Hello, Dolly!

We arrived in Edinburgh having flown from Birmingham Airport. Our train tickets from Oxford to Birmingham International on Virgin Rail were twice as expensive as our tickets to Edinburgh on BMI Baby. Not living close to London we have not had occasion to use RyanAir, but the phenomenon of cheap air travel in this country is amazing. Our tickets cost £10.99. Tickets at a slightly earlier time cost £7.99, but I thought it would be better to sleep in and not rush.



We had just enough time for a walk around the National Museum of Scotland before it closed. They are "two iconic buildings one great museum". On one side is the complete history of the country in seven stories- including the formation of the earth and the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame. On the other is a Victorian light-filled nave of science and industry. On this side we found an exhibit of Art and Industry that spoke directly to my heart. It was a small exhibit, one large room, filled with objects that typify the height of design and industry of their age.

It is unclear whether or not this is the real Dolly of cloned fame. I believe it is. Jason disagrees. Either way...she is on a strange rotating plinth complete with a few pebbles of sheep poop (not pictured).

After the museum, but before the sun set and subzero temperatures set in, we had our usual walkabout. We split up from Bunny and George for a little while, walked up the many stairs to the castle and met for dinner, in its shadow, at The Lot. The food was comforting and the wine was better. I'm disappointed we didn't get to hear any music tat night. It is also a great venue, or so I've read, for jazz and traditional Scottish music.