Narrow Road-The Royal Mile

Keith and Terry...what a pair! We had an entertaining morning with our local guide for Edinburgh. Keith is a Scot and everyone loved his accent! Of course, he and Terry did not think that they were the ones with accents, but we were positive of one thing...someone had an accent! Add Davey (our driver) and they kept us laughing! 

The Royal Mile is our destination for the day. Basically the Royal Mile is the path from the Castle at the top of the Mile to the Queen's residence at the lower end of the Mile. We know that the Castle is built on the remains of an ancient volcano, and we learned that the "Mile" is essentially the path of one of the lava flows. The city built up around it and this part is called Old Town. You will notice that the buildings are dark in color and VERY VERY old, as opposed to New Town which is only Victorian Era (Victoria and Albert) old. We will start our journey at The Palace at Holyroodhouse which has been the Queen's Scotland residence for centuries. 

Keith and Davey in the middle of a storytelling session. We learned about how the Palace at Holyrood came to be. Rood means wood - so, Holy (Christ) Rood (Wooden Cross). This was initially an Abbey back in 1128.

Nice Entrance. We thought it was a guardhouse, but it is called Queen Mary's Bath House. Nothing indicates that it was used for bathing, but as the story goes, Queen Mary took a bath, annually. And filled her bath with white wine. Hmmmm.....well preserved, I would guess!

The Palace. Over to the left you can see a part of the ruins of the Holyrood Abbey - dating from 1128. Coronations took place there...back in the day. The tower on the left dates to the 16th Century and the rest was added in the 17th Century. There is a week in June or July when the Queen is always in residence and hosts wonderful parties in the Palace. The Queen's Gallery is on the left end and houses a wonderful art collection.

I would call this the center of the roundabout...or circular driveway, but it is really a fountain which was added in the Victorian Era. (Very ornate, dead giveaway that it is Victorian!) It is a Victorian (19th Century) replica of a 16th Century fountain at Linlithgow Palace. 

The ironwork gates are spectacular! They were built and installed in the 1920's and unveiled by King George V in 1922.

Close up of the detail at the top of the gate. Keith and Terry captured our attention as they acted out the story of how this Stag with a Cross between his Antlers came to be the emblem for Holyrood.
 Legend of the Stag and Cross

Mary Queen of Scots may have been the most famous historical figure associated with Holyroodhouse but the people in front of this incredible gate are among some of the most delightful people in my life!
If you don't know much about Mary...you should check out the link. Fascinating story but worth noting that James V (Scotland) was her son, who also is James I of England...you remember him...1603....and responsible for the KJV Bible.

So, I wonder what these young people have before them....will they be responsible for something incredible in history? James probably did not think that something he commissioned would have such an impact on the English speaking world. 

On the wall outside of the Ironwork gate.

Scotland has very interesting doors, and lovely ladies who discover them. 

Keith, in the middle of his story of King David and the Stag.

And Terry, who assisted him.
Now...back to the bus. It is time for THE ROYAL MILE! We could have spent two days on the Mile! There was just not enough time for everything!

This was our meeting point. It is wonderful to have young people who are able to use that 'internal GPS' and get back to a location on time. When we find such opportunity, we can let them have a few minutes to do things like....shopping. They always love that!  This is called THE HUB and it was our meeting place. Castlehill is the name of street. (the Castle is at the top of the Hill)

It is definitely and OLD Town. Narrow streets, cobblestones. It is so incredible that these buildings have stood for so long! Build it solid, make it stunning and there is no need to tear it down. I think that is why I love European Architecture so much. We don't see this in America, and students often pointed that out in their journals.

I have no idea where this is but it was one of the most unusual photos I ran across. Kudos to the student who captured this one!

Yes, shopping was abundant. Eateries were plentiful and we enjoyed lunch with traditional Scottish cuisine. Several students even tried Haggis with varying evaluations, I might add. And no, I was not brave enough. Click on the link and enjoy the youtube description.....if you are brave enough!

The butcher, the baker, and .....the Kiltmaker!

