Edinburgh - Scotland

I've been gone the last few days to visit a friend of mine in Ireland. She's the sweetest person and as a well planned and kept surprise she dragged me along for the day to Edinburgh, where she was born and gave me a grand tour. As far as cities go, I actually like Edinburgh, as it is a rather old and even midevil looking city.

The first thing I saw upon entering Edinburgh was the vast keep in the centre of the city, looking down upon it  from the remnants of an ancient vulcano.

This photo was taken inside the outer walls of the fortified castle. Today, it's a museum, although the army has built some new quarters inside the outer walls and has some legions stationed there.

I like old places, abandoned ruins are my favourite... I like to dwell in them, imagining the people of old who walked there before me (and yes, I'm a romantic;)

I could see a place like that from the castle, where the people still go to celebrate Beltane I didn't get to go there, but who knows one Beltaine, you might find me there...

At one o'clock there was the firing of the canon (it had been that way since ages apparently, every day at one) by a army guy in a fancy uniform. Loading, waiting for one o'clock and me startling when the canon was shot: in that order...

Hence the moved picture... it really was a loud bang and I jumped as well as shot.

Then we went for a tour, my friend telling me all sorts of very interesting things about the castle and its history.

I liked the carvings in the walls and the glass in lead windows, also, the rare gargoile drew my attention there and in the city itself

There was a beautiful hall (where we couldn't take pictures, or maybe we could, I wasn't sure) but I snuck out this picture of this lovely lion guarding the fireplace.

From the halls of the rich we went down toward the dark dungeons. I hate flashes, so unless there is something really striking, or someone begs me, I'd rather not take pictures at all then use it. So, it goes without saying I have no pictures from there, save one that gets the mood across...

The prisonners slept in hammocs and straw loosely covered the floor...

Outside the castle, on the Royal Mile (if memory serves me) we were stalked by a hari krishna who insisted on calling us sisters and tried really hard to get us heritics saved.

Needless to say we declined. And when that didn't help, we just walked away and hoped he'd stop following. After a while, he did.

So, when we past him the third time (and not on purpose) we decided to return the favour and snuck closer to take this picture...

It's as hazy as it was hastily taken, but he's the guy holding the clipbord. The other one is merely a victim :)

Continuing our tour, we entered one of the many churchs there, where I found this lady staring down at me...

I like the detail they can put into the face and eyes using naught but shadows and sun. I can still feel her eyes... She looks so sad.

Coming down from the castle into the city we had a grand view of the scottish monument. A massive base growing into a graceful point, black as night but with the memory of times less soiled still shining through...

To finish the evening in that part of town, we had a drink in a pub aptly called:

And should any of you be interested in random trivia:

as far as Irish and / or Scottish crisps are concerned...

Salt and Vinegar RULES.

All in all, a great time and a city well worth seeing.

Hope you enjoyed it as well...