Sunday, 29 September 2019
On the way to the Gallery...
The Scottish National Gallery is located on The Mound in central Edinburgh and designed in a neoclassical style by William Henry Playfair, and first opened to the public in 1859.
We happened upon a mysterious meeting of antique public bus transport.
Wojtek (1942–1963) was a Syrian brown bear bought, as a young cub, at a railway station in Hamadan, Iran, by Polish soldiers evacuated from the Soviet Union. In order to provide for his rations and transportation, he was eventually enlisted officially as a soldier with the rank of private, and was subsequently promoted to corporal. During the Battle of Monte Cassino, in Italy in 1944, Wojtek helped move crates of ammunition. After the war, lived out the rest of his life at the Edinburgh Zoo.
Tim is enamored by these construction lifts.
Now entering Edinburgh Castle. "The fortified birthplace of the city 1,300 years ago, this imposing symbol of the city sits proudly on a rock high above the rest of Edinburgh. The home of Scotland's kings and queens for centuries, the castle has witnessed royal births, medieval pageantry, and bloody sieges. Today it's a complex of various buildings, the oldest dating from the 12th century, linked by cobbled roads that survive from its more recent use as a military garrison. The castle - with expansive views, plenty of history, and the stunning crown jewels of Scotland - is a fascinating and multifaceted sight that deserves several hours of your time." Rick Steves
"'Mons Meg' is huge and once-upon-a-time frightening 15th century siege cannon that fired 330-pound stones nearly two miles. Imagine. " Rick Steves
Left below, a cemetery of dearly departed garrison hounds.
Occupying part of the castle, the National War Museum Scotland.
HMS Edinburgh was a light cruiser of the Royal Navy, which served during the World War II. Edinburgh saw a great deal of combat service during the Second World War, especially in the North Sea and the Arctic Sea, where she was sunk by torpedoes in 1942. Her sister ship, HMS Belfast is moored on display near Tower Bridge. |
Enjoying some craft brew to finish the evening.