5 May ’05, Thursday.
ED’n-burah was a delight !!! Actually, it was a very good stop. ED’n-burah reminded both of us quite a bit of Prague. The Edinburgh Castle, with St Margaret’s Church, sitting high on the hill, overlooking the city, was one of those sites that you would put into “one of our best sites” category. The Edinburgh Castle, which was built on top of a distinct volcano, was a fortified castle that was built over 1,300 years ago. The castle and grounds have been used for a fort, royal residence, military garrison, and a prison among other things. We walked to the top of the hill and entered the grounds just in time to get a free guided tour. It lasted about 30 minutes, but that was enough to give us enough information and then spend the next 2 ½ hours on our own. We saw the Crown Jewels, the “Stone of Scone”, the Royal Palace, and the Great Hall. Scotland’s Crown Jewels are the oldest in England, circa 1540. From the top of the hill, The Edinburgh Castle, you then walk down the Royal Mile. The Royal Mile (all down hill from the castle) is were all the shoppes have been for centuries. It runs for a mile plus 200 yards, and about 6 blocks wide, to the Holyrood Palace. Tomorrow…more Edinburgh
ED’n-burah was a delight !!! Actually, it was a very good stop. ED’n-burah reminded both of us quite a bit of Prague. The Edinburgh Castle, with St Margaret’s Church, sitting high on the hill, overlooking the city, was one of those sites that you would put into “one of our best sites” category. The Edinburgh Castle, which was built on top of a distinct volcano, was a fortified castle that was built over 1,300 years ago. The castle and grounds have been used for a fort, royal residence, military garrison, and a prison among other things. We walked to the top of the hill and entered the grounds just in time to get a free guided tour. It lasted about 30 minutes, but that was enough to give us enough information and then spend the next 2 ½ hours on our own. We saw the Crown Jewels, the “Stone of Scone”, the Royal Palace, and the Great Hall. Scotland’s Crown Jewels are the oldest in England, circa 1540. From the top of the hill, The Edinburgh Castle, you then walk down the Royal Mile. The Royal Mile (all down hill from the castle) is were all the shoppes have been for centuries. It runs for a mile plus 200 yards, and about 6 blocks wide, to the Holyrood Palace. Tomorrow…more Edinburgh