Scotland - Day Six - EdinBurgh

Edinburgh Castle was the Target we wanted to see today.

Tickets purchased in Advance and afterward would be anything a bonus

The weather was fine and the Castle was ready.

The Castle looked great in the Sun.

 The Golden Mile looked very inviting.

 We walked around the car park (which use to be the parade ground.
(It is also the place for the Military Tatoo)

 around are a lot of memorials.

Some like this one is for the men from WW1

The views were Magnificient the city below

Once through the gate, the statues got more impressive.

This one was on King Edward

The walls held great views.

Once inside there were exhibitions around the place.

The walls have been stormed many times and things have changed over time.

But the Canons are still used for ceremonies today.

There was an exhibit on all the kings and queens that have used the castle as well.

The buildings were restored where possible as well.
This is a major tourist attraction of course.

The great hall was one of the few well light places.

Outside were plenty of impressive statues

But it the gatehouse that is the be remembered

Once out the castle, we set off down the Golden Mile.

First Stop was to Kilt Shop to see how Kilts and Tartan are made.

And they still use old looms.

There was an old Lady displaying an OWl and wanting people to pat it.
This kind of animal exploitation, I don't approve of.  The poor bird looked stressed out and its feathers were a mess.

There were Scottish bagpipers alldown the Mile, of course, competing for the Pound coins.

 We explored St Giles Cathedral

 And of course, the windows were beautiful.

 Outside the Day was warming up.

Statue of Walter Francis Montague
Not sure what he was famous for.

 Lots of little blind alleys tempting us to explore somewhere else.

Passed Canongate Kirk church with Robert Fergusson Statue.

 At the Bottom of the Mile, we finally Made it to Holyrood Palace

This place is still an active residence of the queen

and she comes here most Christmas holidays

Because of this, No photo's inside, 

but it was interesting to see the Royal Family use

this place like home to relax in.

 Outside you got to see just how big the palace is.

Attached to the side was the Holyrood Abbey.

 This would have been a small Abbey at

some time past, but it would have been impressive.

 It was sometime in the 12 century that it was ransacked.

Now it is part of the Holyrood Palace Gardens

What a beautiful folly to have in the garden

 We then walked back passed the Castle to get back to the Hotel.
This is where my Scottish Ancestors come from, and it was nice to see the place so alive and well.