Sunday, September 22, 2013
We walked over to our old neighborhood again this morning to
have breakfast at the City Dinner.
We walked right by where the remains of a medieval knight
were discovered underneath a car park that was being demolished. Archaeologists uncovered the corner of an
elaborately decorated sandstone slb bearing markings of a member of the nobility—the
carvings of the Calvary Cross and an ornate sword. An excavation of the area uncovered the adult
skeleton. It was found just a month
after a skeleton was unearthed in a car park in Leicester that was found to be
King Richard III, who was killed in battle in 1485. This was confirmed through DNA tests on the
skeleton tht matched with the descendants from the monarch’s family.
The latest finds here in Edinburgh were found at High School
Yards off South Bridge when they were clearing the former car park to make way
for the construction of the University of Edinburgh’s new Edinburgh Centre for
Carbon Innovation. They also found the
remains of a 13th century monastery—Blackfriars Monastery, which was
founded in 1230 by Alexander II—king of Scotland from 1214 to 1249—before it was
destroyed during the Reformation. In later digs, they found 7 more skeletons—one
of a female and one of an infant.
Then we walked over
to the Royal Mile where Ray headed off to climb Arthur’s Seat.
I did some shopping then went back to the hotel. Ray arrived back from his climb up to the top
of Arthur’s Seat & the 170 steps of the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill—a circular
signal tower in the style of a naval spyglass from 1807-15. Then we just hung out until we decided to go
for lunch at The Standing Order, an old bank building turned into a
restaurant. AND I finally convinced Ray to buy a different
hat—this time a Harris Tweed one. MUCH
better.
Margaret & Colin arrived at 6 and we went to dinner at
Bella Italia. So good to see them
again. On Colin's suggestion, I tried Stella Artois Pear Cidre and it has become my new favorite drink! After dinner, I gave them their
birthday gifts—Margaret’s late, Colin’s early—and Margaret gave me a very
special plaque, then we went to bed early in anticipation of getting up early
tomorrow morning for our train ride to Mallaig.
View from top of Arthur's Seat
Arthur's Seat
View from Calton Hill
View OF Calton Hill
Shadow of Nelson Monument
Thistles
Edinburgh Castle
Scott Monument
World's End Pub Sign
Interesting sign
Police Box now used as tour company:
St. Giles Crown:
View of Scott Monument from Advocate's Close:
Medieval Skeleton found in Edinburgh Car Park:
Another view of Arthur's Seat:
