Traveling in Circles

Sat 6/21/08

Day trip was cancelled on account of homework. Alex was out from work at 2pm and we headed to the Royal Mile. We explored the Edinburgh castle and then went to other end of the long road to see the ugly Parliament House.

Sun 6/22/08

Last day. We took the double decker around Edinburgh and only got rained on a little. It was glorious cold, windy and overcast. We took in a free improv show at the Stand. I was instructed in the proper pronunciation of “yer ma” as a catcall.

We had a quiet dinner and then I packed up for the plane ride in the morning. Alex was an amazing host, tromping around the city showing off the university, the castle and the fun, local bits.  I can only hope to extend that sort of hospitality to friends who visit me.

Fri 6/20/2008

 

Up and out early. Wrong turn at the Royal Mile, but I eventually get to the meeting place for the tour. We went head out and arrive at the Rosslyn Chapel just as it is opening. Pictures were taken as permitted.

 

Interesting facts:

The chapel was painted with a concrete slurry to preserve the building. (I think it made everything looks more blunted and blurry.)

 

The concrete allowed water to buildup inside the concrete so they have scaffolding and a “hat” that sits atop the Chapel that is absorbing all the moisture.

 

The almost diamond shaped boxes that line the arches at the front of the chapel were studied by a music scholar and translated into music.

 

After a quick trip around scaffolding and through the gift shop we were off to Hadrian’s Wall.

 

We stopped at the England/Scotland border and the proceeded one the better maintained section of the Roman wall. It was near the Sycamore Gap where the “Robin Hood” tree was.

 

We walked along a section of wall and down a sloping hill. Then we went up a damn cliff.

 

After struggling to the top, a couple of us enjoyed the (windy, cold, rainy) view and then headed back. The rest trooped dutifully over to see a tree that was in a movie a few years back.

 

My ankle and I came to the agreement that our guide’s idea of a wee “bit of an incline” and ours were quite different.

I returned back to Alex’s in one piece and we went to Monster Mash for dinner.  We watched some more Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps as well as Little Britian.

 

 

 

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In April there was plenty of time... Ticket bought? Check Pair of walking shoes? Check. Idea of where to go? Working on it...