Edinburgh Castle-Part 3 of 3

Can you stand to see more? You have not even seen the views yet!
There are many many buildings in the Castle complex and we only showed a few, but do check out the link when you finish the tour. Then you will book your flight for Scotland!

The oldest structure in the Castle complex AND the oldest building in Edinburgh. This is St. Margaret's Chapel. The story dates all the way back to 1066....fast version. Margaret was born into the royal family in England (1045)...Norman invasion (1066) she ran to Scotland for safety in the court of Malcolm III. They fell in love. He relished war, she was religious. 1093 Disaster~ Huband and son both killed in an ambush. Margaret took to her bed at the Castle and died of a broken heart.
Her youngest son....David I....(remember him?) built the chapel in her memory. By 1250 Margaret had become a Saint because of her love for those in her adopted country.
Is your heart melting?

The chapel is so small and the occupancy is only 18-24 but small military weddings are still performed there to this day. Though it was used for things other than worship over the centuries, it has been returned to its rightful use as a plaee of worship.

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about traveling with EFTours, was our guides. We were always on a time schedule, but we rarely felt seriously rushed (unless we were shopping, of course!) We only had Keith (our REAL Scot) for a part of the day, but when he and Terry saw that we were so close to departure time and would miss this incredible activity, they suggested that we stay. He and Terry are a great team, and it is no surprise that they are also good friends. 

The One O'Clock Gun

What could we compare this to....the 9 PM Disney fireworks? Well, that means something to me, because I hear/see them every night. It means...wrap it up and get ready for bed!
The One O'Clock Gun is still fired daily (Except Sundays and Christmas) precisely on time. It is a tradition remaining from 1861, and the days when it was a time signal for ships in the Firth of Forth and the port of Leith.
The firing is coordinated with the Time-Ball on Calton Hill at precisely 1300 hours so the captains of the ships can set their watches precisely. (now, today we have electronic and gps gadgets, but please....the ambiance of it all!)

You might ask...why 1 pm and not noon?  Well, 12 cannonballs or one? Economics dictated that answer!

Prepare

Raise he Cannon

3-2-1

YES! One O'Clock!

OK...I snagged the photo before this one online somewhere.
I was steady, ready, the ONLY photographer to actually get the shot....but can you tell, that the firing shocked even me!
BAM!

Keith and his wavy Macintosh. (Not a computer....his raincoat!)

Now...for the surprise of the day....totally unexpected because remember that we prepared for and expected rain on a daily basis for this trip.

Next up...views from the Castle

New Town on your left, Old Town on your right. Do you recognize any of the structures?
Also....locate the tallest spire (and look up!)

Rainbow! We could see both ends that day!
Sir Walter Scott Monument

Do you recognize Calton Hill? The cannon fired, the ball dropped on the hill and the Ship Captains on the River could see and hear so they could calculate accurate time!

Thanks for joining us at Edinburgh Castle!

Telephone Boxes never ceased to amaze these students. Records show that Scots can fit all or parts of 25 people in a telephone box Americans...four. 

We could have stayed longer, but we had people back home who wanted us back. 

Just love this....exit signs. They are so much more artistic than our boring lit up boxes over the exit doors. 

If you can't stand it and want a 360 degree tour, check out the link!

Edinburgh Castle 3D Tour

From Princes Street at night. Isn't she beautiful?

Many of us shot the castle at night but Savannah's camera won for BEST NIGHT SHOTS time and again!
Savannah...send me the name of that camera!

Food for Thought

This last shot makes me think of being that shining city on a hill. What could that mean on an individual basis? I think it means to stand out in a positive way. Be a contrast against the darkness...and we could say, the darkness of this world.

In the art world,  positive and negative is different than it is in the way we typically use the terms. Positve ...the space that is...or what you happen to be drawing, painting or creating. Negative, the space around what you are drawing or painting..or creating.

I like the blend of the two. Positive...what I am creating...or more specifically, what God is creating in me. Is it good? Is it something that will draw others to want to know more? Well, that is my goal...to be more like Christ daily. I don't get it right every moment of every day....no one does. Sometimes my opinions are stronger than others care for, but other opinions are stronger than I care for as well.  (Hopefully it teaches tolerance and balance....but never waivering in principle)

But...back to that shining city on a hill.....boy, I want America to be that, not in her past, but all the time.
It starts with each of us. And it also means being strong enough to stop the negative from overcoming the positive.

Thanks, Savannah for that stunning night shot.
Let's challenge ourselves to stand out in positive ways!

Tomorrow....The countryside and off to Northern Ireland.
Pack, then sleep well young travelers!
Edinburgh....we have loved every moment here!

Edinburgh Castle - Part 2

Continuing our tour.......

You can see Edinburgh in the far distance...just outside the Castle. Notice the rock, the volcano Castle Rock is the foundation for this great fortress. (It served many more years as a fortress than it ever did as a palace.) 

Though the castle may have been standing as far back as David I in 1124 (remember Holyrood Abbey), the road was added in 1464 by James III for the purpose of moving the cannons. Though it does not show well in this single photo, it is quite a sight! It has culverts for containing rainwater, and different stone textures for traction. Even the curves are well designed! It was not the easiest uphill walk though and had it been raining, it would have proven quite difficult. I never did see rails!

Up to the Summit! This is Crown Square, also known as he Palace Area. (We will catch other things on the way back down!) Underneath all of this is a collection of vaults...think of them as cells that held prisoners...all carved into openings in the volcanic rock. The building with the clock tower is the Royal Palace and was the residence where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to her son, James.

This is the Great Hall. Which is really about 40x 95 and just smaller than the TMA Gym lobby (50 x 100). It has one of those magnificent ceiling structures like we saw in many of the churches...the upside down ship's hull.  It dates back to the 16th Century, has some Renaissance influences, and is only one of two buildings in Scotland to still have the original Hammerbeam Roof.  None of this stuff particularly interested the kids, however the collections of swords, bayonets, pistols, and other military items certainly held their attention! This was used as a military barracks at one point in its history. 

Event the girls were fascinated by this military room!

Ah....the royal family line of Scotland! Murals were everywhere! 

And our Children of the King decided to fit right in to that Royal lineup!

We have our own House of Stewart - Stuart

Quite the interesting story!

Little James before he became King in 1603. 

The Honours of Scotland better known as the Crown Jewels (not the same ones belonging to the Royal line in England) These date from the 15th and 16th centuries and are the oldest Crown Jewels in the British Isles. The three elements are the Crown, the Sceptre and the Sword of State, all of which are seen on the Royal Coat of Arms of Scotland.

Everyone had a bit of fun outside whenever they found places to pose and interact with statues or whatever improvisational object that they found. Delightful! 

This is the Scottish National War Museum. No photos were allowed inside. I would compare this (inside) to the reverence expected at our own Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery. The museum had books and books listing the soldiers who served and died fighting for Scotland from about as far back as recorded history allowed. Quite moving!

I did not see the sign, but I am guessing Spencer found it underneath the statue at the gatehouse. The hat fascinates me. Actually he is standing next to the William Wallace plaque. (And you connected this to Braveheart, right?)

We will continue with Part 3 because we are having download issues today. I want the storyline order that I want, you see.

For all of those William Wallace fans out there, we will end this journey with a couple of quotes.

I'm William Wallace, and the rest of you will be spared. Go back to England and tell them... Scotland is free!
William Wallace

Every man dies. Not every man really lives.
William Wallace

Food for thought

Be sure that you "really live" by spending your life doing something you are passionate about. Passion means that you are willing to die for the cause.

Christ was pretty passionate about His cause, don't you think?

See you in part 3.

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!