For success, attitude is equally as important as ability. ~ Sir Walter Scott

Edinburgh is only two and a half hours away by train, so my daughter and I journeyed on down to Waverley Station for an overnight reconnaissance mission...

The back door to our hotel was literally across the street from the train station which really confused the taxi driver when we hopped in and told him our destination...  

He turned around in his seat and pointed in the direction of the hotel...


and waited...


but it was raining... 


so I did not give in to his insinuation or try too hard to see where he was pointing...  


we made it worth his while to drive away from the taxi cue, where he had most likely been waiting for awhile in hopes of a longer, more lucrative fare...


and drop us off at the front door of the hotel... 


where we were pampered from the moment we dragged our damp bodies into The Scotsman Hotel...

which since 2001 has been located in the original offices of the Scotsman Newspaper. 


Not only were we upgraded to an Editor's Room...


but they also managed to get us a dinner reservation at The Kitchin which was beyond our wildest hopes...


my foodie daughter was beside herself...


and we had not even seen our room yet!

Lookee here...

there was just enough time before dinner to fill that up with warm bubbles...

Here is the view from our room of the famous clock of the Balmoral Hotel...

rumor has it...


they set the clock two minutes fast so no one misses their train...


Clever...


Click Discoveries to join us at The Kitchin for Tom Kitchin's infamous... 


Land and Sea Surprise Tasting Menu...


Meanwhile...


the next morning our cheeks were kissed with sunshine...

as we strolled along Princes Street to window shop, well, okay... 


shop, in some of my daughters faves from her time spent in London for study abroad...

we couldn't help being drawn to this incredible Victorian Gothic monument...

Scott Monument, a 200 feet 6 inch (61.11m) tower, dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, novelist, playwright and poet who wrote the famous novel Waverley...  


as in, Waverley Station...among other novels...


One can climb the 287 steps up a narrow spiral staircase to reach each of the viewing decks. For those who reach the highest viewing deck, there is a certificate to commemorate your monumental event... hee,hee,hee...


After a delightful lunch and visit with our informative waiter at the Balmoral Hotel restaurant, Hadrian's, we headed back to The Scotsman to pick up our bags...


and were directed to the fastest way to the station, the back door, which opened up to a view of Waverley station...


I could throw a pence from the back door to the station...


you do understand the sun made it much easier to see...


we giggled the entire walk to the station and silently thanked our taxi driver again for his sacrifice...

Aberdeen express leaving Waverley station in 1957...


So far, I have enjoyed everywhere the train has taken me... 


and our quick trip to Edinburgh was just a taste... 


for future trips on the Aberdeen Express.