After much discussion, we decided that we are going to start our day at the Edinburgh Castle. This is the most famous Scottish castle. The oldest part, St Margaret's Chapel, dates from the 12th century; the Great Hall was erected by James IV around 1510; the Half Moon Battery by the Regent Morton in the late 16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial was built after the First World War. The castle houses the crown jewels of Scotland, known as the Honours, the Stone of Destiny, the famous 15th century gun, Mons Meg, the One O' Clock Gun and the National War Museum of Scotland.
After we finish touring the castle, we’re going to make our way down the Royal Mile. There will be much shopping, whisky tasting at places like the famous Scotch Whisky Heritage Center, and touring of beautiful old buildings like the St. Giles’ Cathedral. A more grisly turn might take us to Mary King's Close. In 1645, plague victims were barricaded inside these narrow tenament rooms and left to die. City Chambers was later built on top of the closed off area and its said to be one of the most haunted places in Scotland.
At the other end of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is The Queen's official residence in Scotland. Highlights include the royal apartments, with intricately carved plaster ceilings, floor-to-ceiling tapestries and mythological paintings. Most recently, a Gallery has been added.
This should take up the bulk of today. Fortunately, the sun doesn't set until about 10PM, so we can go as long as our little bodies (and gift shop hours) will let us. That evening, after a good Scottish dinner (maybe some haggis, maybe not) we may take one of the haunted Edinburgh tours - either the Murder & Mystery Tour or the Ghosts and Gore tour. From what I've heard, Edinburgh has a grisly and dark history, so there may be trouble sleeping tonight, despite being totally exhausted.
There are several live webcams set up around Edinburgh, so click to try and catch a peek of us (note the time change - Scotland is 6 hours ahead of CST!).
The streets of Edinburgh are thought to be haunted (and not just by the tourguides that jump out at you as you go by). Have you ever had a run-in with what you believed was a real ghost? If not, what's your favorite ghost story? One commenter will receive a spooky treat from a Royal Mile gift shop courtesy of me!
P.S. from PM
Great travel stories yesterday!
And my writing ? Eh... Had to go to a picnic and then rushed home for workmen to install lights on my house. But when they got there they didn't have the lights. Communications snafu. They're back today, lights in hand and they knocked $50 off the job. Anyway, I only got a smidgeon written. Maybe I can write today.
More Than Enough Woman
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800 / 6,000 (13.3%) |
11 comments:
The old castles and the ghost stories surrounding Scotland are definitely a lure for me. How was your tour? Did you feel anything strange? Maybe see some misty spirit or orb?
Have I seen a real ghost before? Yes. You might say that it's something that unfortunately runs in the family. One odd encounter I had was last year. I was staying in a bedroom at my cousin's on a trip I was on when something kept waking me up. It felt like someone was tugging on the bed covers and moving the mattress. I thought maybe I was just too tired and my imagination was playing games so I tried to ignore it. But about an hour later the TV turned on really loud suddenly and at the same moment I was dumped off the bed from a sound sleep. Let me just say, I didn't sleep for the rest of the night and found a hotel room the next day.
P.S. To PM:
I really think people need to be more aware of breast cancer and it's great that your writing a story toward that aim. Also, here's hoping the work crew get your house settled for you soon.
Yes, I believe I have seen a ghost. After college my best friend and I rented a trailer and one morning I opened my eyes to see a little boy standing by the bed. He seemed sad and I didn't feel frightened. Every day a picture of my nephew I had sitting in the headboard would be turned facing down. In my friend's room a childlike drawing appeared on the wall one day that hadn't been there before. Nothing bad ever happened while we lived there. I always wondered what his story was.
OOoh, ladyvampire and crystalg your ghost stories spook me! Thankfully, I've never encountered anything like that. But I do believe these things can happen and I'm fascinated by stories I've read. Ghost tours are cool! Which tour did you take, playfriends? Mystery or Gore? Frankly, I'd like to take both. In fact, I bet all of us are wishing we could be there, too, right now. (g)
Sorry you had so much trouble with the workman, PM. They should be really worried you're a writer! LOL. Anyway, here's hoping things get fixed and you can get back on track today.
I'm having the same problem lately. Life makes demands and the writing isn't get done.
