Next up is our trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, which was by far my favorite trip. There was something so magical about being there. The sky was overcast, the buildings were moss covered sandstone and brick, and there were bagpipes playing all around. Not to mention that everyone was so friendly and nice in Scotland. From the tour guides, to local business owners, and people passing on the street...everyone said hello and welcomed you with a warm smile.
I hope you can get a taste of this wonderful place through some of these pictures.
Our hotel was right in the center of everything, so it was easy to walk to and from.
There were random bagpipe players on different street corners. They did not appear to be playing for tips, but it definitely added to the atmosphere around us.
Next up are some beautiful buildings around town. We took a "hop on hop off" bus tour around the city with a local tour guide who told us all about the different sight seeing opportunities.
This building housed all of the ancestry and genealogy records. If you have any Scottish decent, you can spend some time here and they will help you trace back your ancestry. I have always wanted to do something like this, but I have no idea if I have any Scottish in me.
We got the chance to tour a Scotch whiskey distillery, to see how it is made, and even sample some at the end. This was one of Steve's favorite parts of the trip and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the different types out there.
This is the back end of the stadium they set up for the military Tatoo show. More on that further down...
The castle is literally built on the side of a rocky cliff, which made for some breathtaking views of the city.
Here's a look inside the castle. This was the old banquet hall complete with a huge fireplace at the end and a ceiling made from the bottom of an old ship.
We also got to see Mary Queen of Scotts' old bed chambers and toured the inside of some of the other rooms in the castle. The detailing was absolutely stunning.
Now just outside the castle walls, was the stadium set up for the Royal Military Tattoo. This is an annual event where they honor the Scottish military. People come from all over the world to see this and now I can definitely see why.
They take you back through Scottish history and the different places where their military were present. They had bands, dancers, and music from the Zulu tribes in Africa, Singapore, India, and many more. My favorite part was the Celtic dancers doing a type of river dance with the bagpipes in the background.
The beating of the drums and the bagpipes playing, the castle in the background, the sun setting in the sky, and a gorgeous fireworks display at the end, made for such a magical and memorable time.
My pictures seriously do not do this amazing event justice, so I encourage you to visit
this website for better pictures and an overview of past Tattoo events.
I hope you enjoyed the tour of Edinburgh and that it encouraged you to maybe visit one day. We definitely want to come back sometime in the future.
As always thank you for reading!
