Stanley's pictures: Day 18,

our next big trip takes us to Edinburgh, then later Loch Ness, Ben Nevis, Loch Lomond and Glasgow, and we get to meet one of the oldest friends that I have,

we started early in the morning at Gatwick airport,

we were all wrapped up warm,

we knew it was going to be cold,

wheels up,

and in no time at all,

we had arrived,

I am not sure what the penguins were all about, but there they are,

Steve had hired a car for us,

and here it is,

so from the airport,

to our hotel,

newly built,

and comfortable to sleep,

and stay in,

it also had a nice kitchen, it was the Staycity Aparthotels,

we were soon out exploring,

and this is where we were heading,

Edinburgh Castle,

looking impregnable from down here,

but first a quick walk through town,

passing many signs on the way, like this one for The Witchery,

then up the hill to the castle,

and to the parade ground in front of it,

when looking at the castle,

we first looked to the left side, where we had been shortly before,

I am sure we have all heard of the Grand Old Duke of York, well here he is, and if you click onto the link, what a story his life was!

we made our way to the entrance,

for a quick picture,

above the entrance the legend, Nemo me impune lacessit it was the Latin motto of the Royal Stuart dynasty of Scotland from at least the reign of James VI when it appeared on the reverse side of merk coins minted in 1578 and 1580, it is also the adopted motto of the Order of the Thistle and of three Scottish regiments of the British Army,

we made our way to the top,

with it's commanding views over the city below,

then a photo for the album,

the walk had given us a bit of an appetite,

so we called into the restaurant,

where pizzas were being prepared,

so we had a small snack,

then continued our walk,

around,

the top of the castle,

another picture,

before we go into one of the museums,

this one the Museum of the Royal Scots,

and The Royal Regiment of Scotland, the scene above commemorating the heroics of Ensign Kennedy, at the Battle of Waterloo, four junior officers had been killed while carrying the King's Colour at the front of the regiment, when the fourth of these, Ensign Kennedy, was killed, a sergeant attempted to take it from him but could not loosen the dead officer's grip, the sergeant, whose name is not known, threw the ensign, still clutching the Colour, over his shoulder and carried both back to the regiment's ranks, the onlooking French, in recognition of that remarkable act of gallantry, with-held their fire,

both Steve and myself found the museum so interesting, but we had to hurry,

as we also wanted to see the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Regimental museum,

amongst the exhibits there is this stained glass window, commemorating the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899 - 1902, South Africa 1899 - 1902. South African War, the Royal Scots Greys lost 7 officers and 67 men, with 4 officers and 83 man wounded, the highest loss that the regiment has suffered since the battle of Waterloo,

we made our way back downhill,

of this historic building,

it was that time of day when you could see the moon,

but the sun was still in the sky,

casting long shadows,

looking down on the right-hand side of the building,

and to the right of the city,

also up here,

the mighty Mons Meg, in the day, the mid 1400s, one of the most terrifying sedge weapons that money could buy,

we then went into St. Margaret's Chapel,

to look at some of the stained glass windows,

the chapel was thought to have been built,

about the year 1130,

yes nearly 900 years ago,

but it's patron goes back even further than that,

it was dedicated to Queen Margaret,

who lived in the late 1000s!

we walked to the inner square, where there is a chapel,

with carved figures,

adorning it,

and the clock tower,

the entrance to the chapel,

on the inside of the square,

also has statues,

as well as,

gargoyles,

on it's corners,

our last look at the castle was the home of Mons Meg, in medieval times it was the site of the Royal Gun-house, known as the Queen Anne building, built in 1710, it served as a barracks for officers and the castle gunners,

looking over to the Firth of Fourth rail bridge, some 9 miles to the west of the city,

we retraced our steps into the parade ground,

where we passed the grave of Ensign Ewart, who famously at Waterloo whilst with the Gordon Highlanders who were exchanging fire with the French 1st Battalion of the 45th, broke the lines of the 45th, it's eagle was quickly seized and carried off by Sergeant Ewart, in close fighting with a number of Frenchmen,

"One made a thrust at my groin, I parried him off and cut him down through the head. A lancer came at me - I threw the lance off by my right side and cut him through the chin and upwards through the teeth. Next, a foot soldier fired at me and then charged me with his bayonet, which I also had the good luck to parry, and then I cut him down through the head".

to prevent it being recaptured, he was ordered to take it to safety, we will see more references to him later,

although still daylight the moon was clearly visible,

we then called into the Tartan Weaving Mill,

which covered 3 floors,

Diana just had to try some of the hats,

looking down the weaving machines were in action,

producing this tartan,

we started to walk,

the Royal mile,

and came across the chap,

so I had to make a short video,

I said we would see mention of him again,

Ensign Ewart,

one thing about the mile there are so many tartan shops,

and other things of interest,

like this owl display,

at Gladstone's Land,

this the live one,

with one clutching it's prey above the live one, but it appears that it is in fact a hawk,

a nicely ornate public house,

I know smoking is not popular,

but I had to stop when I saw this ethnic Indian outside a shop here, I have often seen pictures of them outside tobacconist or in films but always in the USA, but they actually originated here in the UK and were adopted by American tobacconist, I never knew that,