After spending a few hours at the Castle, we started down the Royal Mile toward the Palace of Holyrood House, stopping at a beautiful church and several shops along the way.
Walking down the street we saw the beautiful St. Giles Cathedral and took a look inside.
From the St. Gile's website:
St Giles’ was founded in 1124, and in the 16th century became the focal point of the Scottish Reformation. The church is regarded as the Mother Church of World Presbyterianism and welcomes visitors from all corners of the globe.
This beautiful cathedral is also called The High Kirk of Edinburgh.
We finally made it to the Palace of Holyrood House - Royal Collection Trust
This is Queen Elizabeth's official residence in Edinburgh, but is open to the public throughout the year, and for one week in July the Queen is in residence here, along with other members of the Royal Family when she is carrying out official engagements in Scotland.
The Royal Crest of Scotland is above the entry to the courtyard.
Makes me glad I didn't live back then.
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You aren't allowed to take photos inside the Palace, but I loved the self guided media tour. When you tour this palace you actually walk through the rooms that are used by the Queen and her family when they are holding official functions. Everything started with the Abby which was founded in 1128 by King David I, which is now in ruins, but you can see the fragments of it's former grandeur. The Abby's guesthouse was developed into a Royal Residence which later became the Palace.
You learn about the history of the palace, including the plotting and murder of David Rizzio, a courtier in the court of Mary Queen of Scots, who was dining in the apartment of the Queen with her and her Ladies in waiting when her husband, Lord Darnley and 25 other noblemen broke in, dragged him from her side as he clung to the queen, and murdered him in the adjoining room. The Queen fled the Palace and went up the road to Edinburgh Castle where she stayed and gave birth to her son.
We walked from the palace to Princes street, my pedometer says 10.46 miles put in for the day, and by 4:45 p.m. are legs were tired and we were ready to head back to the hotel and get a bite of dinner.
Wow, we're sitting up high! Yes, this was our first double-decker bus ride.
We are such cheesy typical tourists, -
but we are having great fun!
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