Edinburgh

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Castle and a huge change of weather!!

We drove up via a huge detour to Hadrians Wall, a clear day but freezing cold. Great stop near Twice brewed - yes a real town. Great Museum and really impressive remains of the wall, fort that house 800 and the village outside the fort.

We ended up taking about 5 hours all up to get to Edinburgh, so a long day and stir crazy children in the back. Once checked in to the good old travelodge we walked the town for a few hours. up to the castle then out to the memorial to Greyfriars Bobby then a trip to "The elephant house" - where JK rowling wrote Harry Potter - we couldn't get in as it was so packed. We stayed in the old town, and it really is the old town. amazing buildings and "closes" like alley with shops and pubs down them. The whole place just seems to revolve around tourism, every shop along the royal mile sells kilts, short bread and whiskey. Nothing else in the old town besides pubs.

We went to the castle in freezing rain on day two, amazing history. Such a clear feeling when you talk to the Scotish that they want to be seperate from England. Dinner was at the royal mcgregor, haggis fritters for us to try, great Scottish cider and beer finished in the making with rum, about 8 percent alcohol. Walked home in light snow, really not in Woonona now!

The huge amount of snow led to a change of plans, we were unable to get to Innverness so ended up staying in Dundee for two nights - a travelodge nearly as noisy as Edinburgh - great location but no sleep.

We found Captain Scotts ship - the Discovery in Dundee - impressive and it's the 100 year anniversary of the expedition.

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Photos

J k rowling wrote Harry potter here
The coffee shop where she wrote the first few books in Edinburgh

Trying hard
Cannon Balls for the huge cannon at the top of the Castle

Comments

[Marrotts]

Wow!
Wow! Thousands of years of history and you have stepped amongst it all! Just so amazed after reading your last couple of weeks of blog entries. Some of the photos you have posted, like on the field at Lords, Legoland scenes and the execution site in that prison can bring such intense reaction even through a blog site! Amazing! I have to agree with Michael...Kasey and horses look like they belong together! And finally, since this IS the Edinburgh comment site, who was Hadrian?! ps Have you got to feel snow yet?

[walkeroloughlan]

Hadrian rules!!!
hadrian was the roman emperor in ancient britain, I loved ancient history at school thanks to a great teacher, anyway he decided to build a wall across Britain to keep out the pesky celts, it took about 7 years and stood for over 400. Eventually as the roman empire went in to decline the wall was abandoned as Romans left Britain to defend other boarders! Yes all been in the snow and thrown snow balls! Also forgot to add we had haggis while in Edinburgh, totally touristy but we had to!!