Wayfare Wednesdays! A Travelogue of Ports Unknown! Scotland Day Three

Ahoy there me mateys!  Welcome to the newest installment on me Log, Wayfare Wednesdays!  As ye scalawags know, yer Captain always be spending me time dreaming of the next far off ports and searching of a good adventure.  So I thought I would give the crew some insight into the fascinating people, places, and things I saw while ye all were wallowing in port in some filthy tavern, swilling grog, and missin’ the sights.  Ye know in case ye miscreants ever get the chance to plunder visit these destinations in the future . . .

wayfare

way·​fare |  ˈwāˌfa(a)|(ə)r, -ˌfe|, |ə

 archaic : an act or course of journeying (source)

As some of ye may know, I recently had a line on a rumor of a bit of Viking treasure, Scottish ruins, and Elizabethan artifacts.  The sea was a’ calling.  So off I went.  After eighteen days of adventurin’ in Iceland, Norway, Scotland, and England, I be back to share me tales.  I shall be splittin’ these stories into several installments due to yer befuddled, swill-saturated noggins.  The first foray was Iceland then Norway.  Next stop – Scotland!

If ye missed day one of Iceland click here.  For day two of Iceland click here.

For day one of Norway (Bergen) click here. For day two of Norway (Geirangr) click here.  For day three of Norway (Lofoten) click here.  For day four of Norway (Tromsø) click here.  For day five of Norway (Honningsvåg) click here.

For day one of Scotland (Shetland Islands) click here.  For day two of Scotland (Orkney Islands) click here.

Scotland was the land of castles, history, and lovely scenery.  We (me and the ma) spent three full days there.  The third day was Edinburgh, the Scottish capital.  It was weird to be back to a populated center after all the small villages and towns we had been to.  Plus the Queen was in residence so there were tours that had to be cancelled because of that.  But we still saw plenty:

The Harbour

At the dock. we were greeted by the Newhaven Lighthouse and a bagpiper.

Fettes College

A super cool looking school.

New Town

This “new” town was built between 1767 and 1850.  It still has a lot of the original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture.

Calton Hill

With many of the roads blocked off for the Queen’s annual garden party, we headed to this hill in the city center to see some of the sights we couldn’t get close to.  The views of the city were lovely.  I paricularly liked the unfinished “National Monument” and the Nelson Monument.

Royal Mile

This cobblestone street is part of Old Town and runs between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Hollyroodhouse.  One of me favourite parts of this road are all the closes or alleyways that led off of the Mile.  I tried to go into as many of the closes as I could.  The buildings here be awesome but it is certainly tourist central.

Edinburgh Castle

This castle dates from the 12th century.  This place was packed and the lines were so long and time so limited that we ended up not visiting a lot of the castle.

Greyfriars Bobby

Bobby was a famous dog “Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died himself on 14 January 1872.”

Keep a weathered eye out for more of me wayfare adventures.  Next stop England!  Arrrr!

x The Captain

Side note:  The Wayfair Wednesday featured image (source) is of two sailing vessels “dressed overall” with their international signal flags.  Signal flags are the flags used to contact other ships.  Well unless ye be a pirate in which case the Jolly Roger and yer cannons speak well enough.  A ship dressed overall “consists of stringing international maritime signal flags on a ship from stemhead to masthead, from masthead to masthead and then down to the taffrail. It is a sign of celebration, and is done for occasions, anniversaries, and events, whether national, local or personal.”  (source)  Well, Wayfare Wednesday is certainly a celebration, occasion, and event no matter how ye look at it.  Arrrrr!