I don't think anyone bought a kilt, though many contemplated it. They were a little pricey for something that was not really wear-able in Florida. I never found the TMA plaid though!

Shopping for the siblings. High on the shopping list was something for family and friends. (Shopping is never included in my trip budget, but somehow these students managed a bank account for it!) Ok, I tend to be among the worst offenders as well.

Several bought the cute Tartan hats though! 

Bagpipes!

Looking for a real Scot.

Spiffy, but not real enough.

FOUND! And charming as well!

Besides wanting to see sheep, they wanted to find a Highland Cow.
Here is a starting place and what we will be looking for. 

End of the night (last stop before the hotel) but I could not pass this one up. TESCO...the UK version of Publix. WOW do we love to go to the grocery. This one was a TescoExpress and did not compare effectively to the big store we found in London, but the prices are GREAT and it is a great place to pick up snacks. Yes, power drinks were outlawed and caffeine was discouraged, but chocolate....oooh....you can't pass up the Cadbury! (and now Kraft owns Cadbury...that does not make the Brits happy at all...and I don't blame them!) 

Ah, perfect end to a perfect day! And by the way, for those of you who really came to appreciate foods that the UK has to offer, we have The British Shoppe in Orlando (near 17-92 and SR 50) ...and better than that, my neighbor owns it! I found Double Decker bars, which I could not find in Scotland... ...and tea cakes, Bangers, all kinds of great foods! Well worth the visit!
Now....back to the Royal Mile....we are not finished yet!

THE HUB
This was our meeting place and after dark, it was a cold and windy place to meet! The wind blew up the hill and around the curve....so we had to step into a cute little pastel tartan (plaid) shoppe to keep from being blown away!
This spire can be seen all over Edinburgh and shows up in just about every photo you will see of the cityscape. Dating back to 1842, it was originally the offices for the Church of Scotland and was called Victoria Hall. (have you noticed that Victoria and Albert named a lot of things after themselves?)
Move forward to 1995 when the Edinburgh International Festival acquired the building, renovated it, and made it into an incredible rental and performing arts venue. 

We were fascinated with the doors.
I think I shall paint my front door red this year! It just screams......WELCOME!

Oh look! A TMA actress at the door of the Edinburgh International Festival at the Hub.

Another fascination.....Phone Booths. So many photos, so little space!
Officially called
Red Telephone Box

Stunning Photo. One of the cameras had the ability to block out all but one color. I want one of those cameras! Notice St. Giles Cathedral in the background. More about that later.

This one was fun because it was a Wi-Fi Zone.

Edinburgh is SO MUCH FUN!

This looks like a castle and feels like a castle, but it is not the castle. It is, however at the top of the Royal Mile. We did not get the full impact of the Mile....so we must return one day. Actually, this is Ramsay Gardens which was built in 1893 to house students. Today it is luxury apartments....called Flats.

Now we are standing on the Castle Esplanade. Ok...parking lot. If you were the photographer, Edinburgh Castle would be directly behind you. You are looking down the Royal Mile. Do you recognize the spire?

During this same day, we visited St. Giles Cathedral and Edinburgh Castle, but that is enough for another post. By the time we had dinner (at a lovely Italian restaurant) and made it back to the hotel, we had to pack our bags and prepare to leave Scotland the next morning.

It was a full day, to be sure. We took in so much that it was hard to determine what the highlight might have been. Everyone has their own focus. Mine is always the architecture and the ambiance of the place I am visiting. We moved so quickly throughout the day that it was hard to focus on those things. I love to sit and journal, or make notations and then sketch, but I had to depend on my camera on this trip. I also have to be careful when sketching though...shifting into my right brain is dangerous..I lose track of time!

So much to see, so much to take in, so much to experience and so little the time.

I also enjoy observing the kids when they experience new things. They realized that Edinburgh was not like any of our cities. I can't even think of one that even remotely compares. I hope they saw the craftsmanship, and that when you put time and effort into something, it remains for a long time. That is missing in America today. I am guilty of wanting the newest techie gadget before the previous one wears out. I buy something new rather than repair what I have....like the commercial says...."it's Doritos, we make more."  It is really sad in a way.

