Now I ask, who among you have ever added the city of Edinburgh to your list of places you dream, aspire and long to visit? How often have you read about the compelling merits of visiting this city? We merely added Edinburgh to our list of destinations because we planned to return home from London and stopping in Edingurgh gave us a chance to get a taste of Scotland. Like some other European cities we visited this trip, such as Strasbourg, Dublin and even Stuttgart, Edinburgh is certainly not among most Americans' top ten. It is almost as if these cities are kept a secret from us. But what a surprise! Edinburgh is an unbelievably beautiful, historic, and immaculately clean city nestled in lovely green foothills of Scotland. And you don't have to search for the beauty. As you emerge from Waverley Station in the center of the city, the first thing that captures your eye is The Scott Memorial, a gothic, tall, dark, spired monument built to honor Sir Walter Scott. Google it! You won't believe it. Then overlooking the monument is Edinburgh Castle -- and we haven't even had a chance to tour it yet!! That's on the agenda for later.

And get this, as soon as we arrived at our apartment late afternoon, we set out to explore the neighborhood and pick up the usual staples. By the time we were done wandering, it was time for dinner. We were looking for Scottish food -- which we are hearing is haggis with neeps and tatties??? --but as it was getting a bit late when we happened upon a French, yes French, restaurant and settled. Good thing we did! We enjoyed one of the best French dinners we've ever had including those in all our previous visits to France—all three visits. The sauces were savoureux! Sante' to the chef at Chez Pierre Victoire of Edinburgh! (Ok, I know . . . just please indulge me a moment!)