Oct 23 2006
To see the first installment of my Scotland series click here.
After we arrived in Glasgow we had a free day to travel about. After a long night of drinking liberally poured shots of whisky with our new Scottish friends (who I couldn't understand a word of) we groggily consulted the train schedules and decided that a trip to Edinburgh was in order. Because seriously, what is better after a night of whisky drinking and late night fish and chips (with a hearty dose of malt vinegar) than sitting in a train rocking back and forth? But I’ve always read that Edinburgh was a fascinating city and would have kicked myself if I hadn't taken the opportunity to visit, even if just for a day.
After a quick hour jaunt across the Scottish countryside we arrived in Edinburgh, the Scotland's capital. Edinburgh has been the Scotland capital since 1437, home of the Scottish Parliament, and is considered it's cultural capital. Walking the streets of Edinburgh it was mesmerizing to realize you were walking down the same streets and looking at the same buildings where former Scottish Royalty lived 600 years ago. After arriving we left the train station and found ourselves staring up at Edinburgh Castle, which sits on an extinct volcano, Castle Rock, and dominates the entire city.
Edinburgh Castle dates back as a military site to 900BC, and was developed as a royal fortress as early as 1124BC. From the castle walls you can see tens of miles in every direction, including a fascinating cemetery that sites of the base of Castle Rock. A tour through the castle is a brief historical tour through Scotland, and includes the Scottish crown jewels which reside in the Crown Room and a museum focused on the history of Scotland’s military.
Inside the castle you can also see St. Margaret’s Chapel, which dates back to the early 12th century and was originally a private house of worship for King David I.
Coming from the States where history is a 19th century house at risk of being bulldozed to put up a new McDonald’s, it was amazing to see how modern Edinburgh grew around and within an amazingly historical city.
As for the photo, this was taken early in the morning along a side street below the castle with Half Moon Battery prominent in the castle foreground.
December 2004
Edinburgh, Scotland