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We traveled to Edinburgh on Saturday. By the time
we got to the hotel it was just about dark. The taxi
ride in from the airport was nice. We went the weekend after
New Years so the city was very quiet and empty. We
asked where everyone was and was told we should have been
here the week before (New Years). Apparently they have
one big street part to celebrate the New Year. There
is a big fireworks display at the castle and every one
parties and gets drunk. This year they has 125,000
people in the downtown area. After all that drinking
everyone was either too poor or too hung over to be out on
the town. We were also told that if we really wanted to see
a party we should come back next year. All the rooms
in the hotels were already booked for New Years 1999.
The penthouse in the big fancy hotel in the center of town
was going for 5000 pounds ($7500) a day. Houses in the
down town area were being rented for 8000 pounds a week.
They are expecting at least 1/2 million people for the
party.
Below is a view of the city from the castle. In the
distance you can see the Firth of Forth which is the bay the
port is on.
This shot shows the oldest part of Edinburgh Castle. It is the chapel at the highest part of the hill At some point in the history (1400's I think) the Scottish captured the castle from the English. Because they did not have enough troops to defend the castle the instead tore it down so the English would not have it when they returned. All the left was the chapel which is dedicated to a Scottish saint.
Here is a view of the main defenses of the castle on the
side facing the city. The castle is actually part of the old
city. It is at the end of the main street through the
old town. The street ends in the courtyard you see
here. In September they hold a big festival for
marching bands in the court yard. It is called the
Military Tattoo. They put up big bleachers in the
courtyard and put on music and traditional dance shows.
One of the things we saw in the castle was the crown jewels
of Scotland. You have to remember that until the early
1707's Scotland was an independent country with its own
government and king. At that point they signed an agreement
merging the two countries and making the king of England
also the king of Scotland. As part of this agreement
the Scottish crown jewels were locked in a big wooden
strongbox and placed in a room in the castle that was then
bricked up. There were many who disagreed with the
agreement and it was felt that having the crown jewels
available would incite Scottish nationalists to seek
independence. The jewels stayed there for over 100 years and
were almost forgotten. In 1818 some Scottish
historians started asking whatever became of the
jewels. After a little research the found the room and
had it opened. The found the chest with the jewels
untouched after all those years. They are now on
display in the castle. Pictures were not allowed but if you
click on the following link it will show you what they look
like. http://www.royal.gov.uk/faq/jewels2.htm
Here is the main street leading up to the
castle. This shot was taken from outside our
hotel.
All through the old city you see these alleys branching off
the main street.
Here is the main church in the old city.
