Castle x 2

Today was a beautiful day for my last day in Scotland. I ended up getting a pass so I could go to Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh and Stirling Castle in Stirling. 

Entrance to Edinburgh Castle. I did the audio tour at this castle. 

Entrance to Edinburgh Castle. It was near impossible to get pictures without people. Edinburgh was a very touristy city, mainly because it's an English speaking county.

Side of Edinburgh Castle, you can see the volcanic rocks that the castle was built on.

Castle gate

Another picture of the castle gate.

The view was gorgeous! It was clear sunny day!

Another view of the city. The thing about the castle is that it was one of the highest points of the city. When I would be walking around, I would always know how to get to things, like getting back to the hotel, just by looking up at the castle and see what side I was on.

Another great view.

Cannon

View from the cannon

View through window

View of Arthur's Seat

Front of castle

Cannons

Self portrait, I tried to get the city...

Another cannon view of the city.

Another pretty view of the city

View of Princes Street. I would describe this as being the 5th Avenue of Edinburgh. Lots of places to shop.

This is just a door, but I like it.

Another window view

Door to the Tower.

Tower of the castle

Different view of city

Castle gardens

Dog Cemetery

Yet another pretty view

Cannon balls

Stained glass in Chapel

Inside the Chapel

Chapel

Another view of Arthur's Seat

Soldier's Memorial

Soldier's Memorial

Another chapel picture

Not sure what part of the castle this is.

Clock tower

Volcanic rock the castle is built on

I couldn't believe what a pretty day it turned out to be!

More stained glass

Back of the castle

Escape hole

Leaving the castle. This ice cream truck was parked outside.

I couldn't resist!

Ice cream!!

After getting my ice cream, I went to the train station to go to Stirling. I was a hour long train ride to Stirling.

Train!

Waiting on the train to open.

I wasn't sure exactly how to get to the castle once I got to Stirling. Luckily they had maps like this one to guide me along the way. It was all uphill and took me about twenty minutes to climb up to the castle. When I left the castle, it took me only 5 minutes to get down the hill back to the train station.

View of the William Wallace Monument from Stirling Castle. Name sound familiar? Think Braveheart.

This was on my list of things to see while I was in Stirling, but I ran out of time.

Front of Stirling Caste. I was really glad I went to Stirling to see the castle there. It was nicer and much better maintained. I also did a guided tour while I was there and it was really good.

Outside Stirling Castle

Another picture outside castle.

The towers were actually the "dungeons" of the castle. The little windows were the only light the prisoners got.

Map of Castle

Another self portrait

Outer wall of castle

Another picture of the Williams Wallace Monument.

Another picture from the outside

This was the chamber rooms.

Another tower picture

View from inside one of the towers

The gardens at this castle were so pretty and very well maintained.

Gargoyle

Up close Gargoyle

Looking into the city of Stirling

More gargoyles

More gargoyles

Outer Wall

This are the statues on top of the Great Hall 

This is where the king would have had all the parties

The Great Hall

The tour guide told us that the could of this building was rare. From time to time they have to touch up the color and that only a few of the grounds keeper know the secret recipe to get the color right.

Another Great Hall picture

Most of all the buildings were connected. 

Inside the Great Hall. This is were the trumpeter would wait to announce the King.

This is were the other musicians would sit and play.

Were the King and Queen would sit and eat.

Loved the woodwork in the ceiling

Some more of the castle grounds.

All the big chimneys

Courtyard

View from a window

Huge fireplace.

Chapel. The chapel had twelve windows, for the twelve disciples.

Inside Chapel

Inside chapel

Inside of chapel

More pictures of the King's chambers

Were the crown jewels were

Tri-cannons

Windmills in the distance

Outside wall

Another view of gardens

You can see on the left there is a flower bed. That is what is left of a tower. There were originally 4 and they were much taller.

Outer wall

Gardens

Another attempt at a self portrait

Another view of the city

More castle pictures

Castle gates

Castle Cemetery

Cemetery gate.

All week John teacher kept them super late. Several nights he was still doing group work at 10:00 p.m. Of course the day the teacher let them out early, I was in another town! So I got back as quick as I could so we could celebrate him being done with his class.

One of the beers we tried.

This was a really good cider beer I had.

Our night on the town was a great ending to a wonderful week. We had such a great time in Scotland! Even though John had to be in class more then expected, we made the best of it, and still had lots of fun!