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Weather: cloudy
No lunch
Coffee at Queen Anne Caf? in Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Dinner: Henderson’s
Stayed at Ard-Na-Said B&B, Edinburgh, Scotland

In the morning we left St. Andrews to Edinburgh with our son by bus. Even though I was planning to enjoy the scenery from the bus window, I slept most of the way because of the after effect of the anti-anxiety pill.

First we went to the B&B place, and then went to Travel Information to buy the airline ticket to London for 26th.

Whenever we travel, we organize the itinerary by ourselves pretty well, but this was one of the ill-prepared trips. I checked out a few travel books from the library in January and decided on a few places to visit, but did not purchase the train ticket between Edinburgh and London beforehand. From my own experience in Japan where the train system is so well developed, I assumed that there was only one ticket structure for trains, and that trains were cheaper than airfare. However, it turned out that the train ticket was much more expensive than airfare, and the ticket price was demand base and variable. So, the cheapest train ticket to London I can purchase today was a mere 98pounds (almost $200.00!) We used a computer at the information center and purchased the airplane ticket to Luton Airport in London by Easy Jet for 60 pounds each. We did not know where the heck Luton was, but decided not to worry.

We met an acquaintance who is living in Edinburgh, with whom I had met at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston years ago, at Queen Anne Caf? in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery for coffee after that.

Even though I was not planning to spend time at the Portrait Gallery, I skimmed the place quickly. No matter which one it may be, art museums smell and feel the same and that is soothing. For me it was a familiar and comfortable moment.

After eating dinner at Henderson’s where a classical guitarist was provided live music, we walked around the Royal mile a little bit, which is a road leading to Edinburgh castle.

I love the taxis here. They are so clean, and have a peculiar old fashion look with a high ceiling. The passenger chairs are placed opposite to each other so that the customers face each other; a permanent chair facing the driver, and the chair facing the back of the car is a folding chair (if you do not need to use it, you can put your suitcases in the space). Also, you can ride in wheel chair there!