A relaxing
start with delicious breakfast at our accommodation – Roni had some porridge
while Bray settled for the continental. Sun shining, very little wind and
simply a beautiful Edinburgh day!
We had a
complimentary map from the hostel so followed it (and our noses) toward town. So many statues of famous Scots along
the way – James Young Simpson, Frederick Duke of York & Albany, Adam Black
and many others. Heading through the park we made our way up Castle Hill past
St Margaret’s Well and through piles of leaves, using the off-road version of
the track of course! Looking up at the castle on the way up it loomed larger
and larger – very cool.
The cost put
us off actually going inside the castle so we made the most of view, took many
pics and looked over at the castle before walking around all the war monuments
in the plaza then heading into the kilt factory. Another chance to see how some
more quintessentially Scottish things are produced. Great fun to see all the
different kilt patterns and a whole heap of Hay goodness!! (Roni’s Mum’s family
name) All the weaving machines clacking away and plenty of interesting
historical stuff too, it was pretty warm in there though and we got a little
light headed and had to get back into the fresh air. Back down through the park
we went to the Scottish National Gallery – free! We walked through all
exhibition areas - Flemish, Scottish, Italian and more! Saw a couple of
paintings in particular with great light.
Once outside
we appreciated their squirrels frolicking around as the Christmas market was
being set up then made our way to Scott Monument which was surrounded incongruously
by carnival rides – helter skelter, ferris wheel and merry go round! After
numerous photos trying to fit the whole thing in with eventual success we moved
up the road. Wellington statue was our next stop outside the General Register
House where a man was busking with his cute and very friendly black lab who
thanked Roni with profuse licks for her contribution. We continued up the road
and across The Regent’s Bridge to Old Carlton Cemetary before looking at St
Andrews House on Waterloo Place.
We went up
Calton Hill in time to see the 1 o’clock ball drop on Nelson’s Monument (though
Roni missed with the video – oops!), observed the Observatory, Playfair
Monument and Dugald Stewart Monument before clambering up the National Monument
and taking many pics. The view was awesome with blue sky, minimal to no clouds
and the sun still shining! We then walked down near Parliament Cairn toward
Holyrood Houseand Arthur’s Seat before Bray rode the Portugese Cannon on our
way down the hill. Getting hungry by now so we headed up the Royal Mile toward
St Giles and Parliament Square(more photos) where we grabbed some kai before
walking toward the National Museum of Scotland (also free...how we love
Edinburgh!).
That place
is AWESOME. Architecture is interesting, great interactive areas and some
fascinating and well planned exhibits. A couple of favourites were Sir Jackie
Stewart’s F1 car, stories of Scotland past/present/future, more Stevenson
lighthouses for Roni, performance masks and costumes from all over the world, the
Beetling engine and Newcomen Atmospheric engine (both still functioning), animal
displays (including a kakapo) and the Scottish sports hall of fame.
We left when
we had to (it was closing) and wandered back through town taking pictures of
all the lights – the castle looked AWESOME. Hunger eventually drove us into the
Haymarket pub to share a pub dinner and a few drinks before heading home to
rest after a busy day!
Edinburgh
rocks.
