Edinburgh, Scotland
We arrived in Edinburgh this morning and traveled by coach to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia docked in nearby Leith. A top-tourist attraction in the UK, the yacht is docked adjacent to the Ocean Centre, a modern, luxury, waterfront shopping and entertainment venue. The yacht served the Queen and Royal Family from 1954 until its retirement in 1997. During her 43-year career, she traveled more than one million nautical miles around the globe. In July 1959, Britannia with the Queen and Prince Philip aboard, sailed the Great Lakes all the way to Chicago. This is the Command Room of 412-foot Britannia. The crew consisted of 20 officers and 220 hand-picked "Yatties". The commanding officer was usually a Flag Officer or a Rear Admiral. The commanding officer's quarters. It served as his living quarters, office and dining room. The officers Dining Room. The evening meal was always formal attire complete with a 5-course meal and...