Scottish Trip, not so much a hobbit's tale
Or is it?
Visited Edinborough Castle today... WOW... It's made from the volcanic rock of the immense hill it sits on. Seven gates and walls defend it (yes I got visions to the City of Gondor in Lord of the Rings *more* than once). It was fantastic. The main road winds up and around the castle, through the main gates. Off to the left, the original stairs used during the middle ages are there and accessable (why not, they're carved from granite!) Up along the top of the ramp before you reach the actual Inner court, you come across a set of buildings that were barracks, field hospice/hospitals, governor's home and so on. These have been converted into a cafe and holds a museum to the Royal Highlanders regiment and the Royal Scott Dragoon. Fascinating!
Other than those, you can take the ramp further up to the main courtyard. There you've four main buildings around you. One is a war memorial chapel. It's much like our US war memorials in Washington DC and about. It's also just as riveting. They've an entire chamber for a slew of unknown scottish soldiers. Fifteen feet tall bronze plates adorned with relief carvings of scottish soldiers wrap around, two columns meeting in the middle and the inscription reads that they have cleared the way for the rest of us, going onto God's grace. Now no longer knowing evil or pain, they reside in the honor they have earned. Gave me chills standing there. The President of Poland was there dedicating a wreath to the scottish regiments and soldiers too.
Back out in the courtyard (in the COLD wind) .. across from the chapel was the royal apartments. Still used for government functions, it was the meeting hall that was commissioned in the 1600's (I think) by the monarchy. It's all teak wood walls literally lined with scottish swords, spears, daggers, flintlock pistols and armor. In a glass case against one spot near the door is a key with brass plates, some kind of honor bestowed upon whatever ruling monarch of the time period.
Next to that was the original chambers of Mary Queen of Scotts. Boy did she have a spartan place. It had a creepy, almost sad or trapped feeling to it. Couldn't take pictures so I didn't stay long.
Beside that was the original midieval palace for the Scottish kings. This told the history of the scottish monarchy and what they went through with the English. Also... it housed the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. You'd better believe they had that under observation at all times. The Scottish Crown Jewels consist of a gold scepter, crown, sword, velvet and gold scabbard and gilded sword belt. The belt, scabbard, sword and scepter were a gift from the Pope (the one who had a fancy for warfare back then... can't remember which one at the moment). But, the funny thing is, the scottish royalty had the sword reworked once it arrived! I got the impression they had it reworked so it was no longer a ceremonial sword but a functional, usable weapon. Somehow I'm not surprised.
The Stone of Destiny... well... its a giant sandstone block with two iron rings in it. Ok, that's an understatement as it is awe inspiring. Though you can't quite put your finger on why when you see it in person. It's large.. something on the order of no more than four feet long and two to three feet wide. Maybe three feet at most thick. The really interesting part is that you can so easily see the original chisel marks on it. There was a celtic cross on it but I couldn't find it... now what I *swear* I did see was faint etchings of celtic knotwork that caught the light. It was setup so a person could walk all around it and I did. I checked three times and I swear I saw very faint knotwork carvings about four inches tall running along the length. I told no one, figured they'd call me nuts. So I just moved along.
Oh, a fun surprise came at 1pm when at the top of the castle, they have a .105 howitzer that they fire to mark 1pm. They do it daily (unless a major holiday like Christmas or on Sundays), and it came from when the cannon fire was a guide signal to ships in the river.
Aside from the Castle, I got to see St Giles Cathedral. Massive 11th century kirk (scottish for church .. I'm learning!) that has a separate chapel for the Order of the Thistle, an actual scottish kight order. It is magnificent. Wood seats, places for about 12 knights and their leige. Scrollwork, and other details that went right down to a bulldog figure on one chair where you could see the collar on the bulldog and its individual eyes, eyelids and so on. Bear in mind, this figure would fit in the palm of my hand. Now picture the room filled from floor to ceiling with ornate carvings of such detail. Very amazing!
Those two took most of the day, but after that I toured around Old Town, which is the still standing and in use midieval buildings that surround Edinborough castle. Cobblestone streets where cars don't fit, winding roads, tall buildings, maze of alleys and shortcuts with yet more shops in them. Simply stunning. I took a few pictures there but my batteries died between that and St Giles so I missed some good shots. Maybe I'll get some more tomorrow.
Oh and I did walk the "royal mile".. that is the main road down from the castle that winds past Old Town and to Hollyrood House Palace which was the palace of the Scottish Queen. Lots of shops and middle ages feel to the buildings.
Last for the day, I took a tour of a scottish whiskey distillery. I passed on trying any but I loved seeing how it was made, finding out about the various types, I even was shown how to 'nose' a whiskey. Apparently to determine a good whiskey, you don't taste it because your taste buds are easily fooled. You sniff it. I had to try, I was ok at it. I could almost tell some smells apart. But the alcohol was enough that it did tend to wipe out most of the odor. At least it opened up my sinuses though!
That was all for today. Tommorrow may be another few cathedrals, perhaps John Knox's house or Sir Walter Scott's home or even a city tour to get an overview of all of it. Not sure yet. But in any case, that's the morning before the trip back to Glasgow.
I liked Edinborough, but only to visit and even then briefly. I think for a longer stay I prefer the Highlands. The culture and atmosphere is more what I think I prefer.
