September 29, 2024 Sunday, 6:25 PM Scottish Time
For the most part, I am doing very well. These early evenings alone in a room with no television to distract me are lonely. I could go out and find a pub of sorts. I don’t think that is a good idea. I am not 100% sure about the neighborhood. Btissam isn’t here for me to ask about it.
I can use my phone to check out the news and read material that I have there. Right now, my phone is across the room being charged.
I sent a text to Ann asking about Ronnie and Colleen and Aimee and her family. I am certain that they were in the path of Helene last week. I haven’t heard from her and she hasn’t been responding to the texts that I send to her and Carol. I hope nothing is wrong.
Let me give you the run down for today.
I did sleep well. I got up and dressed and struck out to find a place to have breakfast. I came across a couple who appeared to be lost. They were from Canada. I know they were travelers because they were lugging their suitcases. They had gotten off at Haymarket Station and were walking to their hotel. I suggested that they go on Google Maps instead of WAZE. Hopefully, they got where they were going.
The route for me was rather circuitous. It avoided Princes Street. It took me up some very steep stairs. They were on the dark and gloomy side just below the Edinburgh Castle. I will check no stairs for tomorrow’s walk into the city.
There is no doubt that this leg of my trip would be so much better with a companion. It is doable and not the same.
I’ve been texting with Ann and Carol separately while journaling. Now, I am ready to change for bed and play a bit of Solitaire before going to sleep. It is about 7:45 PM.
I’ve had my allotted portion of scotch for the night. I chose not to drink with my meal earlier.
September 30, 2024 Monday, 7:30 PM Still Scottish Time
What a day this has been!
I began at Café Neero where I went to meet the bus for today’s tour. Our guide and bus driver was named Graham. He is a real Scot, born and raised here. He did a really fine job.
We covered a lot of territory in the course of eight and a half hours. We first stopped at The Forth Bridge, Queen’s Ferry Crossover. There are three bridges there. Graham gave us a bit of history. We got out and took pictures, then we went over the middle bridge that he referred to as the broken bridge.
Next stop was Dumfermline Abbey. We were there for about an hour. It is where St. Margaret is buried. It also has a connection to Robert the Bruce. On the drive, Graham gave us a history lesson. He had a lot to say about Mel Gibson and his movie Braveheart. Mel got very little of the history he portrayed correct. For one thing, it is likely that William Wallace and Robert the Bruce never met. For another, kilts had not yet been invented in the time of William Wallace.
The real hero today was definitely Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. When we left the Abbey, we drove to the battlefield that was instrumental in the War for Independence. There is a monument to Robert the Bruce there. Sterling Castle is visible in the distance.
Sterling Castle was next on our itinerary. It was very impressive. I actually liked it better than the Edinburgh Castle.
In both Sterling and in Dumfermline, I would have liked to have time to wander in those villages. They looked interesting to me.
Our last stop before returning to Edinburgh was Rosslyn Chapel. By the time we got there, I was very tired. We could not take pictures inside the chapel. That was too bad because there were a few images that I would have liked to have captured. Chief amongst them was the picture of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus was not white with blue eyes. I bought a postcard. It doesn’t do it justice.
The masonry work is out of this world. It is worth the visit.
Upon our return to Edinburgh, I decided to go closer to my accommodations to eat. Due to the rain and cloudy conditions, I suspected it would get dark pretty fast. I went to a restaurant that I had seen in my travels called Shakespeare’s.
It was more of a bar. I found a table and settled in quite well. I took pictures of my meal and the dessert for posterity. I felt as though I had successfully negotiated a milestone in my life. It was quite fun.
What I discovered today was that the quiet area of Saturday night and Sunday became quite vibrant on a Monday workday. There were many people out and about. It had a totally different feel to it.
I also noted that there were a number of Middle Eastern establishments in the area. They were also open today.
These factors allowed me to feel much more comfortable with my surroundings.
Tomorrow, I will explore the other end of The Royal Mile and go to the Holyrood Palace. People on the tour today said that it is an essential tourist thing to do. As long as my knees and right hip hold out, I am game to venture forth.
Tomorrow, at 8:00 AM EST, my sister Mary will have her hip surgery. Prayers for her tonight. Blessings on her doctors and those caring for her.
Mary let me know, after I inquired, that Colleen and her family are all fine subsequent to Helene. Helene was a pretty violent hurricane that struck parts of Florida, Georgia, Eastern Tennessee and Amesville, North Carolina.
I must say that I am glad that I made this trip.
I heard from Tanya tonight. They are in Edinburgh. She invited me to go out with them tomorrow night. It is way too late for me. They will come to pick me up on Wednesday morning to head to the Glasgow Airport.
On that note, I will get ready for bed and retire at my usual 8:30 PM bedtime.
Thank you, O God, for a peaceful night to a full day. Amen.
October 1, 2024 Tuesday, 7:40 PM Scottish Time
I have had a very full day. It was capped off by a visit at St. Columba’s Church as I was leaving The Royal Mile for the last time. A member of the church was there playing the organ. It felt a bit surreal. It was a perfect pilgrimage ending.
They had an exhibit set up around the church with a theme “Your Voyage Tale.” The question was “What is your story? How will you travel well?”
There were five aids around the church explicit to St. Columba and for pilgrims to the church to contemplate. I took pictures of each one. There was a fountain of sorts at the entrance to the church. Guests are invited to put a little boat into the water. The whole exercise is called Immrana.
There was a pamphlet with a timeline of Columba and St. Columba’s Church, beginning with the 5th to the 11thcenturies and forward to 1938 when George Macleod founded the Iona Community.
I do not think that this church being open this afternoon was a coincidence. It was definitely a Godwink.
St. Columba’s Final Prayer is “Love one another with a true heart and be at peace. If you keep this course, God will strengthen and help you.”
Earlier in the day, I had breakfast at a hotel restaurant on The Royal Mile. After breakfast, I walked down to the Palace at Holyrood. It was a lovely walk, early enough that there were not a lot of tourists out yet. When I got there, I discovered that it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That peculiarity began today, October 1st. I walked around the area a bit. I decided not to try to climb to Arthur’s Seat.
I went back to The Royal Mile and stopped to visit The People’s Museum. It was interesting. After leaving there, I took my time while walking The Royal Mile. I stopped to see St. Giles Cathedral. That is very amazing architecturally. When I left there, I went to the Greyfriars Kirk and took a few pictures. From there I went to the Scotland Museum and spent a few hours.
I had my meal in Edinburgh at a place called “One Bar All.” It was next door to the Sheraton Grand Hotel.
I am tired tonight. I have a lot to process. That will have to come with time.