Scotland Has Been Good and THE QUEEN!

Monday, June 27. 

8.7. Miles. 20,917 Steps   Less movement in preparation for normal life. 

No HAIRY coos in person this hike, but this is how they look with their winter coats - HAIRY! (From a poster). 

Breakfast from Marks and Spencer.  RHUBARB yogurt, with raspberries and apple turnover.  

Escalators run in slow motion, but once a person approaches they pick up speed.  Energy saving.  

Preparing for home!

Poet Robert Ferguson.  1750-1774. Born in Edinburgh.  Three years a poet.  Fell down a flight of steps and ended up in Edinburgh Bedlam as a mad man.  Inspired Robert Burns.  

Monument to Robert Burns - Scotland’s National Poet 1759-1796.  

The City Smells like Europe!!!  I shall miss this. 

Had some semi plans for this last day in Scotland, but was open for alternatives.    Wandered down to Holyrood Palace with the intention of walking around in the park to see the swans seen yesterday on St Margaret’s Loch from Arthur’s Seat.  But….became distracted. 

On approaching the main gates to Holyrood Palace decided to take another look at the palace.  There were more barricades than the other day, and far more security about.  

Went and joined two couples and ended up standing there for 1.5 hours, often in the rain.  More people gathered.  Those of us at the front were all Americans.  Maine, California, Wisconsin (me), North Carolina and Connecticut.  

Learned:   No, the Queen had not been here for the past few days, but her Standard had been flying in anticipation.  

Yes, She was arriving today.  

Decided to ignore previous unformed plans for the day and just stand there waiting. 

The Guards and musicians were preparing right across from where we were standing.  This one had an Animal, complete with head, on his back. 

All sorts of VIP’s had been arriving and assembled inside the gates, often under umbrellas.  

When the road barricades were removed (at absolutely the last minute) the Honor Guard made up of the Balaklava Company, The Argyll and Southern Highlanders stood guard.  The Royal Highland Fusiliers began to march and play music on bagpipes.   One was Auld Lang Syne (Robert Burns).  

As the Queen’s car pulled into the courtyard of Holyrood Palace it became God Save The Queen.  

Expect this entire few minutes took weeks of rehearsal.  

Motorcade arrived.  First with Queen Elizabeth II

There she in, in the backseat, my side of car.  

I have a photo of her from 2000 - London for the opening of Parliament.  Then she was in the Royal Carriage, more dressed up, but further away.  Today she was about 10 feet away.  Looking beautiful, older, more frail.  But Elizabeth II seemed happy to have returned to Scotland.  

Elizabeth arrived for Holyrood Week.  Accompanying her today was her son Edward and his wife Sophie - Earl and Countess of Forfar.  I took photos of their vehicles, but unlike the Queen’s, the windows were Very darkened.  On Wednesday supposedly others will arrive to take over her duties, Charles and Camilla?? For The Garden Party of about 8,000. Hope the weather cooperates, but then these Scottish seem unaffected by drops of water.  

Youthful paparazzi.  

Edinburgh Castle finally with sunshine.  

Waverley Station tracks. 

Arthur’s Seat left.  Salisbury Cliffs right.  

Arthur’s Seat with the roof top of Holyrood Palace below.  And, the Queen is Really Here, and I saw her!

I think doing a daily Blog goes back to my Semester abroad as an Art student where keeping a daily journal was a constant activity, and credit requirement.   Collecting material, writing, drawing and recording all the NEWNESS of the experience.  

Now in the digital age a new twist of recording Who, What, When and Where, I have been.  

Streamlined bus.  

My view at the Princes Street Gardens while waiting to post blog using free Edinburgh WiFi.  

Bags are ready for travel to return to normalcy.  Sad to depart, but time to return to my loves.  

This Blog has been brought to you by two thumbs.  

Everything written has been done with those two extensions of the hands.   

CHEERS!

356 miles later - sadness - but I shall return - and, so said MacArthur - 😊