Aug 4 Edinburgh Scotland

Today the ship berthed in London (Southampton) for a cruise turnaround. When planning this trip we decided that we'd skip London and a day at sea and travel directly to Edinburgh.  We taxied to the Southampton airport (meeting the Executive Chef leaving the ship) and Flybe airlines took us to Edinburgh with no hassle.

We walked around Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.  Here are the most interesting bits.

St. Giles Cathedral

 The weather was partly cloudy and did mist a little rain on us Monday morning, but there were also periods of sun, particularly Monday morning.

 Adam Smith of economic fame bronzed in front of the cathedral.

The inspiration for the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde comes from Deacon Brodie, by day a respected businessman and by night a thief.  He was later hanged on gallows of his own design.

 There were many churches that have been repurposed into other things.  Bars for the most part.

 Expect Dick Van Dyke to start singing here

 Greyfriar's Church graveyard.

 And the church itself, not particularly elegant, but old (1620).

 Another church -> bar

 The famous dog Bobby who stayed by his policeman owner's grave for 14 years after the owner's death.  Bobby is also buried in Greyfriars yard.

 The palace on Castle Hill

 Melville Monument

 A personal favorite located right next to the Melville Monument.  That's James Clerk Maxwell, famous for Maxwell's Equations, which describe all of electromagnetics.  Still effective today, outside of quantum effects at very small scales.

This is just the first post from Edinburgh, from our wanderings around the city.  When you come from such a young country as the US, and particularly Florida, where 1930 is ancient, a city like Edinburgh seems very historic.