Aug. 31 - Edinburgh, again

Before I get going - the port is pronounced Edin-bur-ah.  The last sylabble is strong and gutteral.
After a very late night at the Chef's table, it was hard getting up today for this tour. But this was a day I was excited about. Our primary goal, Stirling Castle.
Today was going to be a very full tour day - timed to the minute for arrivals and departures from the various stops. We would be in Braveheart country - home of William Wallace who fought the battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 (played by Mel Gibson in the movie Braveheart).

Also around the area of Stirling Castle, we visited Bannockburn where another battle fought in 1314) the Scots waged, and won, the 2nd war of independence againsty the British.

But let me go back to the beginning of the day. We anchored off So. Queensferry and had to tender to land. We went under the famous "Firth of Forth" train bridge. While it is under maintenance, it is still a beautiful bridge dating back to 1890. The bridge, even today, is considered an engineering marvel and is being considered for UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

On shore, we met our guide, Fraser. A very well know Scottish guide that Joyce, my cruise critic friend, has used many times. Fraser met us on the dock, wearing his Gordon clan tartan. very sharp looking. He outlined our day and said we had to be punctual since, as I mentioned above, we had a lot of places to go and people to see!!

A quick drive through the town and we passed The Black Castle dating back to 1626. (actually, this is young compared to so many other antiquities we have seen!!)

Our first stop was the town of Culross. Fraser planned a walking tour here. We had a long climb up a hill to Culross Abbey. But well worth the climb.

this house is called the House of the Evil Eyes!!!

the unicorn is seen on a lot of monuments

Vicky and Herb on a quiet street

Carlos on climb up hill with water in the background

two brothers running happily DOWN hill to school

Back in the coach and off to Bannockburn wherre Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, fought a battle for indenpendce in 1314.

Now on to Stirling Castle, a short distance from Bannockburn. Stirling is compared to Edinburgh Castle because they both are very stategically located on high volcanic rock, giving them a strong defensive position and nearly impenetrable. Some of the structures date back to the 1300's but most are from 18th century. In touring the castle, you can see walls that change in texture and color indicating reinforced areas. Stirling was the Royal Palace built by King James V for his bride, Mary of Guise, for their daughter, Mary Queen of Scots.

Before entering the castle via the drawbridge, we stopped to look at the monument to Wallace in the distance. We knew we would not be able to see this up close because of time restrictions and the fact it is a very hard climb. Guess I have to go back!!!

walking the drawbrige to castle

note change in building materials

note palm tree - there is a little garden right there in a circular tower. At one time, this was a tall tower.

see bullet holes in tower wall

A much needed rest stop.....

Herb reading, as usual

King Carlos and his Queen in the Main Hall.

We were back on the road again. This time for a stop in the town of Alberfolye for a lunch stop and then on to an area where Hamish lives - a highland cow.

Hamish

We were back in the coach again heading to Loch Lomond and Trussards National Park.  More fields and fields of heather. We had one stop where we could pick heather.  Wish I could have brought some home.

yours truly in a field of heather

Loch Lomond

Our final stop was for what else - shopping in a woolen factory. Yours truly managed to look but not to touch or to buy. Always in the back of my mind - BA only allowed us 51 lbs and we started the trip with way too much to allow for purchases. Was there a method to Carlos' madness in this?????

Great day. Another long tiring one though. So looking forward to our last sea day to catch up before our last port - Normandy.

P.S. Ships computers so painfully slow - no time to get on computers while at sea.