Independence Day - Edinburgh, Scotland

July 4th, and the first time I wasn't in Colorado to celebrate. A strange feeling to be across the world on our independence day. The ship had a grand display in the atrium, but unfortunately it was taken down by late that night when I went to take a picture. There was a very tall statue of liberty surrounded by red, white and blue balloons. There was a table laid out with red, white and blue decorations and a cake or two. I don't think they cut and served the cakes, but I wasn't around at all, so they might have in the evening. It was a massive and quite impressive display and the only reminder that it was our independence day.

Diana, Alec and I went to shore together, it was a tender port. It was always nice to be with them, having friends on a cruise was so much more fun! I am afraid I am spoiled now, having friends to see, talk to and have dinner with. And I already miss hearing their British accents, but I am sure I have picked up some of their sayings, even if it isn't the same coming out of my mouth. When something is good, it is brilliant, and a young man is a chap or bloke and I like those terms. We were surprised that there weren't more British on the ship, it was mainly Americans, with a large group of Asians too.

And so the three of us decided to take a shuttle into Edinburgh from S. Queensferry, where we docked. That was a good choice. I decided to take a tour that afternoon rather than spending the whole day in Edinburgh. By that time my feet were so painful I knew I couldn't walk to all the places I would want to see in that beautiful city so I would have to go back someday anyway to see more. Maybe it will be a destination for César and I, he loves the city too. When we arrived in Edinburgh, Diana and Alec were off on their walk to explore the city and I was off to find the hop on/off bus. It was just a few blocks away from where the shuttle dropped us off, but with the road construction there was a little walking detour. The bus driver assured me the ride around the city was only an hour and that would give me time to get back to the shuttle, to get back to the ship for my afternoon tour, so I boarded the bus for an overview of the city. I'd been before and took the half day tour and the traffic was so terrible I wasn't looking forward to that again, but loved seeing the city! I love Edinburgh! With the beautiful castle up on the hill, it is a gorgeous sight for a city. On my last trip to Edinburgh two years ago in August I also went to the castle for the Scottish Tattoo so the memory of that was fresh in my mind. That was an absolutely incredible night. The kind of experience that is a once in a lifetime event. As one of the other passengers and I said as we left, there really were not words to describe the intense emotions that night evoked. No words at all to describe the deep way we were touched from everything from the castle, the sunset, the music and the lone bagpiper on the castle walls playing a tune for all the soldiers in battle. Moving beyond description. An interesting thing about that night was that it was the night the BBC filmed it for the video. I have since ordered the video and it shows all that we saw, but it does not have the deep effect being there in person had.

Anyway, this trip to Edinburgh was still enjoyable, even if not followed by the Tattoo. The bus went to the most historic places and we were back in time for me to walk the few blocks to the shuttle. Other people were there who were going back to the ship for the afternoon tour to Braveheart country and the Stirling Castle. Braveheart, now I know so much more about that part of Scottish history. I don't like watching violence or torture, but I might have to watch the movie again now that I am familiar with the people and places in it. William Wallace fought and was killed, I won't go into what being 'drawn and quartered' means since as I remember it the movie is quite explicit. Robert the Bruce was also a famous historic figure in that time and he was fighting for the independence of Scotland after William Wallace and did become king of the people. I was a little confused by the difference, he was not king of Scotland, but king of the people. We actually walked on the battlefield of the 14th century war and saw a huge monument to Robert the Bruce. I believe it was my first battlefield I've walked on, but it wasn't to be my last this trip. We then went to Stirling Castle and again it was a bit of a walk up, but nothing like I'd already done, so I knew I would make it. This castle was quite famous too, however I don't remember the details. By that time I'd seen so many castles and heard so many stories and my feet hurt so badly, I was doing good just to get around to see everything. I sat for a while on one of the walls at the top of the castle, not a bad way to spend my independence day, in the lands where another revolt had ended in another country's independence. I liked the connection with that.

The tour took us through beautiful countryside and little villages and I look forward to returning to Scotland someday to enjoy that beauty again! There was a long line to get back on the tenders and I didn't mind, it was a time to chat with people and I was in no hurry to leave Scotland. But once we got to the ship, I was happy to know that a sea day followed and I could rest and pack. On the sea day I ate lunch at the grill, decided the hot dog would be as close to a 4th barbeque as I would get this year, and that was fine with me!