Last Summer in Scotland

[ScotAtHeart]

As I am new here, I thought I might post some pics of my trip last summer...which is when I fell in love with all things Scottish.

First thing we really saw...Melrose Abbey.


First thing we saw in Edinburgh...the bus seats made us giggle.


Kilt!


Sir Walter Scott Monument...


Tartan Mill by Edinburgh Castle...the Geoffrey Tailor mill I think.


Edinburgh Castle


Such a beautiful city


Notice the tourist with PC, kilt, sporran & everything else


Went to tour Holyrood...and we found this:


Then we walked around the corner and saw this sign. We did end up going back to Edinburgh (even though it wasn't really in the itinerary) in order to try to catch a glimpse of the Queen when she arrived. The marines (I think they were marines) were practicing for the ceremony of the keys...which is held when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive at Holyrood every year.

[LitTrog]

Very cool! Would say I'm jealous, but it feels too negative. Will just say I now have a greater pull to go myself.

[Spartan Tartan]

How cool!

[Jock Scot]

Great pictures, I do enjoy seeing my country through other people's eyes. Thank you so much for sharing them.

No, they were not Marines, or even, Royal Marines on Parade.

[cessna152towser]

Excellent pics.
Like Jock I enjoy seeing my home country through the eyes of visitors.
As the guy in your second last photo appears to be wearing a limo driver's cap I would guess he would be a chauffeur of one of the royal cars.

[Jock Scot]

Excellent pics.
Like Jock I enjoy seeing my home country through the eyes of visitors.
As the guy in your second last photo appears to be wearing a limo driver's cap I would guess he would be a chauffeur of one of the royal cars.

The chap standing at the rear of the Parade,Alex? With the pace stick? I am not sure that it would be wise to call him a chauffeur! He's the Regimental Sergeant Major!

[tulloch]

Wonderful photos. Thanks for fueling my dreams.

[cessna152towser]

The chap standing at the rear of the Parade,Alex? With the pace stick? I am not sure that it would be wise to call him a chauffeur! He's the Regimental Sergeant Major

Well spotted Jock, I had not noticed the rows of soldiers standing in front of him.
But why do they all appear to be wearing limo drivers' caps rather than soldiers' berets?

[ScotAtHeart]

Thanks everyone. Oops...about the soliers. Here are some more...

On one of the tours of the underground vaults in Edinburgh....supposed to be haunted. Didn't experience anything, but our tour guide was late because something happened on the tour before us. This is just a vault rented out by Wiccan.


Balmoral Castle




This was only one of two rainy days we had. Glasgow:


Crieff


Hielan' Coo


Stirling Castle


Wallace Monument


More to come...

[ScotAtHeart]

Stirling Highland games






Caber toss with Stirling Castle in the background


Backhold wrestling. The one in the grayish kilt was quite good.


This was the day that we returned to Edinburgh to try to see the Queen.


We weren't allowed to get too close to the gate, so I couldn't get such great pictures....but it was awesome to see and listen to the pipers and the band...very professional. I was lucky enough to get there early and have the front row spot...there were hundreds of people lined up behind us and down the street who were trying to see what was going on.


I waited patiently to see the Queen...and was really disappointed when she entered through a side gate (we were hoping she would come through the gate we were standing by, which seemed to be the main gate). We watched the soldiers do the royal salute and watched the royal standard being raised while God Save the Queen was played, but we couldn't really see anything, as she was hidden behind soldiers. However, my mom pointed out that she could see the very top of her hat moving towards the end of a row of soldiers, so I picked my camera up and managed to snap a photo of her right when she became visible....and then she weaved her way back through the soldiers again....and that was the one glimpse that anyone got.


Then we saw the Duke of Edinburgh because he came to greet the guests inside of the palace gates. We weren't sure who the lady next to him was...Princess Anne maybe?


I was able to get a few better shots after everyone marched out of the palace gates. Here's one of a couple pipers.


Anyway...that was basically my time in Scotland. Upon reviewing my photos, I realized that I don't have any photos of me...I think I was so rapt by everything I saw that I forgot to have someone take my picture. I will be returning in a few weeks...so I am very excited...and I'll be sure to share my pics after that trip (and I'll make sure to have my photo taken), too. This time around I will be in Edinburgh during the International Festival...so that should be fun. Oh! And I'm going to see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo! Can't wait!