Bob and the Volcano

 Hi everyone.

Sorry for the delay in postings.  I would like to blame the after-holiday blahs rather than my laziness.  I would like to, but I can't.  Still, onward and upward!!

We have been having lovely weather lately, so on one particularly bright and warm morning I went out to scale the heights of Calton Hill, which is one of the many extinct volcanos that make up this fair town of ours.  I'll have you know that this was no small feat of derring-do that involved great personal risk - I could have slipped or tripped or, well, gotten a sunburn while walking up some sloped, paved roads and/or climbing some stairs.  But hey, that is just the kind of guy I am - no risk too great!

My first stop was at Old Calton Burial Ground, as I am never one to miss an opportunity to visit an old cemetery, and this does qualify as an oldie.  Loved it.  Next, the climb up Calton Hill, which affords you what the brochure tells you are the best views of the city, and who am I to dispute that?  As the day was clear, the views really were quite outstanding.  The top of the hill is strewn with an odd assortment of buildings and monuments, most of which don't seem to relate to each other.  Still, it makes for an interesting experience.  Ah, but could the views get better?  Oh yes they could!  On the hill sits the Nelson Memorial, inside which, after you pay £4, you can climb a spiral staircase to the top and, from there, all of Lothian is yours to behold!  This is not for the the faint of heart nor the weak of heart, as the climb up is a bit taxing, but worth it in my humble opinion.

I hope you enjoy the following photos of my adventure.

Cheers.

Ah, crypts and plots and monuments, oh my.

I told you Old Calton Burying Ground was old!

And it gets even older!

The monument to Dugald Stewart, philosopher.

The Nelson Monument, inside which is a stairway to heart attack!  There is a large zinc ball at the top that is raised and then dropped at exactly 1pm every day, except Sunday, as  a visual signal to sailors of the time.  A canon is also fired at 1pm from the Castle, which helps on those foggy days when the ball isn't visible.

National Monument of Scotland, which was built to honour those who fought and died in the Napolionic Wars.  A wee bit of Greek architecture in Edinburgh.

Looking down on the Queen!  This is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where the Queen stays when she is in town (our offer of our extra bedroom being turned down constantly!).  You can visit the palace when she isn't at home, but please wipe your feet and feed the cat.

Looking over the city toward Leith, across the Firth of Forth, with the Kingdom of Fife on the far shore.  The Royal Yacht Brittania is docked near the taller buildings you can see on our shore.

Looking westerly where, just peaking behind the hills on the left, you can see the Forth Rail Bridge, a rather spectacular construction over which we have travelled.

The biggest and showiest of the volcanic domes in town - Arthur's Seat, with Salisbury Crags in the foreground.

From the top of the Nelson Monument.  If you look very carefully, you may see another volcanic dome on the far horizon.  That is the North Berwick Law that was mentioned in an earlier post.  So yes, the views are very far reaching!!

A view down Princes Street, the main shopping street in town.  On the left, you can see the edge of the castle on the hill.  In the foreground and left is the wee bit of green that is the Old Calton Burying Ground.

The castle, and some of Old Town that sprawls along the ridgeline. 

The Pentland Hills dressed in their winter finery. 

The roofs of Waverly Station, the main train station in town

Ah yes, the half way point of the staircase inside the Nelson Monument.  What they don't tell you is that there are 143 steps to get to the top!  Trust me, 143 windy stairs take their toll.  At least they have encouraging signs along the way telling you that you are doing well and almost there.  Oh, but it was worth it!