I always return from Europe wanting to clean house. I find that I want less...less to dust, less to put away, less to deal with. I long for a simpler life with more time for relationships and less time dedicated to things that don't really matter.
And really, when you look at life in the light of eternity....what is really going to last? The answer is ....the Word of God and the souls of men.

The buildings, maginificent as they are, will deteriorate one day.
But the people we meet...now these, I want to meet again in Heaven one day.

Reflection for the Day

Following the narrow road on the Royal Mile will get you to the Castle on the hill.
Today, we can pay and go in. For a long time in history, it was open to only a few.

It makes me think of Matthew 7:13-14 about the broad way and the narrow way.
Life is a journey, a preparation for eternity. I am thankful that there are many ways to find Jesus...we are not all the same, our outlooks on life are not the same, we find Jesus in many different ways. The key here is to meet Jesus.
But.
Matthew tells us that the broad way leads to destruction and many will take that path. Only the narrow way leads to life (eternal), and sadly, only few will find it.
It is all about choice.

To know about the way won't be enough will it?
A choice has to be made.  Which path will it be?

We met a lot of royalty today....King David I, King George, Queen Mary, Queen Victoria, King James.......but are we all ready to meet....King Jesus? I hope so!



Next post...the Castle on the Hill!

The Journey-and Flexibiity

Europe is so interesting, in part, because it is so full of history. Centuries and Centuries of history. Edinburgh is a relatively small space, but it is possible to vacation for a week, staying busy, and still not soak in everything there is to offer. Here are a few highlights that don't fit in other category-specific blogs.

Yea for Google! It is fun to just search for other blogs and read about the things that interested other travelers. It helped me as I planned for this trip. Finding out that we had a TMA alum living in Edinburgh was such a wonderful discovery, and then finding that his wife was such an interesting writer made the anticipation of being in Edinburgh even greater! Thanks Dr. Scotty and Becca!

Here are a few things you might want to know about the UK....first...it has more parts than you think. I was pretty good with geography in my day, but I had no idea how vast this kingdom really is. Or...maybe I just never really thought about it.

Bullet points

This link is cool if you don't want the bullet points

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10&feature=player_embedded

• United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the full name for the UK 
• Four Countries within the kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland
• All of these people are British. But England=English, Scotland=Scottish, Wales=Welch and N.Ireland=Irish (So don't confuse being English with being Scottish, etc) Be safe and say "British."
• The Queen still rules over many places across the world, both independent and not.
• Great Britain is the large island containing England, Wales and Scotland

Now that you have it figured out....join us for some sightseeing! We did not ride the big red bus, but it is a good idea to do this if you visit. (We had a charter and Davey was a great driver who stopped often!)

 
 Enjoy the city streets! We were walking a lot of the time as well! Do enjoy the hop on hop off buses when visiting Edinburgh!

The High Kirk of Scotland - St Giles Cathedral in the background. This is along the Royal Mile.

Black Cab - catch one at a taxi station...but do not call it a taxi. The Hub is in the background  

Fast cars! Don't step into the street without looking. The kids even found graffiti, which is not specific to large American cities, as we found. 

Old Town means narrow streets.

North of town...the River Forth.

Ring, Ring...hello! Alexander Graham Bell has a museum here. He was a Scot.  

Pretty princesses found the Disney Store!

Royal College of Surgeons has been around since 1510 and training surgeons since them. One of the most acclaimed medical schools in the world!

Now some special stops with a little more historical information

 Greyfriars Bobby is a heartwarming story of the Skye Terrier. Greyfriars Bobby was a real dog who became a companion to his maser John Gray (Auld Jock) in the 1800's. When his master died, his pet stayed on the grave in Greyfriars graveyard every day for the rest of his life, becoming known as Greyfriars Bobby.
Who do we know as being great at telling heartwarming stories....well, none other than Walt Disney....The True Story of a Dog ...

