Holyrood Park Edinburgh

Hello again.

First of all I'd wish to say sorry to my share of loyal fans who couldn't wait for a new blog entry. As it occurs to a lot of famous writers in literature, I had to conquer a writer's block the past couple of days as well. Anyway, let's start off where I ended ...

... I managed to make it through my first week at …

So we are now in Edinburgh. Arrived yesterday in a little zip zip rental car (we have rented it for 2 weeks), named the 'Italian Stallion'. And NO we didn't name it that, Avis did.
Yesterday we drove from Clive and Tino's in Chamberlain Street and headed directly...through a country (England for those who are just as geographically inept as I …

So...I know this has been a long time coming. Two weekends have passed since I have actually been in Scotland and yet I still have not written about it. For all of you avid readers (note my sarcasm...I highly doubt anyone is a particularly avid reader of my blog), I am sorry to have disappointed you with my lack of communication. I will also …

Die ersten Stunden unserer Reise sind erlebnisreich verlaufen. Bei herrlichem Wetter in Zürich abgedüüst, bei schottischem Niesel und kühlen Temparaturen gelandet. Erster Eindruck im Zentrum von Edinburgh: (suchende) Touris ohne Ende... Nicht, dass wir etwa zu dieser Gattung gehören, denn: Wir erstanden sofort nach Ankunft Tickets für den …

Breakfast at the hotel introduced Alan to haggis. I abstained. While he claims it wasn't bad, I don't think he ate it again during our stay. He also insisted on returning to the room to brush his teeth because everything he ate afterwards had a bit of haggis flavoring.

Having taken in much of Edinburgh's New Town yesterday, our plan for …

... an alternative, an alternative that would give us the same taste, smell and feel of a genuine trek through the Highlands.  Holyrood Park.   Arthur's Seat is the name of the peak which one can see from any point in Edinburgh.  They say ...

... behind schedule and its budget and now won't even reach to the airport rendering it pretty useless!). So I finally find my way to Holyrood Park where the trails begin and let me tell you, looking up at the mountain it seemed daunting! But of course I ...

... to set the boat down or pick another one up regardless of its size or shape. On other days, we climbed Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park with Wendy and Robin (and their dogs - Maisie and Murdoch, walked up the Royal Mile, toured Edinburgh Castle, had ...

... were still there. At the bottom is Holyrood Palace, and Holyrood, the Scottish Parliament. Just round the corner from there is Holyrood Park, an array of volcanic hills, lochs, ruins, and pathways to climb. What they didn't tell me at the bottom ...

... I didn't want to waste the next few hours of the gorgeous day, so headed back along the Royal Mile all the way to Holyrood Park and the base of Arthur's Seat, the remains of a volcano. Luckily I wore comfy shoes, so I embarked on the ...

... , a storm in 1758 took down the vaulted stone ceiling, and this is how the abbey stands today. Beside Holyrood Palace lies Holyrood Park which houses a large hill known as Arthur’s Seat and several cliffs known as Salisbury Crags.  The hill, ...

... of the Old Town. To me it looks like someone arriving at the party unaware that it was black tie. Beyond both lies Holyrood Park. 650 acres of wild open space in the heart of the city, climbing over 800 feet to the towering volcanic core of ...

... anything but a day of rest for me. Instead I decided to hike up Arthur's seat, the highest hill of Edinburgh located in a beautiful park called Holyrood Park just next to the actual City Centre. The weather was beautiful. A bright and sunny day, ideal ...

... the fields we found ourselves bathed in sunlight. We got a bus to the foot of Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags, part of Holyrood Park, and home to some good hiking. Much to Stacey's disappointment, Steve and I didn't want to waste the sunshine, and ...

... moving and powerful.  It was interesting to see the English and Scottish history overlap and see how the two developed into the United Kingdom we know today.  In the end I think it was worth the admission fee, but the Yeoman Warder tour at ...