A Day in Edinburgh

If you don't want a plaid kilt, how about plaid pants instead?

Mom and Dad on the train bound for Edinburgh

the streets of Edinburgh

In front of Edinburgh Castle

a view from the top of the castle

Cobblestone streets. The reason why we wear practical shoes and not fashionable shoes when we travel overseas.

Edinburgh Castle

St. Margaret's Chapel inside the castle. It's the oldest building in Edinburgh

Inside the chapel

stained glass inside the chapel

the pet cemetery for the soldier's dogs

awwww

my favorite room inside the castle. the armor and weapons are on display in here.

walking the Royal Mile

Danny's traditional Scottish meal...sausage and mash

St. Giles's Cathedral

mom thought it was funny that this statue had shoes just like me. Well the same shape anyway. Ignore the curly on my shoes....practical not fashionable.

my statue friend

the back of the Cathedral

wedding attire?

cute statue...love the shoes

Holyroodhouse

inner courtyard of Holyroodhouse

Holyrood Abbey

 Scott Monument

Sir Walter Scott

catching the train back to Glasgow

Today we took the train to Edinburgh, the Capitol of Scotland. The weather was rainy when we left, but only a light rain which with raincoats and umbrellas wasn't too bad. Trains on Sunday leave every 30 minutes so it wasn't necessary to purchase tickets ahead of time. We missed the 8:30 train and had a cup of coffee while we waited for the 9:00 train. I think I have hooked mom on lattes since she had one at the Giraffe restaurant in the Heathrow airport! We enjoyed watching the scenery roll by and arrived in Edinburgh 50 minutes later. We walked UPHILL to the Edinburgh Castle. There was a headset that we could wear that let us walk around and tour individually. St. Margaret's chapel is located within the Castle and is the oldest building in Edinburgh. We thought the most unique thing in the castle was the dog cemetery for the soldier's dogs. It was interesting that there were so many different eras embodied in the castle. The Scottish Crown jewels (the Honors) are kept there but we couldn't take pictures of them. They had been hidden from 1707 to1818 when they were found by Sir Walter Scott. The Honors were a crown, scepter, and a sword and there was a big stone called the Stone of Destiny that most of the Scottish kings were crowned while sitting upon it. We were hungry when we left the castle and ate lunch at Deacon Brodies Tavern. We had a delicious lunch. Danny was the only one who ate a traditional Scottish meal of Sausage and Mash (sausage and mashed potatoes with a caramelized onion gravy). It was really good. After lunch we began our walk downhill along the Royal Mile. We stopped along the way at St. Giles' Cathedral which was absolutely gorgeous! It is the High Kirk of Edinburgh and appears to be a very active church. The first building was built on the sight in the early 12th century but was burned in a fire and lost everything but the central pillars. The second church was built in 1385 and other parts added to it through the years. It was restored to its present state in the 19th century. We left the cathedral and walked for what seemed way longer than just a mile to Holyroodhouse, the official home of UK monarchs and once the home of Mary Queen of Scots. The palace dates back to 1501, but it has changed many times with additions and improvements since then. It is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth in the summer whose husband holds the title of Duke of Edinburgh. We did not see the ghost of Agnes Sampson who has reportedly haunted the house since 1592 when she was tortured and put to death for witchcraft. After touring the house, gardens, and Holyrood Abbey, we rested our weary bodies with some coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in the cafe outside the palace. On our way back to the train station we detoured slightly to look at the Scott Monument, built to honor Sir Walter Scott, Scotland's most beloved poet and novelist. Danny volunteered to climb the 287 stairs to the top to take a picture of the city, but I told him he could have a pass. We took the train back to Glasgow for a late dinner at Viva Ristorante, an Italian restaurant near the hotel. It was really good and we are now ready to pack up for an early morning flight to Ireland. Until tomorrow...