An Eventful Day

Hello all!

You know when you go on vacation, and there are all those little things to do but you never seem to get around to, or find out about once you arrive back home? Yea, we did all those things today. Starting out with a late morning to give some time for sleep, we all met up for lunch at the Greyfriars pub.

Fueled up and ready to go, first stop was the Greyfriars cemetary to visit the Greyfriars Bobby. The story goes that a policeman took in a stray terrier who had been roaming the street of Edinburgh. For two years the dog followed him around on his late nights beats, before the gentlemans untimely passing. He was buried in Greyfriars cemetary. The dog unwilling to let his best friend go, kept sneaking into the cemetary to lay down and guard the man, constantly being chased out of the sacred ground. Eventually, everyone agreed this level of dedication should be rewarded and they made a small dog house, and locals would routinely stop by to feed the pup. For 14 years this dog kept his solitary watch over his best friends grave, before time finally took him as well. They buried the dog just outside the cemetary grounds, being as he couldn't be buried on consecrated ground. Years later, he was further rewarded and moved into the cemetary, where he now is the first grave you find as you enter the grounds.

There is also a secret held in the cemetary. Some of you may know, and some don't, but the Harry Potter books were written in Edinburgh, and there are many references pulled from the town itself. One of these such references is Tom Riddle, who is buried in Greyfriars cemetary. Lili set out, and managed to find Voldemort, as well as many other people who skeptically approached and took pictures. We then made our way back towards the Royal Mile, and passed by the Elephant House, which is the cafe that the first book was written in.

Enough Harry Potterness for now, but fear not, there is more to come. Next stop was Galdtones Landing. One of the oldest surving 17th century high tenemant house, Lili was able to stealthily take a few snaps in the no photo zone, we apologize for the limited views.

Continuing our Royal Mile exploration, we now went to St Giles Cathedral. The historic city church of Edinburgh, and the location of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland's chivalric comapny of nights headed by the queen. We took to wandering through enjoying all the sculptre and stained glass, while a visiting choir from New Jersey practised.

From St. Giles it was a walk through the West Bow down to Grassmarket, and after many comments about Major Tom Weir, it was a walk through Armstrongs, Armchair books and some other shops.

We left Grassmarket to enjoy the sun in Princes Street Gardens with some tea, and decided to head back home for the day. We shall be out and about again tomorrow.

More soon!

-L&A