We got up early and made the short walk back to Greyfriar's Kirkyard to explore some more at dawn. After a thorough tour through the tombs, we wandered down to the Grassmarket for coffee. Caffeine in hand, we started the longer trek over through the New Town and down to Dean Village, a quaint little medieval neighbourhood nestled on a river bend. I'm even 99% sure that Bruck Dickinson cycled past us at one point in this tranquil setting.
Making the long walk back to the Royal Mile, we met our friends for a nice meal at Deacon's House Cafe, where we enjoyed a full Scottish breakfast including haggis and black pudding. Reinvigorated, we all walked all the way back up to the castle and then shopped our way back down.
Our friends broke off to shop some more at a leisurely pace, while we carried on all the way to the foot of the Royal Mile and the Holyrood Palace. From there, we cut over and made the very steep climb UP to the top of Calton Hill, to enjoy a commanding panorama out to sea and back over the gothic city. Under the still-blazing Scottish sun, thankfully there was a gift shop with water for sale at the top. We sipped some vital liquid and savored the view.
Once rehydrated, we made a careful descent on rubbery legs back down the hill, angling over to meet our friends for lunch and a pint at the cool old Tolbooth Tavern. From there, we pubbed our way back up the Royal Mile, stopping along the way at the Royal Mile Tavern and the Albanach Pub. We were mainly killing time to do the official tour of Mary King's Close and explore the old city under the city, where the plague ran rampant. Very cool guided tour of some old rooms and dwellings, with the current city literally built on top of it.
We took a break and returned to the apartment, to get everything organized, get the place cleaned up and make sure everything was packed up for the upcoming travel day. Our friends had a very early (4am) departure the next morning, with us not too far behind them, so an early night was in store.
Once we were all happy with our travel prep, the four of us made a leisurely stroll down to Grassmarket for a final dinner and drinks together, at the aptly chosen The Last Drop pub. We reminisced and re-lived our last two weeks together, before enjoying Edinburgh by night one last time while meandering back to Niddry and heading to bed.
Great trip with great friends! They would be flying home in the morning, while we were heading onward for a few more days of solo adventure....
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