Edinburgh Sightseeing

Edinburgh Castle - from the front area where the tattoo is performed
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Off we went this morning with our local tour guide John Stalker first to Edinburgh Castle. We arrived early for the 9:30 opening, which gave us time to look at the front of the castle and the statues in the courtyard. This is also the place where the famous Edinburgh Tattoo is performed in August, and there were workers still taking down scaffolding.

Our group started our tour, which walked us up the original castle road, under the fierce looking stake bottomed gate and up to the top court. Here our guide told us stories of the castle, how it was ordered destroyed by Cromwell, and the only thing not left in ruins the small St Margarets Chapel. We also mentioned the 21 large black cannons, a gift from Queen Victoria, who didn't think there was enough protection at the palace. The cannons however have never been fired. There was a modern cannon up there as well, which is fired at precisely 1pm every day (cheaper than at 12 noon).

This must be our last Castle and Palace...

Duke of Wellington statue in the forecourt of Edinburgh Castle
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We are given free time for about an hour to walk around the different exhibitions and displays. We opt to go through the Royal Jewels, and read about the history of the crown, sceptre and sword. After this we wander through the Prisons, and where the american prisoners were held after the failed attck on Scotland. We then only have a quick chance to take in the views of the city before heading back to the bus for our 11am departure from the castle.

From here we are driven down and around the Royal Mile, the road which connects the Castle to Holyrood Royal Palace. Parts of the road are closed for road works and the traffic is slow getting around the blocks. We have a chance to peek through the ornate gates to the palace. We are also shown the small cottage that is known as Queen Victoria's Bath House, but no one thinks that is what it was used for as it is too far away from the palace for this purpose.

One of the 6 original entry gates - no one is getting through this...
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We are dropped off in the new town area in Princess  Street and left to our own devices for the rest of the day. We decide to wander down to a photo opportunity that is about a 30min walk away. During our walk past the gardens we saw enormous seagulls which prompted a photo. We also got a great view of the castle and the sheer cliffs that surround it. No wonder the castle was never taken by assault. We  catch a glimpse of the Scott's Monument across the park and think it is a picturesque photo op.

St Margarets church - only remaining originl part of the castle
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We continue on our trek and take in St Mary's Cathederal, at the end of a street of Georgian looking houses. We get to our destination, and see the magnificent Ferres College. It must have been some form of palace or cathederal in earlier times. We turn around and head back to the new town area of the city and stop for a quick sandwich lunch and a much needed coffee.

It was time to walk the Royal Mile, the road between the palace and castle. This street is lined with old 3 storey centuries old buildings, where the ground level house restaurants, cafes and more importantly souvenier shops and cashmere boutiques. It is a fascenating walks past old churches on coblestone footpaths. We walk down one side of the street and return up the other, definitely getting our exercise today. By the time we get back to the hotel at 4pm we are stuffed.

The prisoner dungeons
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The farewell dinner tonight was to be early as some of our fellow travellers are leaving at 3am in the morning. We follow Mile up around the corner to a local restaurant where we enjoy some scottish broth, scottish beef, and scottish dessert. There are photos and hugs all round as we say goodbye to our new friends, making promises to keep in touch. One of the guys says he's going out on a 90min Ghosts and Ghouls walking tour. We decided to go along with him, and I dress up real warm as its going to get really cold.

Queen Victoria's cannons
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We headed off at 8:30pm and made our way back on foot to the middle of the Royal Mile, at the foot of St Giles Church. Here we wait to get our tickets at 9pm for the 9:30 walk. Hermin and Laurie from Canada also came along and Laurie is working herself up about being scared. Our host turns up in a black coat and first walks us to the entry to the city vaults. This is an area underground which was originally used 100 years ago for storage, but the damp drove out the businesses. The empty area was then invaded by the shadier class of society. Down in these dark and damp rooms, people lived and died and went missing never to be seen again.

Modern gun used for the 1pm gun salute
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Our host recounted stories of ghosts seen in the different rooms as we move through the different vaults, purposely scaring us now and then. We return topside and are led down to Cannongate cemetary, about 10mins away. Here more stories are told about the mass graves, the notories buried and some of those people who succumbed to a not so natural fate. There was also the expected stories of graverobbers and those people buried alive. Compared to the similar tour that we went on in Boston, this was not as good. The cemetery is down near the Palace, so when the tour ends, we must once again walk up the top of the Royal Mile to get back to our hotel in the Old Town area.

View of part of Edinburgh from top of castle
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Once back at the hotel, a couple of us decide to warm up with a drink in the bar. Here also is our tour manager Mike's wife Jake, relaxing with one of the other tour people. We join them and talk nonsense - tax systems and cost of living stuff between Canada, Australia and Scotland. By 1am we are all dead tired and call it a night.