Kathy
(qwqujclc)
Wow what a great vacation! I have been dying to visit there. Now i know i can follow your steps as a guide to a great time. Now as far as ghost go..they are a frequent occurence in my life. I have seen them since my teens. I even went to a tarot reader once and told me that her cards told her i saw ghosts and that i should STOP ignoring them. Well needless to say i do the opposite. I ignore them all the time, because if i don't they become quite a nuisance. So have fun girls, and if you bump into one...just say hidee ho! and keep on walking! Don't want to bring any of them home with you! *grin.
Sounds like a great time! I'd love to take those ghost tours. :o)
I've seen a few ghosts, orbs, yadda yadda. Especially in the last few years. I think the oddest one was a couple weeks ago. I was sitting in the backyard when I saw the misty outline of a man's head and shoulders walking through our garden. He went down behind the evergreen halfway then circled back around by the petunia bed. We all thought it was my great grandfather checking out my dad's handiwork
When we first moved into our house we heard many different noises like banging in the walls. When anyone asked I always said it was the ghosts getting used to us.
Hugs on the workmen, PM. I'm still dealing with workmen in a new house more than a month after moving in. Doesn't make me happy, and they often do things like don't show up or forget things. Grr.
Scotland sounds fab! I can't say as I've ever encoutered a ghost. But my parents used to live in a 12th century house in Germany that once belonged to an Abbot. Strange things would happen sometimes. Lights would come on, the television might pop on and off, and once I freaked out because I thought a huge wolf spider was on my arm. When I looked again, not a sign of it. No squashed spider, nothing. Shutters banged at night too, even when they weren't loose.
I've never seen a ghost but my grandmother said she saw my grandfather not long after he died. She thought he was checking to see if she was alright. My dad said he saw my uncle right after he died. My dad was too sick to go to the funeral and he felt my uncle came to say goodbye!
No ghosts seen by me, thank goodness. My fav ghost story is the movie Ghost with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore; loved it.
Sounds like you are having a great time ~ and, what a wonderful vacation!
I've never seen a ghost, but I have FELT "things" before.
Ghosts? Absolutely! I live in Civil War territory - about 20 minutes south of Gettysburg and 20 minutes north of Antietam, both having the bloodiest of battles. Yes i really do believe in ghosts.
I've taken ghost tours at Gettysburg, one about 2 Halloween's ago. We were walking on this tour, my DH, DS and I, with the entire group, up a hill towards an old burned out barn. As we got closer, my DS said to me he had a really bad headache. I was concerned, as he hadn't had one before. He showed me where the pain was, and i walked with him slowly behind the group, when they stopped.
The woman in charge told the story of how three soliders were shot and hung here in this barn and that their ghosts were still around.
We then walked away, toward the old hospital, when my son said it was better. He was feeling much better. I thought nothing of it, until we had to go back past the old barn, when he said his headache was back again. The woman who was doing the tour heard him, and asked him where it hurt. He showed her on the side of his head, behind his ear. This was where the three soldiers were shot and then hung.
That's one....the other one is all me. Freaked me out good.
We'd taken my sister, years and years ago, to college for her freshman year. We drove down from Jersey to West Virginia and got her stuff put away in her dorm. She couldn't stay there, as there was no RA on staff at that time, so we slept in the hotel on campus.
We were on the ground floor, and had a sliding glass door to a small patio. Before going to bed, i locked the door. I always lock the patio doors. Every single time, i don't ever forget and double checked it.
Got into bed, and turned off all the lights. About 20 minutes later i woke up, and couldn't move. My body refused to listen. There was someone or something sitting on the bed beside me. I called out to my mom, woke her up and kept begging her to turn on the light. I felt a light carress on my cheek, and a kiss on my forehead, and then i could move. My mom turned on the light and wanted to know why i woke her up. I told her what happened and she said that maybe i should have closed the door to the sliders.
They were opened a bit, the curtains moving in the breeze. But I know i locked those doors.
The next morning, the girl at the front desk asked how i slept, and i told her what happened. She laughed and told me that the man who started the college and who donated the land still walks around the rooms, kissing girls goodnight and making sure they were safe and sound in their beds.
I got alot more stories...but no time to write them now...
Nini :)
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