Thursday, August 11, 2005
Day 77: Edinburgh
August 11: Happy Birthday Mum!
With a friend of mine from the tour, Jen, we hiked up Arthur's Seat this morning. And boy, was it a hike! Great view of the city from the top of the mountain, but lots of sweating getting up there!
Took a walk passed the new Scottish Parliament building, before doing a tour of the Holyrood Palace (a residence for the Royal Family when they're in town and where the Scottish Royal Family, including Mary Queen of Scots lived).
Walked the Royal Mile from the Palace to Edinburgh Castle... where I got a real taste for the Edinburgh and Fringe Festivals currently on, during the entire month of August. Lots of street performers advertising their plays too.
Did a tour of the Castle. Checked out the War Memorial there for the Scottish soldiers who'd died in all previous wars (very interesting), St Margaret's Chapel, the Scottish Crown Jewels, Stone of Destiny (which is used for royal coronations, even nowadays), the Dining Hall, Great Hall and State Apartments, and even the tiny room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James I.
The museum about the Royal Scots (military regiment) was good, so too, my first taste of scones with jam in the UK!
Later in the afternoon, I also did a quick walk around Princes St Gardens (formerly a lake).
In the evening, we had a very lovely meal, where we were entertained by a piper afterwards. He told us all about bagpipes, the music, the Scottish traditional dress, and played songs for us too on a variety of bagpipes - great evening.
Partied later at the bar/club under our hotel.
Love Edinburgh!
With a friend of mine from the tour, Jen, we hiked up Arthur's Seat this morning. And boy, was it a hike! Great view of the city from the top of the mountain, but lots of sweating getting up there!
Took a walk passed the new Scottish Parliament building, before doing a tour of the Holyrood Palace (a residence for the Royal Family when they're in town and where the Scottish Royal Family, including Mary Queen of Scots lived).
Walked the Royal Mile from the Palace to Edinburgh Castle... where I got a real taste for the Edinburgh and Fringe Festivals currently on, during the entire month of August. Lots of street performers advertising their plays too.
Did a tour of the Castle. Checked out the War Memorial there for the Scottish soldiers who'd died in all previous wars (very interesting), St Margaret's Chapel, the Scottish Crown Jewels, Stone of Destiny (which is used for royal coronations, even nowadays), the Dining Hall, Great Hall and State Apartments, and even the tiny room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James I.
The museum about the Royal Scots (military regiment) was good, so too, my first taste of scones with jam in the UK!
Later in the afternoon, I also did a quick walk around Princes St Gardens (formerly a lake).
In the evening, we had a very lovely meal, where we were entertained by a piper afterwards. He told us all about bagpipes, the music, the Scottish traditional dress, and played songs for us too on a variety of bagpipes - great evening.
Partied later at the bar/club under our hotel.
Love Edinburgh!
# posted by mishij @ 12:17 PM 
