We went up to Edinburgh for a short city break based around the six nations Scotland vs Italy match.
Flying up on Saturday morning we had no time to do anything but dump our bags at the hotel and head straight for Murrayfield for pint of Guinness.
The atmosphere at rugby matches is always welcoming and the crowd friendly. Many of them take the opportunity to dress up in fancy dress - we've seen all sorts: Hawaiian grass skirts, nuns, school girls, Ali G, vikings and Smurfs...
Rugby supporters dressed as Smurfs
What I liked was that both squads got an honour guard of a pipe band to escort their team buses round the stadium.
Bagpipes welcome Italian squad
We needed lunch so wandered round the various fast food stalls seeing what was on offer. I just had to go for this particularly Scottish healthy and nutritious offering.
Deep fried haggis and chips
The evening meal, I am glad to say, was much more sophisticated - Cucina at the Hotel Missoni. As you might guess from the name an Italian restaurant and high quality it was too. The sommelier was particularly accommodating. Our red wine had the faintest hint of cork taint at that borderline level where it is hard to decide whether it is returnable. After a discussion the sommelier tasted and opened a new bottle. Marginally better and the other side of the borderline.
Edinburgh castle
Sunday we did the castle - took the free half hour tour to get a basic orientation then spent another hour and a half wandering round.
To recover from a hard morning's touristing we had lunch at Monteith's in The High Street. The Top Table deal was a free glass of wine which they very kindly swapped for a glass of prosecco (as we were going to order more wine anyway). Excellent food, service and value, I would happily go back there again.
Sparkling aperitif
Then home for a quiet evening.
How wonderful! I'm loving those Smurfs! ha
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