Mine own romantic town

Last April, our good friends Eva and John visited us from Cleveland. John has a sister that lives in England, so while he visited her and Tom was working, Eva and I headed north to Edinburgh (with a short stop in York, subject of a previous blog.)  Then in late May, Tom and I took a long weekend and visited Loch Lomond and then stopped in Edinburgh on the way home.  The pictures are from both weekends.

Edinburgh is a much smaller city than London so it's a fun city to walk around (if you like hills)  and try to absorb the immense history of this beautiful city.  These are just a few highlights of my two spring trips to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle is built on volcanic rock created around 340 million B.C. and around 900 B.C. there was archaeological evidence for human settlement. The first historical reference to a fortress on the rock was around A.D. 600.  It's history is overwhelming and as the castle history states, it's history is Scotland's history.  Kings, Queens, crown jewels, wars.. all were part of this fortress.  It's location is easy to say why it was such a strategic part of Edinburgh.

The view from Edinburgh Castle looking out to the Firth of Forth and the section of  the city called New Town.

On a clear day, the views from the castle are spectacular .

In late May, they were already constructing bleachers for the world famous Military Tattoo which is
 held for three weeks in August.

Eva and I at the top of Edinburgh castle.

I love the view looking from the canons to the city with the sea in the background.  

If you have any Scottish ancestors, it's not hard to find the clan tartan in the woolen shops in Edinburgh.  Eva and I were looking for McQueen and Maxwell plaids!  

The castle sits high on a rock above the city.  The castle has been both a fort and a royal residence since the 11th century.

The Royal Mile ~  the Royal Mile is four different streets (actually 200 yards longer than a mile) that extend from near the castle down a hill to the Palace of Holyrood.  The Royal Mile is filled with shop, cafes, and tiny alleys  (a close) leading to tiny squares.  

About half way down the Royal Mile, is St. Giles Cathedral, Scotland's most important church.  It was founded in the 1120's but is best known as the church of John Knox, the leader of the Scottish Reformation.  He was the Minister of St. Giles from 1559 to 1572 after he led the Lords of the Congregation into Edinburgh.  He played a principal role in establishing the styles of worship that were to be accepted throughout the country.

St. Giles' Cathedral

The organ at  St. Giles' is a Rieger organ (Austrian) that was built  in 1992 and made of beautiful Austrian oak.

                                                               

ceiling of St. Giles' Cathedral

The Palace of Holyrood is at the end of the Royal Mile.  The Queen usually spends a week here each summer.  The ruins that you see are the ruins of an abbey-part of a 12th century Augustinian monastery  that originally was here.  Scotland's royalty preferred to stay at the Palace of Holyrood rather than in Edinburgh Castle which could be quite windy.

Palace of Holyrood, Edinburgh

Such dusky grandeur clothed the height

Where all the huge castle holds it state

And all the steep slope down

Whose ridgy back heaves to the sky

Piled deep and massy, close and high

Mine own romantic town.

(Marmion Canto IV, Sir Walter Scott)