Friday morning they ushered us onto the coach and we took off for Scotland. It is about a five hour drive, closer to four and a half if it is non-stop. We stopped at the Scotland / England boarder and took a large group photo outside in the cold air. If England is cold, Scotland is frigid, and we stayed in the lowlands.
Looking out over Scotland
A little history on the Border.
We arrived in Edinburgh at about 3 pm, but by then the Scot Monument was already closed so we explored John Knox’s house (he was the leader of Scotland’s Protestant Reformation) and the Royal Mile, dinning in the famous World’s End pub. After that, we had plenty of time before a free ghost walk and so wandered all the way up to Edinburgh Castle, which was closed for the day.
I'm kneeling and leaning back against a bench to bring you this picture.
One of my many shots of the royal mile.
We had some time before dinner as well.
Famous pub, I tried the vegitarian Wee Taste of Scotland.
Castle at night
One side of the city
The other side
Edinburgh’s is slightly famous, but I would use infamous more than famous when describing it. Torture was very big in Scotland, and Edinburgh was the capital of Scotland. (Would be still, if Scotland was a country, but it is actually defined as a land. One could compare Scotland to one of the States in the U.S., like Texas, since it has the status of a former country). Edinburgh used to have the tallest building in Europe, 14 stories high, and those were apartment buildings. Edinburgh was also the filthiest, as it had no sewer system and people dumped their chamber pots out their windows.
Another interesting feature of Edinburgh is the Closes that are around. These are alleyways not large enough for modern vehicles where people would sell their goods, keep their livestock, and other such things. Each close goes to a different location, and if I had more time I might have explored some. Another interesting fact about Edinburgh is that because the city was walled and facing overpopulation (even with all the outbreaks of the Black Plague) people began building under the city, but this has only recently been discovered.
This is a nicer looking Close
Enough about Edinburgh’s darker aspects.
After the Ghost Tour, we went to warm up in a quiet Pub called The Tass, where a live band was playing traditional music. A pot of tea, a glass of Spanish wine, and two hours later we returned to the hotel for some sleep.
One pot of tea gives about three cupfulls, and while you have to pay to have your pot refilled (I think), you don't have to wait for your serve to enquire if you need more tea.
On Saturday morning my travel companion and I set out with another group up to Edinburgh Castle to explore. Sadly, we saw very little of the actual castle, and it was mostly converted into museums and memorials. I did see the chamber where Mary, Queen of Scots, (Not Mary Tutor, known as Bloody Mary) gave birth to her son James VI of Scotland and James I of England, Elizabeth’s chosen heir.
Two of my friends in front of Edinburgh Castle.
Looking out over the city and the North Sea (I didn't go searching for Nessy).
Scottish War Memorial
The Great Hall
Where they kept the prisoners
POWs were also brought here, to an old store room.
Down and around the Castle we went to the Edinburgh market where we tried Rabbit and Apple Pie (tasted like Chicken, didn’t taste the apple) and Border Tablet (it has the same ingredients as fudge but is cooked differently).
Next we traveled along George IV Bridge where Rowling wrote Harry Potter in The Elephant House. At the end of the Bridge is a monument to a dog called Greyfriar’s Bobby. This dog sat beside his master’s grave day in and day out, surviving on the food the locals gave him, unwilling to leave his master’s side. He’s held as a local hero, and his grave is almost right around the corner.
You might not see it, but the street sign says George IV Bridge
Picture of the picture in the window
Greyfriar's Bobby Statue
Actually, this graveyard has another claim to fame as well. I’ve learned through my various ways that Rowling would wander the graveyard, and evidence of this can be found by looking at the headstones. There is a Tom Riddle in the graveyard, though his name is spelt differently, and also a McGonagall and a Hugo. I only managed to find one of these graves in the short 45 minutes I had to look, but my friends found Tom Riddle for me.
Down at the bottom you can find McGonagall, a poet.
Next, we climbed Arthur’s seat, which was made 35 million years ago. It is under 1000 feet high, and at the center of the city, providing a wonderful view. I made it all the way to the top, and came back down with extremely dirty jeans and completely mud-caked shoes.
I'm going to climb that, that up there
And take the sceanic route too.
The mud gets worse
I've made it to the top and found a nice seat for me to take a breather in.
Partually obstructed view, but you get the point.
Okay, maybe not the very top since I didn't go over to the stone pillar.
We decided dinner, shopping, and calling it quits because Edinburgh is one tough city to walk around in (you are always on a hill).
Sunday it was move, move, move as we went back on the coach and set off for Hadrian’s Wall. Hadrian’s Wall was the original border between Scotland and England (although neither country had those names) and it was mostly in place to control traffic between the Roman Empire and the Celtic world. Hadrian’s Wall barely stands today, but we went to one of the most well preserved forts, Chester Fort.
Part of the fort
The area is roped off because of the water
On the remains of Hadrian's Wall, making myself a part of the 5th century.
After Chester, we went to Durham to view the Cathedral (no pictures allowed inside) and eat lunch. I recommend Varsity, even though it is a college-affiliated pub, because you get a lot of food for less (my pot of tea was only 99p (pence) as compared with the normal £1.25 ish. Sadly, The Shakespeare did not serve any food.
Back on the bus and we returned home to Harlaxton in time for dinner and another week of classes.
JClark.
