Edinburgh, Scotland 07 11 99 copyright 1999 bryce and palazola architects and associates, inc.800 357 7567

The Caledonian Hotel

Tel: 0131 459 9988 fax: 0131 225 6632 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH1 2AB Scotland A member of the Leading Hotels of the World

(I cannot understand how this hotel was accepted into the Leading hotels of the world- it;s very nice but far below par with all of the other Leading hotels of the world that we have stayed at. I selected the Caledonian for the very fact that it was a part of this group)

The Hall outside of our room (446)

the stairs to the fifth floor. I assume that there is an elevator too

A piano in the hallway?

The hallway in one direction from our room

the hallway in he other direction from our room

the main stairway at the 4th floor

the main stairway at the 4th floor

stained glass at the main stairway at the 4th floor

the main stairway at the 4th floor

the main stairway at the 4th floor

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Looking in the opposite direction, I noticed this really well done building, that really was more interesting to me than the castle.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Nice archway on the Royal Mile

Nice archway on the Royal Mile

view from our table at dinner at The Wee Windaes. Scottish Restaurant & Wee Dram Bar 144 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1qs Tel: 0131 225 5144 Fax: 9131 226 1495. Our brochure said that we should eat here to experience true Scottish cooking: Unique dining experience. Overlooking the world historic Royal Mile. A family run restaurant offering superbly cooked Scottish produce including game, venison, salmon, Aberdeen Angus steaks and of course our special way of serving haggis a must!! So we tried it. At first we were seated in a corner of the restaurant, against a wall, when clearly there were plenty of better seats. I asked for a better table and we were moved to a window table, at the rear of the restaurant. Because we could see the royal mile as well as down a perpendicular street that was lined with really beautiful building, I felt very happy with our new location. The restaurant has three seating groups on the second floor. A seating area around the bar, which is where we were first seated, a main dining room which is where I asked to be seated, explaining that we felt too cramped at our first table. I explained that a window table was not necessary, just a table in the main dining area with some room around it. Which by the way, I could see that there were plenty of tables that fit my description. The hostess, in typical Scottish fashion said "emmmmm..." and asked us for a minute. Janet thought that I was being pushy by asking to be moved, and thought that the hostess was put out by my request. She returned and gathered us up and took us past the main dining area to a small area with only two tables which is open to the large dining area, but painted with yellow walls, and sat us at a four seater, at the window. She explained so politely, that she only hesitated because she was deciding if she could get away with putting us at that table. It seems her hesitation was incorrectly read by Janet. The Scottish people are really nice and quite accommodating. They seem to go out of their way to try and please us. If she were in fact upset with us, as Janet had first thought, she would have been the first person that we have encountered that showed any negative emotions towards us, not counting the occasional driver who gets stuck behind us. The food was ok, the vegetables inedible and the service was friendly and good. I had the duck, a bit too tough and Janet had the Salmon, which se said was good. We asked for the desert trolley, but when it arrived, neither of us saw anything appealing enough to ask for, so the trolley returned as it arrived, short no deserts. Ten percent was added on to our bill for service, which I learned was a fee for using AMEX credit card, not a tip for the waitress, so I added 20 percent, and we were off. We were about 1/4 mile into the length of the Royal Mile, which is a mile long street that terminates at the Palace. We took a cab to the end then asked the driver to turn around and drive us back to the hotel. I know most people try to walk it, but I'm glad we cheated, it was getting cold out and too dark for good pictures. I didn't see much that I would have taken pictures of anyway, but on foot, details of interest are more obvious.

welcome screen at the hotel