Rosyth (Edinburgh) Scotland - August 9 and 10

Here are 8 facts about Edinburgh:

• Edinburgh Castle is built on an extinct volcano.
• The Royal Mile is actually one mile and 107 yards long.
• Edinburgh was the first city in the entire world to have its own fire service.
• Edinburgh has 112 parks and ore trees per head of population than any other city in the U.K.
• J.K. Rowling writer some of Harry Potter in an Edinburgh cafe (The Elephant) and took inspiration from the landscape for her characters and locations.
• St. Margaret's Chapel, located within the walls of Edinburgh Castle, is the oldest building in Edinburgh.  It was built in memory of Queen Margaret, who is said to have died from a broken heart after the death of her husband.
• "You'll have had your tea?" was once a common Edinburgh greeting and is still used today as a way to avoid putting on a kettle; it's believed the phrase originated in the 18th century with a nobleman named Mackintosh of Borlum who didn't like the sound of tea-slurping at social gathering. (that's funny!)
• The "Stone of Destiny" is the traditional coronation stone of Scottish and English royalty and is kept at Edinburgh Castle with the Crown Jewels of Scotland; according to legend, the real stone was secretly swapped for a fake one at sone point in its history.

While we should have been at anchor with a 15 minute shuttle ride into Edinburgh, because of the weather and the need to tender guests ashore (dangerously!), the captain changed our moorage to Rosyth, about a 45 minute ride into the city.  In this moorage, we don't have to be tendered ashore.

Today it poured rain, sometimes coming down in sideways sheets.  People who went into town came back soaked!  Having fully discovered the city of Edinburgh some 20 years ago with Adolfo, decided to stay dry and on the ship.   Tonight would be our foray into town for a performance of the Royal Military Tattoo, in existence for 69 years.   When we were here last, the grandstands were being built for that year's performances, but we would be gone before it began.  We always spoke about coming back to Edinburgh during the Tattoo, but never seemed to be in the area at the right month - August.  So, I would attend this evening for Adolfo, knowing that he's watching from above.

The skies seemed to be clearing on our way into the Tattoo . . .

         

       

                                                                              Gini, Eric and me.

And the Tattoo begins, with a "wee dram o' whisky"!

      

          

Surprising to me was the fact that the entertainment was not only by the Scots, but by other military bands and marching groups from 'round the world, including China, Trinidad, Nigeria, and others.  To say that it was wonderful would be a vast understatement!  I truly felt like a 5-year old in an old woman's body!!!  Wanted to jump up and down (tho difficult for me!) in excitement and have the program never end.  What helped to dampen my spirits was that toward the last fifteen minutes, the skies opened up and that was that - was ready to go back to the ship!

The end of the program was very poignant as the band played Sibelius' Finlandia, while a lone coronet played counterpoint the end of day refrain to commemorate those lost in the military throughout the world and for the lost loved ones of those in the evening's audience.  A sober and beautiful few moments.   

As the band came off the field there remained one Scotsman in full Scottish dress, and with a drum.  The silence was broken as he played the "tattoo", the rhythm for which this event is named - the call to troops in the town to return to their barracks.

What a very special memory this evening will remain.   Know that Adolfo enjoyed it, as well.

The next day we were headed back to Edinburgh for a morning shopping with the ship's chef.  The day began at the fish market, right near where our ship would have been moored, save for the weather.

        

The harbor is very picturesque . . .

            

  

Love this photo showing all of the chimneys.  Apparently there is a fireplace in each and every room - therefore all of the little chimneys on top of each large chimney!!

Then we went on to an outdoor market, though interesting, not up to the standard (in my eyes) of those markets found in Italy, Spain and France where there are tons of fruits and veggies, all beautifully showcased.   This market seemed to specialize in meat pies and sausages en croute.  Didn't take any photos except for this one - just too funny!

When I return home, must look up some grey squirrel recipes.   This might be the solution for my apricot-eating, varmint difficulties!!

That evening, when back in the suite to retire, found that I'd received a gift from the Chef - so nice!