A visit to Edinburgh

Last Saturday we went to the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh. We went there in one day. Our host family were so surprised on the answer we replied when they asked us how about the trip in Edinburgh. Our answer was just so so in Edinburgh. And they thought that it was unbelieveable to have a trip in Edinburgh in just one day. We just went to the castle, what's more, we didn't enter in it. We just did shopping on the Prince Street. Bev said that we wasted money to Ediburgh, so I decided to learn something about Edinburgh.

Unitl the late 18th century, Edinburgh consisted, almost exclusively, of what is now known as the Old Town, which is the area where you'll find the Castle, Royal Mile and Grassmaket. There are the old town and the new town on the two sides of Princes Street. The new town was built to try to encourage the wealthy to stay in the city while not to leave for London. As a result, it did work. In 1822 King George IV made his historic visit to the city. By then, Edinburgh was already Britain's most important financial city outside London, and, due to its neo-classical architecture, was known as 'the Athens of the North'.

The most famous palce in Edinburgh is Edinburgh Castle. This most famous of Scottish castles has a complex building history, 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 Regent Monton in the late 16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War. In the castle, you can see the whole life the rolay family lived in.

Then here comes The Rolay Mile. The Royal Mile runs down the East shoulder of this once active volcano and this is what gives the Rolay Mile its distinguishable geographical location. It was 325 million years old ago duiring an ice age that the immense pressure of moving glaciers craved out its profile. The Royal Mile is actually more than a mile by 107 yards. It starts at the Castle entrance to the gates of Holyrood Palace. From the Castle esplanade which leads into the Royal Mile as you walk down the hill travelling East there are several steets which conncet to make up the Royal Mile. Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Cannongate, and Abbey Strand which leads to Holyrood Palace.

Finally, let's talk about Holyrood Palace. Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh is The Queen's official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is closely associated with Scotland's turbulent past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived here between 1561 and 1567. Successive kings and queens have made the Palace of Holyroodhouse the premier royal residence in Scotland. Today, the Palace is the setting for State ceremonies and official entertaining. During The Queen's Holyrood week, which usually runs from the end of June to the beginning of July, Her Majesty carries out a wide range of official engagements in Scotland. The Investiture held in the Great Gallery is for Scottish residents whose achievements have been recognised in the twice-yearly Honours List which appears at New Year and on The Queen's Official Birthday in June. King George V and Queen Mary held the first garden party in the grounds of Holyroodhouse and the tradition has been maintained to the present day. Each year, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh entertain around 8,000 guests from all walks of Scottish life during Holyrood week. How wish that I could attend that party!


There are much more interesting places of rich history which are not covered in this passage. Edinburgh is quite an old city with rich history. What a pity that I didn't have a good visit in it. I wish I have an another chance to vitsit Edinburgh angain!!