This morning, we had some time for ourselves. We slept in until 7:30am, and had a leisurely shower and start to the morning. After breakfast, we decided to walk down to the National Gallery. After checking Google Maps, we set off for our destination - after deciding NOT to take our cameras with us. It was a refreshing break to just view the area with our eyes and not camera lens. After checking with someone only once, we found the National Gallery. It was amazing! Art work dating back to the 1300s. Much of the older art was biblically related. Note for Jordan - one of the paintings has a red-haired Jesus.
We spent a couple of hours wandering the gallery, from the early works to some fairly contemporary Scottish art.
We headed home through Princes Park and up Cockburn Street. Cockburn Street is all up-hill. Did I mention earlier that Edinburgh is built on Hills? Half way up the hill, we stopped at a tea shop for a coffee and pastry for lunch. The proprietors' were delightful and we fully enjoyed our stop.
Back in our hotel room, we had about an hour before heading out to visit Rosslyn Church
I had visited this church about 30 years ago and had fond memories of it, from the lone piper outside the kirk, to the amazing carvings inside. It is now much more commercialized, and more restricted in what we can do. No photography is allowed inside.
Rosslyn Chapel is built in the Gothic style of architecture. There was an interesting presentation on the history of the church and its restoration. There was quite a bit of discussion on Da Vinci Code that brought Rosslyn Chapel to awareness. (I remember when I visited previously, the discussion was mostly on the masons, Knights Templar and the intricacy and meanings of the carvings.)
Learn more here.
On the way back to the hotel, we past Holyrood to see if the King was still in residence, and his royal standard was flying high, indicating he was still there.
After a bit of a break, we headed out again for a night of Scottish music, dance and food. It was a great time.. lots of Scottish dancing, music and song.
Tomorrow we begin a new adventure.
Hotel: Hilton Edinburgh
Weather: overcast high 17c
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