September 4: A Sojourn in Edinburgh

A Train Ride to Edinburgh

      I hoped to leave for Edinburgh at 6am so I could reach the Elephant House and get in line before it opened at 8. For this to happen, I would have had to get up at 4:30. I planned to do this, but I was so excited for my trip to Edinburgh that I couldn't fall asleep until after 2am! So I was not able to get up at 4:30. Instead, I rose at a reasonable hour, and caught a train.

     Thankfully, I was still able to see almost everything I had hoped to see! The train ride to Edinburgh was beautiful, with stunning rolling hills, crystal bodies of water, and charming little towns and cities along the way.

     Incidentally, I tried to sneakily take a picture of the Scottish Rugby team, who were on my train. 

The Scott Monument

     The Scott Monument commemorates, not all scots, as you might guess, but Sir Walter Scott, the novelist. It's really pretty cool-looking.

 Edinburgh Castle

     This castle was built in 1100 A.D., but people lived on this spot since 2 A.D. That's really old. It sits on the highest point in the city, casting its foreboding and dramatic shadow across the whole city. I wish I could have gotten a picture of the whole thing to show you how massive and towering it is, but it was so big that such a picture can only be taken from very far off.

The Royal Mile

     The Royal Mile connects Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the two main castles of Edinburgh. I spent the day walking down this road, visiting the many famous sights which line the street.

 

Nerd Detour - Harry Potter Sights

The Elephant House

     Just as I started the Royal Mile, I took a detour down George IV Bridge to see some Harry Potter-related sights. 

     "The Elephant House" is where J.K. Rowling wrote her first few Harry Potter books. She says it was cheaper to buy a cup of coffee than to heat her apartment, and that's what brought her here! It's a lovely little place, and I expected it to be quite crowded. However, after a short wait, I was able to buy some coffee and sit for a bit in a truly inspiring place!

 Greyfriars Kirk

     Greyfriars Kirk is a graveyard, most well known for the grave of Voldemort housed within. Actually, you can find graves with the names Potter, McGonagall, and others. J.K. Rowling used this place for inspiration of characters' names. 

     It's actually very difficult to find a particular grave in a large graveyard. I felt very sheepish asking where Tom Riddle's grave was, as it seemed irreverent within the halls of the graveyard's chapel. I did find it, however, and I was very glad I did.
     The graveyard is famous for other reasons as well. Many important people are buried here, and interestingly, a famous legend suggests that "Greyfriars Bobby," a little dog, was so faithful to his master, that even after his master died, he stayed by his master's grave for some 14 years before he too died. It's supposed to be good luck to rub the nose of the statue to this dog.

George Heriot's School

     This school was the inspiration for Hogwarts. With its four houses and four towers, looming magnitude, and haunting structure, it really feels like you're approaching Hogwarts as you approach the gigantic castle-like school.

National Library of Scotland

     The National Library of Scotland is well known for its amazing inner architecture and selection of books. However... you have to have a library card to get in there. Instead, I was able to see some exhibits in the outer portion, including a book sculpture, which I had seen pictures of before, and was thrilled to see it in person!

St Giles' Cathedral

     Actually, this was just a church, but they started calling it a cathedral to attract more tourism... tricky. Despite that it's not a historical cathedral, it is a historical place. John Knox taught here, and he was buried just behind the cathedral. Ironically, they paved over his grave, and now a plaque commemorates his burial place, but you can really only see it if a car isn't parked over it. As I stopped to take a picture, a man approached me and asked what I was taking a picture of. When I told him, he said, "Imagine that! I park right next to it every day and never realized!" 

Back Along the Royal Mile...

 

Museum of Childhood

This is the single most creepy place I have ever been. I had read all about this famous museum before I arrived, but nothing I had read had prepared me for the horror of what I found inside. See for yourself.

 The House of John Knox

Built in 1470, this very old house was the home of spiritual leader John Knox.

Museum of Edinburgh

Scottish Parliament Building

I went through security and into the Scottish parliament building. It's a notoriously awful-looking place, but it was quite exciting to be there. I sat in the building to do my devotions for the day and had a nice little rest there. I had packed a lunch, so I enjoyed that outside, and it was really very nice.

Palace of Hollyroodhouse

Hollyroodhouse is where the queen of England lives when she is in Scotland. It was built in 1128, and it has housed many important historical figures in British and Scottish royalty, including Mary Queen of Scotts. I have particular interest in stories about Mary Queen of Scotts, as she is purportedly an ancestor of mine. It was so cool to get to see where the present-day queen lives, the rooms where she holds banquets, her reception rooms and bedroom! I was even more excited to see the old rooms where Mary Queen of Scotts lived. It was so very cool to walk where so much history has happened.

Arthur's Seat

Arthur's seat, just beyond Hollyrood, rises just about 800 ft., and it is the fabled location of Camelot. It's quite a foreboding hill, and I was determined to climb it. As soon as I began, I regretted this decision. The walk was steep, and it started to rain. You really can't tell from the pictures just how massive it is. It took me about 40 minutes to get the the top, and half and hour to get back down. I was really proud of myself and felt very accomplished when I finished.

Back to Dundee

     I returned to Dundee, completely exhausted. I went to see the "Desperate Dan" statue, representing a wild west character in a British cartoon. I then made travel plans for the following day so I could finally arrive to St Andrews. I nearly crawled to the pub where I had been the night before, hoping for some really authentic fish and chips - and they were out! I did, however, have a lovely meal, and I ordered my first ever beer. It was disgusting, and I only could manage about 5 sips throughout the entire meal. I dragged myself back to my hotel, really overwhelmed with gratitude that God has blessed me with such wonderful experiences. I made so many memories this day, and I went to sleep wondering if I had ever been happier in my whole life. I'm feeling so blessed.