Jay and I FINALLY made it to Edinburgh - even though our connecting train was cancelled, we caught the next train, even though our tickets were not valid for it (conductor was in a good mood).
It would have been rather embarrassing to have spend 4 months in Scotland and miss Edinburgh. And we love it. Just like everybody said we would. It turned out to be rather cold and rainy (you don't say!) day, yet we enjoyed ourselves none the less. Oh and we got to see the crown jewels! No pictures though, they don't like you to do that:)
The highlight of the trip was having he chance to meet Brian and Sharilyn, we had been planning even before coming that we would try to meet up and we had a blast with this couple. Theyw ill actually be comign to visit this weekend as their travels had been changed by the famous Glasgow Gales (entire transportation paralyzation basically).
While we were there they were setting up for their Hogmanay (New Years Eve in the Scotland life - its a BIG deal over here). The Edinburgh street party in the LARGEST street party in Europe!! Over 250 000 people show up, you can buy your tickets for next year...they already have a countdown. http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/ These photos don't show much, but everywhere there is something being setup - we even saw the CRATES full of fireworks on top the castle.
While we were there they were setting up for their Hogmanay (New Years Eve in the Scotland life - its a BIG deal over here). The Edinburgh street party in the LARGEST street party in Europe!! Over 250 000 people show up, you can buy your tickets for next year...they already have a countdown. http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org/ These photos don't show much, but everywhere there is something being setup - we even saw the CRATES full of fireworks on top the castle.
Here are a few of the Edinburgh photos, after some time in the city we headed over to Ratho, the cute little village Brian and Sharilyn live in, I will have to post some of those photos tomorrow. I have a real soft spot for little Scottish villages with their stone cottages, oh sigh, need to find my own little Scottish village in Ontario...or maybe a little Ontario cottage in Stratford would do - they are quite similar to the Scottish builds.
Proof we saw the Clowes!!
A little Whisky tasting at the Castle. I passed, had a very empty stomach and I am a bit of a lightweight when it comes to alcohol.
View from on the walls on the castle, good view of the street below. And yes, that is a dog cemetery of soldiers dogs.
Ready aim...and you could take out the Ferris wheel from here.
The great hall was FULL of all kinds of weaponry, each wall was lined with spears, swords and knives. One of the smaller walls...guns.
My soldier face.
Haggis chips...oops sorry CRISPS. Only in Scotland.
One of the many posters they had up in the war museum. They definitely did not sugar coat war recruitment. Nope.
More of the war museum - could have spent hours reading all the history and stories.
Turns out my husband gets really excited about guns. There were a few displays like this, and this is where he spent the most time over any other display. Must be a guy thing. The top gun is what they currently use in the British Army. You will have to ask Jay for the name, starts with an A.
Note the BIG yellow thing. That is our camera's rain coat. And it made it into almost every photo. #shouldhavethoughtthatthrough
This photo took a number of tries...
You can see the old city in the background.
Favorite part of Edinburgh...all the little alleyways along the Royal Mile in the old city.
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This one is getting printed on a large canvas.
Phone booths!! Sharilyn and I decided that we would get all touristy, love the tartan umbrella! Gotta get me one of them!
Photo courtesy of Sharilyn...this is another one we'll have to get printed on a canvas.
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