EDINBURGH CASTLE

        Or The Rock

It seems that everyone who goes to Scotland, runs up from England to spend a bit of time in Edinburgh, with of course a visit to the famous castle. Therefore, I hesitate to even write about the castle. Personally I love Glasgow and if I had to chose between the two cities I’d chose the lovely Victorian city over the more popular Edinburgh. If all you’ve seen is Edinburgh and you think you’ve seen Scotland, think again. The country has so much more to offer!

The majestic landmark, Edinburgh Castle, dominates the city’s skyline just as it has colored Scotland’s long and colorful, albeit bloody, history. The fort was built right into the rock, and good evidence of that can be seen as one walks around the castle. At one time 5000 people lived on the rock, today only about 500 live there. After New Town was built in the mid 1700s, people of means moved off the rock. Buildings were 12-14 stories high with no plumbing or running water. A warning shout of gardie loo was given before waste water was thrown out of the windows! Built on a plug of volcanic rock left by glaciers, there were seven barriers to get into the fort. After Mary, Queen of Scots’, husband stabbed her secretary, David Rizzio, 56 times in her presence, she moved to the castle not desiring to stay any longer  at Holyroodhouse. She delivered her son in the castle.

The castle has been a fortress, a palace, a military garrison, and a state prison. Much of the castle today is home to the military with men living in the barracks on the rock.

We climbed the tower to see the crown jewels as well as the 26 X 16-inch sandstone Stone of Destiny, weighing 336 pounds, housed there. In 1296 Edward I took the Stone of Destiny to England where it stayed under the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey. England returned the Stone of Destiny to Scotland in 1996 after holding it for 700 years. Several kings were crowned on the sandstone block.

Afterward, we stepped into the small 12^th century St. Margaret’s chapel which is the oldest building in Edinburgh. King David I dedicated it to his mother after she became a saint in 1250.

            The Castle cannon fires at 1PM each day as a time check. Our docent was cute when she said, “Most cities sound bells or some another signal at noontime, right?  But we’re Scots and we are frugal. If we send off the cannon at noon we have to shoot it 12 times, at one o’clock we only have to shoot it once.” 

            Believe it or not the crowd gathered, cameras were poised, and the cannon misfired! Why me?

            The castle was the last stop on a long city tour. After the cannon misfire we retreated to the café for a good lunch of summer cullen skink--- haddock and potato soup.Who could resist anything with a name like that? It was excellent. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch and respite before tacking the walk down the Royal Mile.