Greyfriars' Bobby. So loved that they gave him a monument! 

Greyfriars Kirk (Kirk is a Church) We entered the churchyard just before dusk.

And around the corner.....

Terry made every stop so interesting. It was amazing to walk into the very VERY old graveyard. (They don't say cemetery...it is a grave yard) 

Close up with the Edinburgh Castle in the background. Graveyards fascinate me. Especially the very old ones. This one is very well maintained and I wished that we had made it to this spot earlier in the day so that we could have read the many stones and considered the lives represented here. We don't often think of our epitaph do we? We also don't see many graveyards like this in America. Fascinating stuff!

These guys don't scare me at all!

Next stop...National Museum of Scotland

Once again...not enough hours in the day...... We divided up and tried to hit some high spots to share! This museum had everything under the sun that represented the history from Scotland...way on back to the Vikings!

Celtic Knots...in stone, no less....very geometric!

A welcome from Bryan  

Gazebo Girls 

Interior of the museum was vast! Lighthouse light. 

Interactive Exhibits 

Stuffed fish, birds, reptiles and mammals of all types. (Matt is not stuffed)

These girls rarely stopped moving. 

Clock works...this was so fascinating! And massive!

Monuments are everywhere! Enjoy a few.

 Sir Walter Scott Monument

To get the perspective..I would say this is one of the larger monuments we found. Locate the arch at the base and the little white image just above the road block barricades.

There you go...good old Sir Walter and his beloved dog Maida Now he is really quite large-Carrara marble and double life size.
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) made a key contribution to Scottish literature and is often regarded in the east of Scotland as Scotland's most famous writer. (Ivanhoe, Rob Roy)

It took 4 years to build his monument. There are 64 statuettes of characters from Sir Walter Scott’s books upon this monument. The 200 ft high monument can be climbed via the 287 steps....for a small price.
 

Sir Thomas Guthrie
Located on Princes Street - notice Edinburgh Castle in the background.
He was a philanthropist and a prominent preacher. A child is standing next to him because he was the founder of the "Ragged Schools" ~ a movement of the Victorian Period which was dedicated to the free education of destitute children. (remember all of the plagues and how they left so many orphaned children...)
 He published “Plea for Ragged Schools” in 1847.


While the chaperones were quite interested in the older, well renowned authors, the students found writers - a writer- from their generation much more interesting. Some of their photos are just hilarious! Though Terry dismissed them as somewhat silly...he was great to make their dreams come true by making some special stops.

When the writer was here...in the 1990's....this was called Nicholson's Cafe. She took her child for a daily walk and did her writing while the child napped. Coffee kept her going so she could write. Her environment inspired her. 

Have you guessed yet?  Her first love was possibly a fella named Harry.  She wrote in a cafe on Potter's Row. Does that help any?

J.K. Rowling has a fun web site. Click on the top box for access.
I enjoyed reading her biography and learning about her history and how she uses her newfound wealth. Though I am not necessarily a Potter fan, I did enjoy reading about how her surroundings inspired her and that she started out writing a children's book, knowing all along that "you can't really make a living writing children's books" as expressed by her agent. It just goes to show that it is a good thing to follow your dreams, and don't do it for the money. Her dream was always to be a writer.

The place is now a chinese restaurant but it still got the plaque for being a special place!


Now....another journaling spot for this writer.

The Elephant House

Though these stops were not on my 'agenda'....this post is for you, Jordan, Blake, Lauren, Kristin ......ladies and gents.
May you always be inspired to bloom where God plants you.
May you always look at adversity as a way to grow.
May you always be generous with what you receive.
And may you always be blessed as you seek to serve God for all of your days.

It is interesting the way even secular things can inspire you. Just keep your focus where it ought to be! I definitely enjoyed the enthusiasm of these young people and can say that they did more in reading those tomes (tome = a very large volume)....than I ever did! But I bet I have read more books on artists and photography!

Here's to inspiring literature!