Edinburgh Castle Tour-Part 1

Excitement was high as we gathered together on 'Castle Day.' Even those who were not particularly 'morning people' were anxious to see what was contained within the walls at the top of the hill.

On The Royal Mile, this is the Heart of Midlothian which is a location marker for the 15the Century  Old Tolbooth. (Demolished in 1817) It was essentially the town center, prison, and location for executions. Today the emblem is part of the crest for the Heart of Midlothian Football Team. You will find the marker located near the West Door of St. Giles Cathedral....don't always just look up!

Stunning, isn't it? In many ways, you miss a lot if you don't 'look up' but when visiting old cities in particular, some of the most amazing architecture is at the top of the buildings. Perhaps the craftsmen were able to really get into their right brains way up there and just be creative. This is the High Kirk of Edinburgh - St. Giles Cathedral. Remember that a Kirk is a Church and not something from Star Trek.
The Crown Steeple is what caught my attention though this is actually the Mother Church of Presbyterianism, so they are constantly keeping it in good repair and tending to details. It has been a church for over 900 years (14th Century) and went through major renovations in the 19th Century. Old buildings, like old people, need constant attention to keep them in good working order!
(The link is good, so check it out!)

Yes, we found angels everywhere!

Now, off for the Castle! By going through the photographs, it looks like the kids caught every nook and cranny of the castle grounds and buildings, though I know better. There were a few things they missed. The link is wonderful, but for now, just enjoy some of their fun! (The link is posted again at the end of your tour)

Edinburgh Castle

There it is! This area is called the Espalanade, which is a sort of parking and gathering place, perhaps at one time it was filled with townspeople. Remember that this castle is built on the remains of a dormant volcano, so the foundation is firm to say the least. I don't think we really expected to see stone outcroppings when we got inside..

You always like to see the group~ It was cold and windy but the sun was shining and we had a few other weather surprises as well! The gatehouse is directly behind us.

Yes, we all had tickets, but two in our group were surprised to find that they were still children. 

The Gatehouse. The archway is the first entrance and we found that we had to pass through seven gates before we made it to the top. This was quite the fortress! Beside the entrance, you see the statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. Scottish heroes that they are, they still guard the Palace. 

The Crest

Passing through the Porticullis Gate. You can't see the huge spikes, but the gate could drop down (yes, like in the movies!) and it also had huge heavy doors. The idea was that no one would get through unless invited in. The uphill climb was underway!

The streets inside the castle were pretty interesting. I always find the paths I take quite interesting though. It may be due to the fact that as I get older, I am more aware of tripping hazards. Cobblestones offer a lot of those opportunities!


NOTE TO FOLLOWERS
For some reason all new photo downloads will not load in the order of my desired story line. I will continue this story in the next post.

For now....look down....you might miss something interesting if you don't and after all, we are in this world and we better know what is happening around us!
But
Also look up! Keep your focus in that direction as well for there are greater things than our earthly walk can offer if we keep our relationships VERTICAL!

Continue on to the next post to follow the kids on their castle journey!