On a cold Monday morning we gathered near St. Giles Cathedral on High Street to join our tour group led by a young man from Wisconsin. We were a motley crew of people from around the world eager to go inside Edinburgh Castle which dominates the city with its presence on Castle Rock. Ours would be a half mile hike down High Street whose full extent is known as the Royal Mile. 

We were soon moving past crowds, pipers and shops toward the iconic structure built over a thousand years ago by King Malcom II. Soon we were facing the gate which was flanked by statues of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace who were key players in the long ago Battle of Scottish independence from England. Entering the castle led us up a long sloping cobblestone elevation know as the Esplanade while our guide explained that many buildings were added over time to the main fortification that Malcolm originally built. 

We secured our audio guides but lost our tour group in the gaggle of people who were already there. I was not particularly perturbed because I was limited in how far I was able to walk before needing to rest. I suddenly appreciated tEdinburgh he idea of leisurely touring on our own. In fact, it was nearing one o’clock and the firing of the big gun which we wanted to witness. We smiled when we realized that we would have missed if we had continued upward with the tour. 

As we waited for the daily ceremony we peered into the North Sea and the incredible vistas that painted our view. The old buildings in the town looked like a fairytale creation with their colorful facades. The wind blew in our faces as we stared far into the distance imagining the sights that must have unfolded during the history of the place. It was so enchanting that I would have considered it worth the price of admission even if that had been the extent of what we would see. Luckily so much more was to come. 

Promptly at one o’clock a soldier shot the big gun and we applauded the loud boom that it made. From there we headed to the Military Museum where a sculpture of General Alexander Haig riding his horse dominated the courtyard. We talke about how Mike’s uncle had been named after the hero of World War I.Then we entered the museum and learned about the glories of the Scottish soldiers over time. 

We had lingered in the museum for well over an hour so we stopped at the nearby cafe for a small snack before continuing up the cobblestone pathway through the Foggy Gate to the Upper Ward. There we would see astounding views and and learn about the many ways that the castle had been used over time including as a prison. We marveled at St. Margaret’s Chapel. Just outside the church we saw a huge cannon known as Mons Meg. We watched the people meandering around  Crown Square the cobblestone walkway where  King James II used to stroll. Then we entered the Royal Palace where the Stuart kings and queens once lived. In the Great Hall we saw the armory of long ago soldiers in a vast room that Queen Victoria designed . We reached the Queen Anne Building and the Scottish National War Memorial at the apex of the castle grounds.  Each section was quite interesting so it was almost closing time before we began our decent to the entrance return to High Street by way of the esplanade. 

Edinburgh Castle once served as a fortress protecting the city from invaders but now it is a tourist attraction that brings thousands of people to visit each year. A special feature occurs in August when the castle is the site of a Military Tattoo featuring performances from dozens of bagpipers and bands from all over the globe. it is considered to be one of the most glorious events associated with the castle and the city. In fact, the young man who rode on the train to Edinburgh with us suggested that we should one day plan a return visit during that time of year. He assured us that it is a spectacular that we would never forget. 

Walking back into the city felt almost surreal after spending so many hours in the castle. We made our way past shops selling woolens, whiskey, purses and souvenirs. As evening came we felt the chill of autumn in the north once again and stopped in a boutique featuring fine cashmere scarves where we each purchased one that caught our eyes. They helped to keep us warmer in Scotland but I wonder if it will ever get cold enough where we live in Texas to use more than once or twice in a year.

We were hungry so we searched for a restaurant without much luck. We were not in the mood for something strange like haggis which was offered up and down he street. Instead we settled for an Italian place that had a friendly vibe where we rested our weary feet and spoke about all the marvels we had seen. While we were there our sister-in-law called and we happily told her about our adventures. It was fun sharing with her and reliving the wonderful day once again.

We returned to the hotel excited and satisfied that we had checked off one of our bucket list journeys. It was as wonderful as we had hoped and would be a cherished memory for all time. We slept like babies with visions of sweeping views and Scottish history dancing in our heads.