Edinburgh - Day 2

We decided to visit the recommended attraction of the Royal Yacht Britannia. It was a little out of the city centre, so we caught a tourist bus that told us interesting things on the way. We drove past Robert Louis Stevenson's birthplace and the Royal Botanic Garden with their impressive domed glasshouses. We could also see Fettes College where James Bond was educated.

Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia was the 83rd Royal Yacht since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. She was commissioned in 1954 and retired in 1997, and is now permanently moored as an exhibition ship. The interior is very impressive, and it was nice that Queen Elizabeth II had shown some taste in scaling back on the overblown decorations that normally accompany any royal space. It was also curiously dated. That is, not old enough to look antique, but old enough to look out place. Witness in particular this officer's room, with its old Pentium computer and tape-deck stereo.

View from on deck:

So they couldn't resist some obscenely baroque flourishes, such as this fancy-pants compass holder:

The dining room had interesting displays gifted to the royals from its various destinations, such as a narwhal tusk, and this mere from New Zealand:

The spotless engine room. Visting US General Norman Schwarzkopf famously commented: "Well, I've now seen the museum pieces. Where are the real engines?"

I have to say, as interesting as all this was, it just stoked my anger over the concept of monarchy. Quite apart from the ridiculous ceremonial aspects we learned about (such as on board staff having to wear a different uniform for each function they performed, requiring up to 8 changes of clothing in one day), the fact that this amount of money was spent by people that didn't earn it, but were born to it thanks to an out-dated and undemocratic system, really made me chafe.

Anyway, came back to our room for a wee rest before heading out with the assembled hordes to catch the game that we were there for. Here are some of the 60,000+ assembled hordes:

Anna and Terry, just before we parted ways. (We had managed to pick up an extra ticket for Terry, but alas, not seated with us. I think it was better seat though!)

We had a pretty good vanatge point, as you can see:

We've all "got our black on" for All Black fever!

Sadly our boys weren't allow to wear their traditional black uniforms, as this would apparently be confusingly similar to the Scots' all blue. Except the fact that both teams had little strips on them was actually more confusing! Anyway, we're in the grey...

After celebrating our successful game with a few pints, Anna and I did a ghost tour with my old school chum Richard Cotman. From the tour page:

By day Edinburgh is a bustling metropolis – but at night the old buildings and narrow closes take on a more sinister air…A long history of murder, torture, hangings and plague has left a haunting legacy on the city's Old Town and ghostly apparitions now walk its streets.

Enter the underground vaults whose walls, it is said, have absorbed the memories of those who once lived and worked there. This part of the tour is not for the faint-hearted. Cling tightly to the person beside you: we try to leave with the same number as we had on going in!

Choose the extended tour and end your experience with a complimentary drink in the atmospheric Megget’s Cellar, a candlelit nook located above the Underground Vaults, where the guide will continue to entertain you with eerie tales from Edinburgh’s past.

Richard posing with a serial killer's death mask. Creepy!

Trying Scotland's other culinary accomplishment, the deep-fried pizza. This is also very nice, as the frying makes the pizza crust nice and crispy and somewhat salty-tasting. Mmm!