Day 3 - A Palatial Day

Once again, Edinburgh fooled us -- GREAT WEATHER!

We continued the Open Bus tour (from the prior day) through the rest of the city, by Princes Gardens (which we visited later in the day by walking), and St. Cuthbert's, round the base of the Edinburgh Castle back down the Royal Mile to HolyRood Palace.

We toured HolyRood seeing the "Queen's home" in Scotland, and as castles go, it was interesting, but the best part was the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her lifelong trials and tribulations.

As the story goes, "Under the ordinary laws of succession, Mary was next in line to the English throne after her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, who was childless. In the eyes of many Catholics, Elizabeth was illegitimate, thus making Mary the true heir as Mary II of England. However the Third Succession Act of 1543 provided that Elizabeth would succeed Mary I of England on the throne. Through a series of unfortunate events, Mary, pregnant with child, was being served by David Rizzio, her secretary, at HolyRood, when her husband, Lord Darnley, accused Rizzio of a secret conspiracy. Rizzio was murdered in Mary's chambers at HolyRood by 56 stab wounds and left to die. Subsequently, Mary moved to England where she was imprisoned by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I for 19 years and then tried for treason and put to death at the age of 45." Tough times in the life of a "would be" monarch.

After Holyrood, we visited Scotland's Dynamic Earth exhibit, which covers the evolution of the Earth up to today and where we are headed. They use a clever interactive audience participation activity at the end of the show to allow "us" to determine the ultimate future of the Earth.

We then stopped in to Jenny Ha's and had "pub fare" -- fish & chips, Guiness and tales from the past and future of the monarchy.

We then strolled back up the Mile, visiting the Museum of Edinburgh and Stac Polly -- a restaurant owned by Roger Coulthard, our landlord.

Onward, we pushed our way up the hill, then down the hill and then up 100 stairs to visit Mary Kings Close -- which was "sold out" for the day. We then headed back to New Town, strolling through Princes Garden, seeing an array of flowers, a photo exhibit on "Black Rain".

Back to 19B, we then chatted amongst ourselves and decided "pizza" was in order, so back to Cento Tre -- again excellent Italian fare.

Onward, the journey continues.....