Europe Part 2--Edinburgh

The next morning, Hambelton European tours shepherded us on the Edinburgh public transit, aka the double decker bus.  The kids wanted to ride in the top of course.  And you have the best views from up there.  However, your perspective is off, and between riding on the "wrong" side of the street, zooming around corners, fast starts and short stops, I could totally imagine J.K. Rowling using this as inspiration for Harry Potters "night bus".  We took the bus to the beginning of the Royal Mile--with Edinburgh castle at one end and Hollyrood Palace at the other.  We stumbled across a farmer's market and lamented that we had already eaten breakfast for all the good smells wafting through it and pastries on display.

Then we hiked up to Edinburgh castle.

These castles are huge, and were used for a variety of purposes, the main one being a defense.  They are built on hills and have amazing views (especially in Scotland, where the outlaying areas are still partially countryside).  Part of the castle was used as a palace--Mary Queen of Scots was here, too.  She gave birth to James I, whose lineage the current monarchy comes from.  The Great Hall was renovated during Victorian times, and it reminded us of Williamsburg.  The picture of the kids riding the horse was outside of the war memorial, where mom was able to find some McKays in some of the books listing those who had served in the military.  They also had a war museum, and the kids liked looking at swords and guns, a small chapel that was built in 1130, and a dungeon where they kept prisonors of war (including Americans).  They also keep the crown jewels of Scotland here, including the Stone of Destiny which was in Westminister Abbey until 1996.  The Scots are all a little prickly about being lumped into the UK, and there is definitely more than a little aggressiveness in their jokes about disliking Englanders.  Dad says he has learned to endear himself to the Scots by revealing that Mom is really a McKay (pronounced Mc-Ki here) and when Dad told the priesthood one Sunday, Mom was regaled by handshakes and kissed on the cheek.  She didn't really know what happened until Dad explained it. 
Next came the Royal Mile--a mile of shops and restaurants.

At each block there was a Close or Alley, where according to the locals, the really interesting things (and not just the touristy things) are.  But we didn't have time to explore those.  On this trip.

We did eat at the Elephant House, where J.K. Rowling began the Harry Potter series.  It was a cute cozy cafe, with a great view and elephant art on the wall.  I could see how a writer could create there...

Right across the street is a small statue of Greyfriars Bobby, a terrier who came and stood by his master's grave every day for 14 years.

And I was excited to see Deacon Brodie's, a bar whose owner inspired Robert Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  He was a respected gentleman by day and led a double life as a gambler and ladies' man by night. 
St. Giles Cathedral is along the mile.  It is another beautiful and ornate cathedral with lots of stained glass, intricate carvings, and beautiful architecture.  They inaugurate new member of the Knights of the Thistle in a special chapel here. 

That is Dad talking to a statue of John Knox who preached here.  He was one of the great Reformers who thought that every person should have access to the Bible and improved education in Scotland so much that they became "the intellectual capital of Europe" according to Voltaire.  Dad is straightening him out on a few principles that he didn't get quite right.

This is the new Parliment building with the Hollyrood Palace in the background. The Parliment building is very modern looking, juxtaposed among buildings that date back to the 2nd century.  People either love it or hate it.  Apparently it's very eco-friendly. 

The palace was closed by the time we made it there.  So I suppose that is another thing we will explore next time we go....