Feeling Royal at Edinburgh Castle

The scene on the airport was like this:

Immigration Officer: So, what are you going to do here in Edinburgh (pronounce: Edinburr).

Me: I have business meeting in Glasgow Sir.

I.O.: Oh I see, well enjoy your stay in Edinburr and don't forget to visit the castle.

Was a little bit confused after I left the Immigration. First was why did he pronounce Edinburgh as Edinburr and second what castle is he talking about??

Turns out his pronunciation is correct (typical british accent, while mine is typical tagalog-bisaya accent) and castle he's referring to is the majestic Edinburgh castle!

And thank god for conflicting schedule, we need to enter and exit Scotland via Edinburgh going to London. Swerte!!!!

We're also lucky when we're in Edinburgh it was the Fringe festival! There was a lot of street performers and artsy stuff going around the city.

But before I rave about teh Fringe, me and Ms. Vadette (my colleague and travel buddy) first went to the castle. Excited much!!!

Welcome to the Castle Rock

 Neo-Gothic architecture at Edinburgh downtown

Castle in the horizon

Unlike the British Museum (which is my favorite museum in the world!!!) there is an entrance fee going inside the castle. I think it was around 20 pounds but as other cultural related edifices this one is so worth it!

It was raining, cold and midweek when we visited the castle but surprisingly there was a huge crowd inside the castle, and not much Asians din. Hahahaha. Lutang na lutang kami ni Ms. Vadette =P.

It's a little bit of a challenge to go to the castle since it is situated on top of a rock, but the view on it's battery areas are such awesome. It overlooks Edinburgh 360 degrees. Coolness!

Hello Ulan!

Ancient !

Sayang we didn't catch the One O'clock gun salute (we we're eating lunch palang that time!) but anyhow here's one of the artillery which they fired every one c'clock (which is some sort of tradition, to signal something daw).

The artillery area of the castle is located on the third tier-kind-of-thing of the castle. The main royal residence is up there on the top tier.

Hello Your Highness!

This is part near the guns are located, nothing much to be seen here but there's a small souvenir shop here. Dito ko nabili yung ref magnet ko haha (essential souvenir!) 

The entrance fee for the castle entitles you to enter all the museum inside the castle. The National War Museum Scotland is great to see because it exhibits many war related artifacts since the early times. 

Oh, and by the way, another part of the castle was the prison museum. At first it was kind of creepy because it was an actual prison pero once inside you'll get use to it =).

Prisoner's stuff

Hala lagot! Kulong!

Happy prisoner! LoL

The administrator of the museum did a good job to give the tourist a prisoner-type-kind-of-feeling. The hammocks are actually moving and there are sound effects (of the prisoner) while you are inside the prison. Kakakilabot lang hahaha!

Creepy sleeping quarters

 

 

And since ayaw namn ma-depress at matakot sa prison museum we headed up on the second tier of the castle. Along the road we pass by the Scottish National War Memorial. It serves as a memorial for all the soldiers who fought from WW1 and WW2 and all military campaign after 1945. #akonabestinhistory.

Salute!

The royal palace is on the top tier of the castle. Here tourist can see the rooms, salas, dining room, etc of the royal family. I think this is where I saw the birth room os Queen Mary of Scotland. Sayang we didn't take any picture due to lighting effects =(.

Her Royal QC Highness

Was surprised to see that the Great Hall of the castle is not that big. I was thinking of Harry potter like hall kasi. But I have to admit the metal armors and different types of weapon on the wall are very interesting. Mukhang gaganahan ka talaga kumain hahaha.

The Crown Square, outside the Great Hall and the Royal Palace

I just love Pole directions, yung totoo ha hindi yung pang display lang, because it give fast direction sa mga nawawala. When google map and gps are not yet invented, I always relay to this kind of street pole info for me not to get lost. During my childhood days, our mayor is addicted to street signs, which is good since i don't like asking for directions (diba Mikko??! =P ).

Pag nawala kapa ewan ko nalang!

Going back to the museum, they have a collections of art from the Royal house of Stewarts and the Honours family as well. Paintings, clothes, letters, etc. are located on these part of the musuem. But I think the most interesting part of the museum is the royal jewels on display here. the crown and the scepter are enclosed on a glass case here. Bawal nga lang picturan =P.

Not related to Martha, fyi.

Kings, Queens, Princess. Jack nalang ang kulang

Theo of Las Pinas (1981- )

No photography inside or else they will confiscate your camera. Eeep!

#bestinhistory #ahem #akoyun

It's more stunning in actual than in the picture. Promise!

When we went on top of the castle, i lost Ms. Vadette here! Panic mode agad, but thank god she emerged from the chapel on the side. I thought it was just a small chapel but it turns out it is one of the oldest structure in the castle. Must-pay-repsct-to-history!!!!

