Jaw dropping in Edinburgh

This is a recap of Tuesday and Wednesday, August 7 & 8, 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland 

It all started with a 7 hour trip. Wow. All this moving is tiring!! The cool factor was that part of it was on a ferry across the Irish sea. Then a very boring 3.5 hours bus ride to Edinburgh.  That said. Once I was in Edinburgh my jaw wouldn't stay shut. It's just amazing. The architecture, the nature, the entertainment. 

The ferry to Scotland

THE ARCHITECTURE

It is amazing around Edinburgh.  Everywhere you look there is something just different enough to keep your attention. Whether it is Edinburgh castle, Holyroodhouse, the Scott monument (for sir Walter Scott), or any of the various other buildings there is just constantly something you're saying WOW to. With the city built on "7" hills, even the way the buildings seamlessly rise up in concert is amazing. The only time I found the hills less amazing was late in the day and I was still walking up and down them. :(

Edinburgh castle viewed from atop one of the other hills in Edinburgh.  

Different angle, with the Olympic rings in the foreground

In the main courtyard of the castle, they built an 8000 seat stadium for various events.  

Layout of the castle in map form

Front face of Holyroodhouse

The old cathedral that is adjoined to the palace.

Scott monument

Sady this photo was taken with my pocket cam as I ran out of battery on good old trusty :(

Miscellaneous 

I definitely liked the tours of Holyroodhouse, the summer palace of the queen in Scotland, and Edinburgh castle. The castle is just a mammoth winding complex and it took me a bit of time to get my barring straight, but once I did, the combination of architecture that evolved over time and the history learned through displays, walking tour, as well as the three museums (national war museum, the Royal Scots Regimental Museum, and the Regimental Museum of the Royal Scots Dragoon) in the complex was a great way to spend several hours. 

THE NATURE. 

The city of Edinburgh is built on "7" hills and a harbour that helps make nature an immediate part of what you see.  There's a great time to be had climbing up the tallest of the hills, arthur's seat.  It's just east of the city center, just past Holyroodhouse. Of course it's hard to miss as it towers over the city bringing a dramatic yet appropriate backdrop to city. The ascents up the sides are in some places pretty steep and somehow the higher I was the more windy it was.  At top is a plaque indicating the height and direction of the other hills and other places around Edinburgh.  Another amazing hill, with a much easier climb up is Calton hill. Getting to the top of this hill rewards you with a set of monuments, the city observatory and a wonderful view of the city. 

 

Calton Hill

THE ENTERTAINMENT

For most cities the architecture, nature, history and standard fair would be enough to bring people in.  However every August Edinburgh ups the ante a bit and hosts a phenomenal event called the fringe. It's a performance event with a combination of comedians, singers, burlesque shows,  street acts,  "one man" stage shows, etc...  There is also the scottish military tattoo.  All of the shows are a mix of free and paid so the quality of what you get is hit and miss.  Throughout the day the performers are out on the streets ramping up interest in their show handing out sheets with the details.  On the street I saw things ranging from Yoda

the invisible man

 The who knows what that is creature... 

people in a tub

 someone dressed in mirrors

another dressed in a nappy 

a juggler

Sometimes you luck into a good show and other times, not so much.  I went to a few comedians. The first two I literally walked out on. The third comedian I saw was pretty funny.  He was Japanese and had a whole routine based on stereotypes and languages differences.  I popped in and out of a few other shows, but overall, it was a great experience with a good variety of options.  The fringe alone is worth a trip to Edinburgh.