that was relayed to me when I arrived. While I'm there, I have time to read the signs. I see that they'll do the laundry for you for just a slightly higher fee. I'd guess to say that they're tired of dealing with people doing their wash (or dry) and then leaving for hours. So pay them another extra £5 and they'll put the stuff in the machines for you, and then take it out (no folding, though). I see this is a very brisk business for them.
Here's when I have to comment about the smoking. A *lot* of people smoke in Europe. Everywhere we go. And - with respect - I'm startled to see that smokers are across every class. Sitting here, I'll see just about everyone step outside, whip out their e-cig, and take a few puffs. What bugs me most is that they do it right outside the door, so you have no choice but to walk through their smoke.
Regardless, I'm here for about 2 hours, stuff everything back into my suitcase, and head back to the hotel, feeling pretty smug. I've got this. Tomorrow, it's London!
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