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My dad and I left my house at noon. The shuttle took us to O'Hare airport in Chicago. Flight to Heathrow, a reasonably short layover, and a flight to Edinburgh. When we arrived in London, it was midnight our time, which is about the time I normally go to bed, so I'd hoped to get a nap on that flight, but it was not to be... in large part due to a large group of Argentinian teenagers on the flight. But we made it to EDI, picked up our car, and struggled to find our hotel. The GPS would have made it not too difficult, but for the road construction. But we found the hotel, and set off to find parking. And an hour or more later, we took the first parking place we saw.
By the way, I'm not sure if everyone's aware of it, but it's pronounced ED-in-bur-rah.
Our next destination was Edinburgh Castle. My dad had missed touring it the last time he was there, so he really wanted to see it. Fortunately, it's hard to miss. This one was taken only a few blocks from where we parked. Our hotel was just the other side of it.
I really hadn't realized how hilly Edinburgh is, until I started looking at photos, shortly before the trip.
Then we toured the castle. I was a little surprised that there were very few buildings that you could go into.
This is out front of the Scottish War Memorial. The building, at the center of the castle, is quite impressive. It was like a church. Great, dramatic sculptures and other artwork inside. Unfortunately, no photos allowed.
On the summit stands St. Margaret's Chapel, which was built in the 12th century.
This window depicts William Wallace.
And then we went down The Royal Mile.
New, old, and older.
St. Giles Cathedral. It was closed to the public when we were there. Earlier in the day, it had hosted a gathering of almost all the Clan Chiefs in Scotland, to commemorate the Battle of Flodden (more on that later).
This old church is now a cafe.
By the way, I'm not sure if everyone's aware of it, but it's pronounced ED-in-bur-rah.
Our next destination was Edinburgh Castle. My dad had missed touring it the last time he was there, so he really wanted to see it. Fortunately, it's hard to miss. This one was taken only a few blocks from where we parked. Our hotel was just the other side of it.
I really hadn't realized how hilly Edinburgh is, until I started looking at photos, shortly before the trip.
Then we toured the castle. I was a little surprised that there were very few buildings that you could go into.
This is out front of the Scottish War Memorial. The building, at the center of the castle, is quite impressive. It was like a church. Great, dramatic sculptures and other artwork inside. Unfortunately, no photos allowed.
On the summit stands St. Margaret's Chapel, which was built in the 12th century.
This window depicts William Wallace.
And then we went down The Royal Mile.
New, old, and older.
St. Giles Cathedral. It was closed to the public when we were there. Earlier in the day, it had hosted a gathering of almost all the Clan Chiefs in Scotland, to commemorate the Battle of Flodden (more on that later).
This old church is now a cafe.
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no subject
Date: 2013-10-02 03:00 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2013-10-02 03:11 am (UTC)From:You think the "1616" is in gold (due to the lack of tarnishing)? Just curious, although I'd think it would have to be gold-plated.
Really liked the foot, too. Did you rub it?
Any idea of the age of St. Giles Cathedral? It's got some Gothic flourishes, but no buttresses, which would allow more glass. That is a hell of a lot of glass in that building, though (plus my understanding of the evolution of architecture "off the continent" is spotty, at best.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-02 03:43 am (UTC)From:Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2013-10-02 03:52 am (UTC)From:Gold leaf, I'm pretty sure. There was a lot of it around. Glowing.
No, I didn't want to catch any toe fungus or anything. ;-)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Giles%27_Cathedral
The present church dates from the late 14th century...
no subject
Date: 2013-10-02 04:09 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2013-10-02 04:56 am (UTC)From:And just for fun, here's a full-sized crop of that same image. Notice the people by the steeple.
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Date: 2013-10-02 05:08 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2013-10-02 05:20 am (UTC)From:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hume
It looks like someone painted that little toenail. It has red on it.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-02 05:47 am (UTC)From:All I see is the up close of the clock, and yes I see the people on the walkway but not the bird.
It does not matter really. The original image is spectacular!
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Date: 2013-10-02 08:11 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2013-10-02 11:15 am (UTC)From:I like them all but the toes are great!
I loved Edinburgh Castle. The history is just that awesome. Did you visit Holyrood Palace at the other end of the Royal Mile? That's amazing. Especially Mary, Queen of Scots apartments. You can even see the spot where David Rizzio, her private secretary (and thought to be more than her secretary)was murdered in front of her by her husband and his cohorts.
*looks up flights to Edinburgh*
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