After our enjoyable time at the Castle and on our way to lunch we continued our blissful, leisure, excited exploration of the Royal Mile. We visited the Tartan Weaving Mill right out of the Esplanade, we passed the Cannonball House (with a cannonball logded in the first-floor window facing the Castle) and the unusual octagonal shaped Goose Pie House, built by 18th poet Allan Ramsay.
the Gothic Witchery hotel and restaurant just outside the Esplanade
We looped off slightly to visit Grassmarket and Victoria Street
charming Victoria Street with its colorful shops
The names of the streets which comprise the Royal Mile change as they gently descend from the Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse: Castlehill to Lawnmarket to High Street to Canongate. All the segments are crowded with "lands" (tenements) many storeys high and "punctuated by the tiny cobblestoned "wynds" (alleys) off to each side.
The sense of history permeates the Royal Mile which was once the most populous street in Europe. Each segment has a distinct atmosphere and feel. For this reason and for the sheer number of places of interest, we visited each segment separately on different days, often returning as well to former segments for a second look. We strolled each segment in both directions, allowing us to see things from two directional perspectives and not to miss the endless fascinating details.
In the Middle Ages, Lawnmarket was the place where all cloth ("ilawn") was sold. Also on sale in this slightly wider part of the Royal Mile were "butter, cheise, wool and sichlike gudis". It was not hard to imagine the frenetic activity which reigned until the late 19th century when the market was finally cleared away.
As Lawnmarket gives way to High Street, the imposing St. Giles Cathedral dominates the scene.
the Gothic St. Giles Cathedral
Dedicated to the patron saint of cripples, lepers and nursing mothers. St. Giles Cathedral was the medieval burgh's very first parish church, begun in 1140. It witnessed bitter religious wars in its tumultous history. We were anxious to visit it at length after we had attended the outstanding organ concert our first evening.
The Thistle Chapel, home to the Order of the Thistle
created in the 15th century by James III, houses remarkable stained glass windows by Douglas Strachan.
I basked/rested in the late evening sun while Mar ran a few fast errands.
The bright light at 9 PM was yet another extra thrill. On High Street we enjoyed an outstanding Indian cuisine meal before strolling back to our hotel. The view of the full moon out our windows accompanied our blissful night.
Comments (1)
What spectacular architecture. Edinburgh has a fascinating history! (I love the name of that red-fronted store, The Bee's Knees!)
Posted by sandrac | August 3, 2009 11:52 PM
Posted on August 3, 2009 23:52