Visited Edinborough Castle today... WOW... It's made from the volcanic rock of the immense hill it sits on. Seven gates and walls defend it (yes I got visions to the City of Gondor in Lord of the Rings *more* than once). It was fantastic. The main road winds up and around the castle, through the main gates. Off to the left, the original stairs used during the middle ages are there and accessable (why not, they're carved from granite!) Up along the top of the ramp before you reach the actual Inner court, you come across a set of buildings that were barracks, field hospice/hospitals, governor's home and so on. These have been converted into a cafe and holds a museum to the Royal Highlanders regiment and the Royal Scott Dragoon. Fascinating!
Other than those, you can take the ramp further up to the main courtyard. There you've four main buildings around you. One is a war memorial chapel. It's much like our US war memorials in Washington DC and about. It's also just as riveting. They've an entire chamber for a slew of unknown scottish soldiers. Fifteen feet tall bronze plates adorned with relief carvings of scottish soldiers wrap around, two columns meeting in the middle and the inscription reads that they have cleared the way for the rest of us, going onto God's grace. Now no longer knowing evil or pain, they reside in the honor they have earned. Gave me chills standing there. The President of Poland was there dedicating a wreath to the scottish regiments and soldiers too.
Back out in the courtyard (in the COLD wind) .. across from the chapel was the royal apartments. Still used for government functions, it was the meeting hall that was commissioned in the 1600's (I think) by the monarchy. It's all teak wood walls literally lined with scottish swords, spears, daggers, flintlock pistols and armor. In a glass case against one spot near the door is a key with brass plates, some kind of honor bestowed upon whatever ruling monarch of the time period.
Next to that was the original chambers of Mary Queen of Scotts. Boy did she have a spartan place. It had a creepy, almost sad or trapped feeling to it. Couldn't take pictures so I didn't stay long.
Beside that was the original midieval palace for the Scottish kings. This told the history of the scottish monarchy and what they went through with the English. Also... it housed the Scottish crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. You'd better believe they had that under observation at all times. The Scottish Crown Jewels consist of a gold scepter, crown, sword, velvet and gold scabbard and gilded sword belt. The belt, scabbard, sword and scepter were a gift from the Pope (the one who had a fancy for warfare back then... can't remember which one at the moment). But, the funny thing is, the scottish royalty had the sword reworked once it arrived! I got the impression they had it reworked so it was no longer a ceremonial sword but a functional, usable weapon. Somehow I'm not surprised.
The Stone of Destiny... well... its a giant sandstone block with two iron rings in it. Ok, that's an understatement as it is awe inspiring. Though you can't quite put your finger on why when you see it in person. It's large.. something on the order of no more than four feet long and two to three feet wide. Maybe three feet at most thick. The really interesting part is that you can so easily see the original chisel marks on it. There was a celtic cross on it but I couldn't find it... now what I *swear* I did see was faint etchings of celtic knotwork that caught the light. It was setup so a person could walk all around it and I did. I checked three times and I swear I saw very faint knotwork carvings about four inches tall running along the length. I told no one, figured they'd call me nuts. So I just moved along.
Oh, a fun surprise came at 1pm when at the top of the castle, they have a .105 howitzer that they fire to mark 1pm. They do it daily (unless a major holiday like Christmas or on Sundays), and it came from when the cannon fire was a guide signal to ships in the river.
Aside from the Castle, I got to see St Giles Cathedral. Massive 11th century kirk (scottish for church .. I'm learning!) that has a separate chapel for the Order of the Thistle, an actual scottish kight order. It is magnificent. Wood seats, places for about 12 knights and their leige. Scrollwork, and other details that went right down to a bulldog figure on one chair where you could see the collar on the bulldog and its individual eyes, eyelids and so on. Bear in mind, this figure would fit in the palm of my hand. Now picture the room filled from floor to ceiling with ornate carvings of such detail. Very amazing!
Those two took most of the day, but after that I toured around Old Town, which is the still standing and in use midieval buildings that surround Edinborough castle. Cobblestone streets where cars don't fit, winding roads, tall buildings, maze of alleys and shortcuts with yet more shops in them. Simply stunning. I took a few pictures there but my batteries died between that and St Giles so I missed some good shots. Maybe I'll get some more tomorrow.
Oh and I did walk the "royal mile".. that is the main road down from the castle that winds past Old Town and to Hollyrood House Palace which was the palace of the Scottish Queen. Lots of shops and middle ages feel to the buildings.
Last for the day, I took a tour of a scottish whiskey distillery. I passed on trying any but I loved seeing how it was made, finding out about the various types, I even was shown how to 'nose' a whiskey. Apparently to determine a good whiskey, you don't taste it because your taste buds are easily fooled. You sniff it. I had to try, I was ok at it. I could almost tell some smells apart. But the alcohol was enough that it did tend to wipe out most of the odor. At least it opened up my sinuses though!
That was all for today. Tommorrow may be another few cathedrals, perhaps John Knox's house or Sir Walter Scott's home or even a city tour to get an overview of all of it. Not sure yet. But in any case, that's the morning before the trip back to Glasgow.
I liked Edinborough, but only to visit and even then briefly. I think for a longer stay I prefer the Highlands. The culture and atmosphere is more what I think I prefer.
posted by Chris Ash | 1:19 PM
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