We did not have to change our plans thanks to the rental car. Alison's mini was in an Aberdeen repair and we were heading to Edinburgh for tours of the Royal Yacht Britannia and Holyrood House.
The Britannia is one of the top tourist attractions in the United Kingdom. This could be do to a corgi named Clarence ... or the Royal Family.
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| A Rainbow over Loch Tay |
After breakfast in our Kenmore Club cottage (the kitchen was larger than mine), we were on the road to Edinburgh. The only traffic we hit was as we approached the city, but it was a small traffic jam, and we got to the Ocean Terminal in Leith with time to spare.
Much to our delight, the mall included a Starbucks - a loo and COFFEE!! Americans can use their Starbucks app in the UK, but no stars for purchases.
The car spent the day in the Terminal parking garage.
The Royal Yacht Britannia tour is a self-guided tour that takes several hours especially if you stop for lunch and want to make sure you find Clarence the Corgi. That would be me!
Will you be able to find Clarence?
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| Ready to board |
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| Clarence? I found Clarence!!!! |
I did not take photos of the funnels as they are under repair. I wanted to photograph the entire ship, but the construction barred this.
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| I want this ship to leave for Scrabster in the next 20 minutes! |
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| Overlooking the Water of Leith |
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| Clarence? is that you? |
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| Clarence is interested in where I am |
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| Looking for my first class cabin |
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| So says the late Queen |
We took a break from our tour (the ship has several levels) to have lunch in Royal Deck Tearoom.
The chicken sandwich was delicious.
The tour takes you through the family's quarters, the dining areas, the crew's area, the medical facility, and even the laundry room. There is also time to interact by putting on clothes and pulling a pint. Or sit in the captain's chair.
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| Difficult to photograph photos behind glass |
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| the menu was for Queen Elizabeth's State Visit to Sweden. On June 10, 1956, she hosted a dinner for King Gustav VI Adolf - 68 years to the day when I visited the Britannia |
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| Clarence is everywhere I go!!!! |
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| the Crew's bar |
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| Clarence has made it to the crew's quarters |
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| Post office -- no Clarence |
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| Oh dear, Clarence is in the ship's hospital |
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| During one game, the wombat suffered an injury that required surgery |
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| In the laundry room |
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| the final part of the tour was outside |
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| Clarence says goodbye, thanks for coming. |
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| Clarence was in the back window of the Rolls |
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| Michael and Alison Rhodes |
After our tour, we headed to the shop -- a new one is being built -- where I bought a few postcards and got a prize, too .. this is my favorite souvenir.
Next stop: Holyrood Palace. I ordered an Uber to take us to the Holyrood Palace, which will be featured in an upcoming post.
A friend of mine was there on Tuesday and your pictures are SOOOOOO much better than the ones she sent to me. Looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteDo you know if the framed photographs hanging on the walls like the ones of Princess Anne and Princess Alexandra(?) in the smaller dining room with the green curtains, have been added since the yacht was docked? I'm just wondering if once upon a time there were paintings.
ReplyDeletethe photos are original -- everything is there as it was when the yacht was decommissioned
ReplyDeleteI visited Brittania twenty years ago, the entrance was very expensive. I noticed such a lot of additions since then I will never forget the picture of the Queen crying when it was its end . I was impressed by the great table where such a lot of Royals and Head of States were invited for diner. I am always writing with the pale blue pencil I bought in the shop.
ReplyDeleteThank you for our many pictures. I may not travel anymore so I enjoy !