It was the first week of March and I have been itching to go somewhere. When February comes around each year I always get cabin fever and need to go on "holiday" to bet those winter blues. February was a rather rough month for me. Either the kids where sick or I was, then I was getting home sick and the winter blues plus loads of rain. Depressing.
Then March came in bring with it warm sunshine and blooming snow drops and daffodils. What a sight to see with the flowers in bloom. Just makes winter disappear. Though it has been great to have green grass all winter long and not see it turn to brown and die.
On to our trip. I have been wanting go to Scotland for as long as I can remember. So I decided that we should go there but to which city? Glasgow or Edinburgh? Tim suggested we go to Edinburgh Castle. With the decision made to go to Edinburgh I arranged a hotel for us and we left early on Friday morning.
The drive up to Scotland was a long one. We went up to New Castle on the major highways then after that is was country roads most of the way up to Edinburgh. The country side was beautiful with rolling hills, tree farms, and sheep everywhere. But it was a bit of a gloomy day perhaps that is what made the day feel so long.
Coming to on the Scottish boarder was awesome. There is a pub that read "last English pub."
When we reached the border there was an area you can pull of on. Perfect place for a much need break to let the kids out to run around and for some pictures. There is this huge rock with on one side reads "Scotland" and the other side reads "England" of course we got pictures with the Scotland side.
We finally got to Edinburgh after 5-6 hours of driving.
I was happy to get into the hotel and just relax for a few minutes and let the kids whine down. After Tim unloaded the car we went for a walk to see the castle and see the shops on the Royal Mile.
The royal mile is a mile long street that goes straight up to the castle. This defiantly draws the tourist crowd. I found a shop before we left on the net and they had some kilt styles I really liked. I have been over due for a kilt for a very long time. I out grew my last one when I was I think 15 yr. old. (Frank brought a kilt back for me when he went to Edinburgh ages ago.)
Right, going through this store was a nightmare with Charly; Reed not so much he was in the stroller, but Charly wanted to touch everything! Now they had all the tourist stuff in there from kilts, sweater, blanket, scarfs of different tartan (I got one of those in the Fraser Clan), to breakables, plates, and jewelry, etc....…
Charly did find a pencil and that was what she got, and of course she had to give one to Reed as well. She is so nice about to remember to make sure Reed has something too. After we left the shop and walked around a bit more we went back to the hotel for some dinner from Subway. They are everywhere over here along with KFC, McDonalds and Burger King.
How I long for something to eat from Wendy's and Taco Time. :(
After a rough night sleep(for me), we got up early had some breakfast and headed to the castle. With our hotel in a very good spot we were able to take a 10 minute walk to the castle going up a gradual hill and turning left we went some stairs. Just looking around the city there is such a mixture of very old and modern. This what I cannot get over being and living here and how everything is incorporated.
Right when you enter the castle you see statues of Robert de Bruce and William Wallace. I have a great respect for each of these men and what they have gone through to save Scotland. Plus, Robert Bruce is an ancestor of mine on both sides of my parents I found out!
(It really pays to hit the popular sight seeing attractions in the early morning because the lines will be shorter and not as many people. England is crowded in general and is unreal how fast areas fill up with people.) The best I can describe the castle is: AWESOME!
I didn't love the castle as I thought I would but its second on my list.
I have really enjoyed the castle in Wales and I love to image how it was like back in the medieval times. (less populated too) But the other castle didn't have any crown jewels. Edinburgh had the Scottish Crown jewels and the stone of Destiny.
WOW WOW WOW
That is what I was impressed with.
We were not allowed to take pictures sorry, but look them up. Just awesome.
(Since I am a jewelry person I just loved them even more.)
We let the kids pick the way we were going and wonder around the castle. We saw the city, cannons, Mon Meg Cannon(huge!), a grave site for the soldiers' dogs, a cute little Chapel, and other neat structures. When Charly and I were looking at something Reed all of a sudden takes off and Tim was chasing after him. At first I didn't follow then followed where I thought they went which was down to the toilets and dungeon area.
After Charly and I were done with that I went looking for Tim and Reed. But I couldn't find them at this point we were going inside to see the Royal apartments and crown jewels. Well, they were lost or we never caught up to them. Charly and I wonder around for about 45 minutes before we took a break and had a snack break. After that we went down to the lower level and found Tim and Reed. By this time it was lunch time and the kids were getting tired. So we headed back down to the car and to get some lunch from the farmer's market that was going on were we got a pulled pork sandwich and some porridge (oatmeal). They are crazy about their porridge up in Scotland! Love it! I love oatmeal!
Then we headed home. To view more pictures and video add me as a Facebook friend to see video.
Cheers.
