edinburgh castle

Mutti und Vati were here for some days, to visit.

First place I took them was Edinburgh, of course.

So it was requisite Royal Mile.

Start at the castle, end at the palace, you know the drill.

I heart Edinburgh.

"And who, indeed, that has once seen Edinburgh...
but must see it again in dreams, waking or sleeping ?"
~ Charlotte Brontë


To the castle ~




Edinburgh Castle, hugging the sky.


Cold grey stone, humourless and dry.


Sitting like a cork on top of the town.


At the castle with Mama J.


Entering the clock court.


The Great Hall.


Window seats.


The little room where Mary, QoS gave birth to her
only son, James VI & I.


She chose to be at the fortified castle (rather than the more
comfortable Palace of Holyroodhouse) because she feared for
her safety, and that of her infant son.


Love the painted ceilings.


Thistles for Scotland, MR for Maria Regina, IR for James Rex.
{The letter "I" was used for both I's and J's back then.}


Amazing heraldic fireplaces.


And the ceilings !
{Can you spy the IR6 ?}


Will you recognise me, in those flashing lights ?


Another gorgeous room.




Where a ghost was calling me.


Back outside; beautiful Scottish blue skies.


The oldest building in Edinburgh; early 12th c. !


It is St. Margaret's Chapel, the legendary place of
worship of Margaret, English princess-turned-
Scottish queen-turned-saint, died 1093.


Leaving the castle.


You can call me at Edinburgh Castle.


How cute.

"My dear sir, do not think I blaspheme, when I tell you that your great London, as compared to Dun-Edin, 'mine own romantic town,' is as prose compared to poetry, or as a great rumbling, rambling heavy epic compared to a lyric, brief, bright, clear and vital as a flash of lightning."

~ Charlotte Brontë


Bright amidst the grey stone.


Magdalen Chapel.


Greyfriars Kirk.


The skyline, it was like the backdrop of a play.


In my element.


Double Elizabeth.


Flodden Wall.


I never saw your heartless beauty.


Until I'd been away.


My favorite monument against the wall.


On closer inspection belongs to an Elizabeth.


One of the best spots in Edinburgh.


Just chillin'.


Outside St. Giles's.


Look straight down the Mile to the Firth of Forth.


Canongate Kirkyard.


Palace of Holyroodhouse.


Palace, clouds, and Arthur's Seat.


I love Holyrood Abbey.


Yes I do.


With a sky like that...


Who needs windows, anyway ?


West front.




The best backyard ever.

"Or, if you had that, and all the glories of architecture assembled together, you have nothing like Arthur's Seat, and, above all, you have not the Scotch national character; and it is that grand character after all which gives the land its true charm, its true greatness."

~ Charlotte Brontë

But Edinburgh is a mad god's dream.
xx