Edinburgh ~ An Afternoon Stroll

This many review blogs and we have not put our heads on our pillows yet! As we set out to take a stroll through the town, it was around 2 pm. Sunset was to be around 5 pm, so we covered a lot of territory before that time! Enjoy a little bit of Edinburgh with us!

The kids had to be tired, but with only 10 minutes in their rooms, they somehow got their second wind! 

The Edinburgh "pink bus' is the city bus.

Clock Tower. It does not show here, but this is one of the main towers you can see along the skyline. It is atop the Blamoral Hotel, which dates way on back and was the location people got to first when they came in by train. 

Greyfriar's Bobby. You saw the Disney movie, right? It is the story of a dog who loved his master so much that when the master died, the dog laid on his grave for years and years. Photo one is the grave...shopkeepers fed the dog, as the legend goes. The statue of the dog sits atop the column in photo two. Greyfriars Kirk....that is a church....and it has  a really cool graveyard next to it. I have not run across very great photos just yet as the light was low when we arrived.

Saint Mary's Cathedral. This is right across the plaza from the Big Foot statue.

University of Edinburgh School of Divinity - the Gothic structure was designed by William Playfair, a central figure in Edinburgh's Enlightenment.  

It is not often that you see a multi story building with a light house on the windowsill. This is the main offices for the Northern Lighthouse Board and this is a model of the Bell Rock Lighthouse.

Don't know where this is but it surely is pretty!  I am continually amazed that it looked so much like Spring...but it was the first week of January. 

The chimney pots on top of the buildings were a fascination. It was an incredible scene when we ran across a block of townhomes. Each fireplace has its own chimney pot on the roof. Some of these homes have a fireplace in every room. That is a LOT of ashes!

Next up....we stopped by some famous pubs. Now keep in mind that pub means PUBlic place...like a place to meet and eat. It is like our Chili's or Mac Grill, Carabbas, etc. A lot of these places have been around for more than a century and were meeting places for lots of pretty famous people, so it was fun to take a look at where some of our writers recorded their inspirations.

The Royal Pub dates back to 1827 and is famous for its stunning interior. This one is mostly Victorian and Baroque. It has elegant stained glass, exquisite Victorian plasterwork and an irreplacable Doulton ceramic mural painted by John Eyre.  

Over the years, the Cafe Royale has changed hands many times but everyone saved the interior. Only one owner, the Grand Metropolitan Hotels was willing to sell...to Woolworth, who wanted to expand their store. The city planning officer voted it down and put the place on the historic register so we could enjoy this beauty for the future. Cafe Royal was also used as a set in many movies.


The Guildford Arms is another famous pub right off of Gabriel's Road and on the corner next to the Cafe Royale. Beautiful as well, it has lovely etching on the windows.

The Guildford Arms started its life in 1841 as a shop, then a hotel.  Over the years there were changes but most took place before the turn of the century (1900.) Before and after 1900 was the 'Golden Age of Scottish Pub Design" and the Guildford is a relatively rare survivor of the time period. In 1898 the Guildford was owned by the Stewart family, who invested well in turning this into an upscale environment, thus saving it from destruction...and the place is still owned and run by D.M. Stewart, Ltd.   (Savannah got some photos of the sign that stated that it was owned by the Stewarts!)

Silhouette....dusk is arriving. This is the ferris wheel....or miniature London Eye.....behind the Sir Walter Scott Monument. The monument is huge and there is a grand statue of Sir Walter Scott at the base of it. You can actually pay to go inside and take photos from the many decks you find on the way to the top. So much to shoot...so little the time.

Check out the profile and see if you recognize this guy. You are not in  DC but yes, this is Abraham Lincoln! This is the Scottish American Soldier's Memorial built for the Scottish soldiers who fought on the Union side in the American Civil War. This stands in the Old Calton Cemetery and is the first monument outside of the USA to an American President. The actual monument is quite large and interesting...we only saw the top as we walked by.

Good ole Duke of Wellington! You find his statue all over the UK! This is known as THE IRON DUKE (Wellington), was cast in Bronze, by the sculptor named Steele.  Recall that the Duke of Wellington led the victory over the French at Waterloo. His horse, Copenhagen, never flinched under gunfire and was retired to the Duke's estate where he died at 29...and buried with full military honors. That was some horse!

We did not see Nessy (the Loch Ness Monster) but meet BIG FOOT.  It is said that most people walk right by and don't even notice this foot....or look at it and chuckle, calling it an oddity. The official name is The Manuscript of Monte Cassino.  You can put the size into perspective with the next photo.

Scotland Tour 2012....atop the Big Foot in Edinburgh.

And now....for a little snack break....Terry introduced them to a SCOTTISH MALL! 

Most unusual store.....Appy Feet....a pedicure shop

But not just ANY plain old pedicure!

The Scottish version of Claire's......accessories galore!

Some kept their priorities in order and tried things like Nutella Crepes.

And others did like we all should have been doing.....POSTCARDS HOME! See the post office behind Deonna?

We also found "Everything's a Pound"......the UK version of Dollar Tree!

As soon as everyone gathered at the entrance, our walk to watch the sunset was underway. Next blog....some of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine!