We start the morning off with breakfast at the Ginger Coo on Central Rose Street. Then took a taxi to the end of The Royal Mile to visit the Holyrood Palace. The guys headed back to the hotel to rest and we girls dressed up for High Tea at The Balmoral Hotel. By late afternoon we walked up the hill to the Edinburgh Castle and the Whiskey Experience Restaurant to start our Royal Tattoo Performance evening.
Holyrood Palace
High Tea at the Palm Court within The Balmoral Hotel
Watermelon Gazpacho
Ratatouille tarlet
Roast Sweetcorn w/avocado & feta
Chicken Pesto Salad sandwiches
Honey on onion bread sandwiches
Smoked cheddar and tomato relish sandwiches
Egg w/truffle mayo sandwiches
Smoked Salmon w/dill sandwiches
Scones w/clotted cream & jam
Fruit cake w/marzipan layers
Raspberry rose water macaron
Strawberry Choux pastry
Pistachio Financier
Complimentary Tea from The Balmoral
The Edinburgh Royal Tattoo Dinner & Performance
The Tattoo is considered one of the finest examples of military precision performances in the world. Training is extensive, once selected they train 6 days a week, 10 hours a day for 11 months of the year. The Edinburgh Royal Tattoo Performance is done in a constructed stadium outside of Edinburgh Castle and performances only occur in the month of August. Occasionally the Royal Air Force will do fly overs and on special occasion there are fireworks to end a show.
Dinner w/a Scotch Flight
Smoked Salmon on an Oatie Biscuit
Cheddar and Tomato Tart
Haggis Bon Bon & Red Onion Marmalade
Cock-a-leekie Terrine w/Chutney
Lamb w/Mint Sauce
Steelhead Trout w/Seaweed Pesto
Wild Mushroom Pastry
Strawberry Mousse Shortbread
Heather Honey Syllabub
Smoked Cheese on Oatcake
The idea was to give each of us 3 different scotches and to show us how they pair well with certain foods, problem was neither Dad or I could stand the taste of any of them. Chris and Sandy each found one they liked.
We had a small private performance during dessert
After dinner we were lead through The Whiskey Experience Bar with over 3,000 bottles of Whiskey.
Guided to our seats for the Tattoo Performance
I did not plan it, but the Royal Airforce and Fireworks both occured during our performance.
I've talked previously about the numerous snafu's that occured so far on this trip (one more to add). The night of the Tattoo I get a local call. Our tour guide for the next day to the Scottish Highlands was calling to cancel...he had COVID.
I could do nothing, as the Tattoo Performance wouldn't end until nearly midnight. Of course Dad understood, we all did. I was so disappointed for him, he specifically wanted to see the Highlands. When we finally returned to our rooms, I started searching Viator Highland Tours and as luck would have it...there was one with 4 available spots for the next morning. My father-in-law always says if you have a choice between smart and lucky always choose lucky! I was so lucky!!!
