WHAT BENNIE'S BEEN DOING: Weeks 5-6
(Scotland/England, Ireland, France!)
Part 3: Edinburgh
From Glasgow, we traveled by train to Edinburgh on September 25...
Highlights included:
1) A lunch visit with one of my new friends from the Iona Pilgrimage who is from Edinburgh, Wallace. I can't believe I didn't think to take a picture of us with Wallace while we were together... but, alas, this is one of the pitfalls of a such an ambitious itinerary. Suffice it to say that my mind was not always in full gear!
Anyway, Wallace ordered Haggis and encouraged us to taste it. For those of you who may not be aware, Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish. The name comes from the Old Norse meaning to hack or hew.
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Haggis, Neeps & Tatties
(Neeps = Turnips; Tatties = Potatoes) |
Historically, when hunters made their kill, they would add oatmeal, onions, suet, and spices to the offal (heart, liver, lungs)... and clean the animal's stomach to use as a cooking bag. Thus, haggis is essentially cleverly disguised sheep parts. So, when Wallace offered, David bailed, but given my sabbatical focus of crossing thresholds, I mustered up my courage to give it a try...
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| The Tasting of Haggis Begins... |
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| The Flavors of Haggis... |
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| The Swallowing of Haggis and Verdict... |
So, Wallace said this particular Haggis wasn't the best he had ever had. It wasn't crispy enough... And, I have to say that if I didn't know what was in it and it was a little crispier, I could probably become a haggis fan. Kind of like meatloaf... and all mixed up with gravy, tatties and neeps, what's not to love?!
2) Sir Walter Scott Monument
This monument to one of Scotland's favorite sons is over 200 feet tall with 187 steps to the top! And, yes, David and I did climb all 187 steps to the top and back down again. Whew!
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| So Many Stairs!!! |
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| View of Edinburgh Castle (far right horizon) from Scott Monument |
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| Sir Walter Scott Monument at Night |
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| Scott Monument |
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| Sir Walter Scott |
And, who should we find at the bottom of the Scott Monument but a Scotsman playing his bagpipes!
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| Edinburgh Bagpiper |
3) Edinburgh Castle & St. Giles Church on the Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is the main drag of the Old Town section of Edinburgh, named as such because the Castle sits at one end and Holyrood Palace at the other. In between are a million shops, restaurants, St. Giles' Cathedral and other notable sites.
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| Edinburgh Castle |
The Edinburgh Castle was the fortress of King David I beginning in the 12th century, though there is evidence of human activity at the site as early as 2nd century. The castle served as a royal residence until the early 1600's and then functioned mainly as a military barracks. Now the castle is a national heritage site including the Scottish National War Memorial and National War Museum.
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| Scottish National War Memorial & Museum within Edinburgh Castle |
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| Saint Giles Cathedral |
Dedicated to Saint Giles in the 12th century, the cathedral is known as the Mother Church of World Presbyterianism. It has uniquely reflected the life and religion of Scotland, and incorporated the dynamic vision of the 16th century Reformation in the continuity of a developing and catholic church.
Also near the Royal Mile is the Scottish National Gallery where we saw John Duncan's famous painting of Angels carrying St. Brigid to the Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. More about that in the Dublin post later....
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| Saint Bride by John Duncan 1913 |
Finally, Edinburgh also allowed David and I the opportunity to explore our Scottish Heritage :)
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| Highland Holdens :) |
I wanted so much to also write about our day trip to Holy Island and Alnwick Castle in this post as well, but this is all for now...
Stay tuned!!
