Scotland 4th Day — July 2, 2008

Off to Edinburgh fer the day.

After brekies, we walk down our street and in 10 minutes we are at the Sterling train station. £7 for a round-trip ticket to Edinburgh, a great deal. It's about a 45-minute ride in a nice, comfortable rail car -- with no undesirables about. Couldn't ask fer more! We arrive in Edinburgh and the station is fab -- very European. Here's a photo of me wee devil, Jonny at the station...


Once out of the station, we hop on a tour bus to get acquainted with the city. Our informative guide tells us all about the city and it's famous castle. While touring the "Royal Mile" —which is name for the succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of Edinburgh's Old Town—I am most fascinated by the "closes." A "close" is a narrow alleyway that runs south and north off the "Royal Mile." Each close has a name, usually associated with the owner of tenements on that close. More about the closes, later.

After our bus tour, we take a tour of Edinburgh's famous castle. The castle sits high upon a volcanic crag (as does our Stirling Castle), but dates back to 600 AD. It houses the Scottish crown jewels, and was where Mary, Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI, the future king of England. We had a great guide and really enjoyed the castle (although...I hate to say it, but I'm still partial to our castle here in Stirling).

After the tour, we took a walk down from the castle and shopped for Scottish goods...namely plaid scarves and whiskey. Tired and hungry, we pop into a local Italian restaurant. Good... but we thinks we will stick to Scottish fare whilst in Scotland.



Jonny & I high atop Edingburgh Castle



A curvy street in Edinburgh


Edinburgh at 10:30 p.m.


Posing in front of a gothic church



A scenic close



The entrance to Mary King's Close (shudder)

After the meal, I go out in search of "Mary King's Close" -- remember the "closes" I spoke of earlier? Well, I heard that this one was the most haunted in Scotland... so, of course -- I must explore it (and Jon goes along with the idea to humor me). We find it by stumbling across another ghost tour about to start. Mary King's close is completely underground -- used in the 16th century, vacated because many of it's inhabitants died of the black plague. It was shut down and then built upon, only to be discovered later. It was eerie and fascinating. I didn't come in contact with a ghost, but I swear, on our way back to our flat in Stirling, we walked up our VERY SCARY back alley at midnight and I took a pic. There is a mysterious orb-like light in the foreground. Orbs are usually found in areas of high "ghost activity".
You be the judge.........

Do you see the orb?