My mom and her friend Sharon came to visit me in Scotland, so I decided to show them all the sights.
November 18
They flew in early in the morning, but I caught an early train from St Andrews to Edinburgh Haymarket station, hopped on a bus, and I was able to meet them at the airport! We checked into the hotel and headed to get some breakfast.
The Elephant Cafe
You might remember the Elephant Cafe from an earlier post of mine - it is where JK Rowling wrote her first Harry Potter book.
Scottish National Museum
Our next stop was the Scottish National Museum. It was filled to the brim with rich pieces of Scottish history.
The museum was just right around the corner from the cafe.
This is the tomb of Mary Queen of Scots!
These are her jewels!
An ancient tartan mill.
Queen Victoria Statue.
Greyfriars Kirk
Also featured in previous posts, Greyfriars Kirk is a famous graveyard surrounded my both myth and history.
This is Greyfriar's Bobby, the dog who purportedly laid by his master's grave for 12 years until the dog died.
Inside the graveyard.
JK Rowling got several of her character names here, including Tom Marvolo Riddel (Voldemort).
Soon, we left the graveyard and headed up toward the caste.
Around Town
World's Most Dangerous Book Shop
On the way up, we stopped by this little gem. It is donned the world's "most dangerous bookshop" for its rickety, tall ladders and precariously placed books.
Thrift Shop
We went to a really cool thrift shop/costume shop, which I had discovered last time. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name, but I got some pictures :)
Lunch
Before we got up to the castle (which is a long hike uphill), it started pouring the hardest, most Scottish rain I had seen my whole time there. We couldn't continue uphill against the rain and wind, so we stopped inside for lunch.
That tall building in the middle is an old church now transformed into a music hall and restaurant, where we ate.
Lunch!
Edinburgh Castle
We finally made it up the hill!
We discovered our Drummond family tartan at the castle gift shop! We later bought some Drummond tartan scarves which I am cherishing.
Outside Edinburgh Castle.
On the bridge which crosses the moat.
Mom and Sharon
The view from the castle.
Inside the castle.
Inside the castle walls are many smaller buildings, for which the castle provided defense.
Inner rooms of the castle.
Pictured here is Isabella Drummond, of the Drummond clan, to which I belong!
This is Mary Queen of Scots' chamber. A lot of history happened in these walls, including the birth of her son. We also got to see the Crown Jewels, but we couldn't take pictures in there!
Sir Walter Scott Tea Room
We were exhausted, so we stopped for tea in this charming little place.
Scottish National Gallery
We ended our day at the Scottish National Gallery.
November 19
I had gone back to St Andrews the previous night, and Thursday morning I attended classes. My mom and Sharon joined me at 10 on the 19th.
The Ruins of St Andrews
East Sands
This is where George Wishart was burned at the stake. You never hear about Wishart, but he was pretty important! After being burned at the stake for heresy, his outraged friends stormed the castle, won, and established the first Protestant congregation of Scotland.
St Mary's Quad
Mary Queen of Scots planted this tree!
Divinity and Psychology classes are housed in this lovely quad, so I spent a lot of time here.
Beautiful!
West Sands
We left the quad and headed to the beach past the ruins which mark the local high school.
Around Town
I showed them the golf course where golf was invented.
We saw where Patrick Henry was burned at the stake for heresy too. They really liked to burn Protestants here back in the day!
St Salvatore's quad, the most iconic feature of St Andrews - looks like Hogwarts!
The St Salvatore's bell tower.
Actually Going to Class
I did actually go to class while they were here, I didn't just sightsee! I set them loose on the town for a couple hours while I got to work with these fun charts.
Dinner at Mitchell's
We had a delicious dinner in town, and then headed back on the train to Edinburgh.
November 20
Elevensies at the Balmoral
I reserved a table for us at the fanciest hotel in Edinburgh, the famous Balmoral Hotel. We had "Elevensies," which I was very surprised to learn was not just a hobbit thing, but is, in fact, a real practice.
National Portrait Gallery
This was one of my mom's favorite things of the weekend.
Outside the gallery.
Gallery lobby
Mary Queen of Scots's crest.
The runner Eric Lidell, the Christian runner who inspired the movie "Chariots of Fire."
A very famous portrait of Mary Queen of Scotts
Another very famous portrait of my ancestor, Mary Queen of Scots.
Scott Monument
St Giles Cathedral
Posing with John Knox
The Royal Mile
Dinner at The World's End
The end of the royal mile was once called "the world's end" because of the bad characters who hung around there, and the way it steeply drops off.This famous pub plays on this historical name.
Thistly Cross cider was the best cider I found in all of Scotland.
Fish and Chips with Mom and Sharon!
John Knox's House and the Museum of Edinburgh.
We ended the day by taking a tour of John Knox's house and the Museum of Edinburgh.
John Knox's sunglasses!
Inside the museum.
Inside John Knox's house.
Sleepy!
November 21
Scottish Parliament
Palace of Hollyroodhouse
Next, we took a tour of the Palace of Hollyroodhouse, which is where the royal family lives when in Scotland. It is also the historical home of many royalties, including Mary Queen of Scots.
Outside the abbey ruins
A tour of the royal garden.
Hiking Arthur's Seat
My mom and I climbed Arthur's Seat, a gorgeous national park which looms over Edinburgh.
View from the top.
Proud of ourselves for making the hike!
Headed down
Next, we took a long walk around a winding road to a secluded inn.
Enjoying quality time with my mom.
My mom is so cute!
The view of the loch was beautiful!
Sheep's Heid Inn
By lunchtime, we had arrived at the Sheep's Heid Inn, the oldest pub in Scotland. It is the cite of several historical events and has served many national historical figures.
Royal Yacht Brittania
Next, we headed to Leith, the beach area of Edinburgh. We took a tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia, which is the last yacht owned by the royal family before it was decommissioned and they transitioned to the use of planes. Luxurious and austere, it was filled with royal history.
Just casually displaying an Easter Island head, not making a big deal about it at all. There were gems hidden all around this boat!
Edinburgh Christmas Market
We ended our journey at the famous and delightful Edinburgh Christmas Market. We watched ice skaters, shopped from the little vendors, sipped Bailey's hot chocolate to keep warm, and rode the gigantic Ferris wheel.
Really gross, but much appreciated fair food for dinner. We were so hungry!
November 22
Mom left for home, and I headed back to St Andrews. I was exhausted, but I got to see the sunrise from the train! I spent the day resting and catching up on things.
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