A saint once use these chapel for her prayers.

The Mons Meg artillery, though not in use, are large canons sit atop the battery area. I wonder when it was used before it can surely put enormous damage to its target. Afraid!!!

The view from the Half Moon Battery give you an awesome view of Edinburgh. Did I say that upon our entrance to the castle it was cloudy and it rained. Well after an hour this is the weather naman.

And after an hour it started to get dark and it rained again. Scotland has a eccentric weather, though I think it always rain in UK.

Ate you're blocking the view!!!!!!

Hello Edinburgh! Hope to see you again!

 By the way, on the entrance part of the castle is a stadium like area wherein the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo played. Another set of tickets are required to watch them play on night time. We didn't watch it since it's late na plus expensive din plus we didn't know where to  buy hahaha.

Edinburgh castle is one of a kind museum, since it is an actual historical edifice (which i'm a sucker at) plus the artifacts are well preserved and well documented. I really recommend to all those who will go to Edinburgh to visit this place at wag manghinayang sa pera. You'll learn a lot plus you'll feel royalty even for a while haha.

Special thanks to my super travel buddy Ms. Vadette for my UK trip. I have more stories about our trip in the UK soon..

Abangan!

What's up Scott??!

From the gloomy Glasgow me and my colleague made our way to Edinburgh, the city of the royals up in the north! It was a dream come true to finally visit and set foot on a true castle, walk past by the cobbled streets, and be on a very old city. Excited-ness kami sa totoo lang! LoL!

Our main target was to visit the castle but in downtown Edinburgh another historical landmark awaits us. The Scott monument is located at the city center and it's the most recognizable monument in the city. Aba, dapat lang naman, ang laki nya kaya noh!

We we're a bit hesitant to climb the monument, the 3 pounds entrance fee, the 300+ steps up to the tower, the ever changing weather (sunshine-drizzle-heavy rain-sunshine-heavy rain) nearly stops us but as Ms. Vadet would say "since andito narin lang tayo mabuti pa akyatin na natin, hindi naman na tayo makakabalik dito!"

Well, she got a point. Kaya gogogo lang ang peg sa pag-akyat!

In fairness the view is great from the top!

Another view from the tower, overlooking the National Gallery and some hotels

View from the North Side, you can see the port from here =)

And the view from the east, more old hotels and the train station.

Look farther, the old palace ruins can be seen...sabi ng mga locals may multo daw dun. Yeah right! LoL!

The weather that day was not cooperating, hence the sometimes cloudy, sometimes sunny photo-shoot. Though I have to admit the cloudy scence make a dramatic effect.

What fascinate me about the tower is the intricate details it has on the carvings and sculptures. Very impressive!

(oh btw, if you've been reading my blog i love anything that has intricate or very detailed designs. From the designs of pagoda in Beijing to the wall carving of Angkor Wat. I just love them!)

Sudden sunshine on the tower

Was it a Dog or Pig snout?

Mga pangong ilong =P

Oldest grafitti!

A few steps till the topmost spiral staircase I have to return back because I can't fit in! No, its not because i'm fat but because my backpack is bulky and I can't fit in the staircase. It's kinda claustrophobic actually and what makes it more hard is you have to tell the people at your back to retreat since you can't fit 2 people in one steps!

ONE WAY ONLY!

It's not only the structure itself that you'll see on the monument, there is a short history diorama inside the monument. Nice crash course for Scotland history actually. At least we know how and when the monument was built. Very clever indeed =)

Hello Mr. Scott!

The colorful glass is just awesome! Don't you think??

After completing our photo-shoot at the monument, we made our way to the castle. But alongt he way we we're greeted by lots of bird and lush greener at the aprk. Can't help it kaya nagpa picture ulit kami ni Mam! LoL!

Summer flowers of Edinburgh!

So, kumusta naman ang buhay-buhay?

Another thing that stop us from proceeding to the castle is the Gallery of Scotland! Museum are hard to resist, hence we made a side trip to the gallery which was actually so worth it! 

The collection are just fascinating however photography is not allowed. Sayang!

Oh, one funny experience that we had outside the museum. My companion want to have a picture taken with the Scottish guy (who was twice the height of Mam Vadet), at first I was hesistant to ask for his photo but Mam Vadet just went directly to the guy and ask for his photo. And he obliged naman!

Ikaw na Mam! #bestinphotography!

After the quick trip to the downtown Edinburgh, finally we made our way to the Edinburgh castle. What store for us, we don't know yet. What more important is i want to be surprise. 

And I have to admit i was not disappointed!

Sa susunod na post na ang kwento =) Cheers!