From One Capital to Another

With'hitting the ground running', there was no opportunity to think about recovering from jetlag. Once Sue, and her baggage, had arrived from Central London, where she had spent the previous three days with her middle son, Ken, and family, we checked into the hotel at Heathrow, then set off, via the underground, for Holy Trinity Church, Brompton (HTB) the church where the Alpha Course began, subsequently spreading around the world. We had hoped to meet up with Carmelita, granddaughter of Minna and Eli Rowney, friends of long-standing in Nanaimo, BC, but despite leaving a couple of phone messages, we weren't able to connect... Leaving HTB, we strolled along Brompton Road towards Harrods, and ended up enjoying a much-appreciated meal at a table on the sidewalk, enjoying the surprisingly balmy air and the many lights illuminating Harrods.
In spite of a late night, we were up bright (?) and early the next morning for our flight to Edinburgh. Though too early to check in to the hotel, we were eager to start exploring the cobbled streets and stairways, peeking down intriguing 'wynds' and alley-ways, leading to courtyards, some shady, some sunny. The High Street, from the Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House - dubbed the Royal Mile - is always a-buzz with activity, but never more so than when the Edinburgh Festival is in full swing! We were caught up in the good-natured crowds of festival-goers, enjoying the atmosphere and soaking up the sunshine, as we made our way slowly by a variety of buskers...
Later in the afternoon, in deference to our aching feet, we chose to venture farther afield, but on the top deck of a couple of tour buses, where we were regaled with tales of bygone days, and the colourful characters who walked the streets of Edinburgh then.
After all the energy expended, we were more than ready to sit down, again outside, and dine on.... haggis,tatties and neeps!!