Defender of the Nation: Edinburgh Castle

The next day we spent walking through Edinburgh, visiting the historic sites along the Royal Mile in the old town and visiting Edinburgh Castle

Another view of the Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is up on a hill and this is over looking the gardens and the memorial to Sir Walter Scott, Edinburgh's most famous inhabitant. If you don't know Sir Walter Scott was a writer who wrote Ivanhoe, Rob Roy to name a few.

There are a lot of touristy shops around the area, some really nice and others with the crapy tourist stuff. My mom and I fell in love with jewelry that was made from Heather. They were beautiful and we did a lot of looking for our favorite ones to buy.

Not sure who this was, but I think that Kit got a kick out of the bird on its head.

This is St. Giles Church, where we ended up going to Easter Service at. It is a very old church built in the 1200's. It has been used as many things over  the years from a police station, school, prison and coal store.

views of the stain glass on the floor.

This was a our view on Easter Sunday. Very beautiful

We made our way to Edinburgh Caste which is at one end of the Royal Mile.  the Castle is perched on an extinct volcano and can been seen from many parts of Edinburgh.

This is a view looking over the town of Edinburgh from the castle.

This a view of the castle from the back of it, but it shows how it is built on top of the Volcano

Once you get through  the gates, it is like a little city.

There are houses that are now used as art galleries and museums.

The cobble stone streets

I think this is the Fortress area

 Cannon Balls

more Cannons

This was a cave where they stored the Crowned Jewels during one of the many battles that took place here. If you want to know more about the History of the Castle, (which I find super interesting but I know not everyone else does) go here.

The outside of the Grand Hall.

The inside. Can't you just imagine people dancing and eating in here.

Kit holding a broad sword

massive fireplaces to keep the big rooms, warmish.

in one of the museums, there was scottish ad's for the army. 

We thought this one was the best.

After going to the Castle we ran into William Wallace

(at least the William Wallace from Braveheart)

 

 and some bagpipes.

Great day number 2!!