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| The Elephant Cafe |
From there to the information centre where we met up with Margaret and Arthur (friends from Australia who are also over here). Had lunch together.
Hopped on the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus and went to Edinburgh Castle.
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress that dominates the skyline of the city, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle here since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. From the 15th century, the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century, its principal role was as a military base with a large garrison. As one of the most important fortresses in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts, from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century, up to the Jacobite Rising of 1745, and has been besieged, both successfully and unsuccessfully, on several occasions.
St Margaret's Chapel is the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh and dates from the early 12th century. Among other significant buildings of the castle are the Royal Palace, and the early-16th-century Great Hall.
The castle is also the backdrop to the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo which was being set up while we were there. So much to see there, including the Crown Jewels of Scotland. On the way down the street, we called into a show of Scottish Clansmen and how they were “fearsome and fearless!” In the same building was a woollen mill. Unfortunately, they had finished weaving for the day but it was still interesting. A bit further down the street, we visited a national trust house. Quite fascinating and very well presented. Had dinner at the Castle Arms Hotel in Johnston Terrace and then on to the Jazz Bar where a 17 piece band was performing. About 10:30 caught a taxi back to the Silver Knows caravan park.
