Edinburgh - Fighting the cold on Saturday

After what can only be deemed as an unsuccessful first night, I decided to take it easy on Saturday and see where Edinburgh led me.  I had RS with me, but focused on just enjoying the city and not getting caught up in seeing everything in one trip.  Upon reflection, I could easily spend at least 4 more days in Edinburgh, which is good, because it's only an hour flight.

As I stepped outside the hotel for real this time in the morning at a proper hour, this is the first thing I saw:

That's Arthur's seat.  Have you read One Day or seen the movie?  I've read the book but not seen the Anne Hathaway movie.  Anyways, in the book, it talks about 2 college students who meet while attending the University of Edinburgh and have this magical hike to the top where they proceed to fall in love (sort of).  One of my goals had been to recreate this journey to the top.  However, when I walked outside, it was no warmer than the great Fire Alarm incident at 4am and bonus, it was now snowing.  No way I was doing that climb, although a lot of people were doing it.  Just because your friends walk up a cliff, does that mean you should?

I decided on warmer things and started at the bottom of the Royal Mile at a beautifully girly tea room for a full English breakfast (beans and all) and my first of what turned out to be about 800 cups of tea for the weekend. 

After that, I wandered up the Royal Mile:

The Royal Mile stretches from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle and is actually about 1.2 miles long.  I started at the Holyrood side and made my way to the castle.  It's gorgeous - lined with historical buildings, churches, tourist shops, etc.  It is also straight up hill, so great work out.

This is the chapel that the queen uses when she's in town at Holyrood Palace, just about 300 yards into the walk.

About halfway up the walk is St Giles Cathedral.  I stopped in, but didn't pay the license fee to take pictures so all I have are outside pictures.  The top looks like a crown - I've never seen anything like it.  The inside was also pretty incredible.  I wish I had paid now that I type the blog - next time.

Views from Edinburgh Castle at the end of the walk.  Edinburgh Castle is the second most visited tourist attraction in the UK outside of the Tower of London, so I had high expectations.  Thankfully, it didn't disappoint and it was probably better than the Tower of London, minus the jewels part.  It was freezing, but totally worth it.  I saw the following:
1.  Scotland's crown jewels, which were buried away for centuries only to be rediscovered and placed on display.  Great story behind them:  Honors of Scotland
2.  The Scottish War Memorial:

The memorial to the dead from WWII and all other recent campaigns was moving - I teared up in the building.  Pictures weren't allowed, but suffice it to say, it's one of the greatest memorials I've seen to fallen heroes.

3.  The apartments of James VI (sneaky picture - I don't think this was actually allowed.

 

 

4.  Wandered the grounds to see the outside of the buildings (crazy how this all just sits on a cliff, almost impenetrable!)

 

5.  No pictures, but I stopped to hear a lecture on Scottish war devices, the usefulness of a kilt in war and how to make a kilt.  Pretty good stuff.  They put a kilt on a Russian tourist dude who did not seem amused about the whole thing.  Good times.

 

After the castle, I was basically frozen to the bone.  Heading back down the Royal Mile, I stopped in a few tourist stores for pictures:

Kilts everywhere!  And more expensive than one would think.  I had joked with my co-workers about spending the weekend trying to get a picture with a man in a kilt.  I didn't think I would see any, but apparently it was wedding Saturday and the official attire is the kilt.  I was too shy to try it, but I did get this great picture of a bagpiper greeting guests as they showed up for the wedding:



For those that know me, you are aware that big weddings scare me.  However, this may need to be an essential addition to mine.  I watched for about 30 minutes as guests arrived in formal attire and kilts - the guy would take a break and stand inside when no guests were pulling up and then run outside to crank up the pipes as they walked in.  Classic.

 

At this point, I've once again lost feeling in all of my extremities, so I decided in the late afternoon that it was time for a big meal.  I went to a place on the Royal Mile and got:

That's Scottish beef and vegetables.  It was incredible.  Bonus, the place had live music, so it made for an enjoyable meal. 

 

After that, I headed back to the hotel.  I was exhausted - it takes a lot of energy trying to stay warm with all of that walking.  I did walk by the Scottish Parliament:

 

 

 

 

Very recently reopened, the Parliament will vote this year on separation from the UK to an autonomous member of the British empire.  I think it's a bit like Texas with more history of self rule.  While seceding sounds like a good idea in theory, who knows what lasting effects that would have on the economy, etc.  I hope it doesn't happen for the sake of Scotland.  What a beautiful place.

 

The rest of the day was focused on tea.  I drank a lot of tea.