Sorry once again for the long pause. It has taken us a while to get everything settled from our trip, moving Evan back to college.
There are many things that, unfortunately, we didn't take pictures of. One of them was The Knutters. This is a group of ladies that Alison has known for many years. This group of friends, about 8 to 10, meet once a month at alternating houses. Everyone brings their own lunch, which makes it easy on the hostess, and everyone brings handwork, quilting or knitting. I was able to participate in one of the gatherings. All of the ladies were so nice and interesting and sweet. I loved getting to know them even during this short time and hope that there are more meetings in our future.
We also did go to Edinburgh for one day. Since it was during the festival, one day was enough. My sister, Trudy, and I had experienced it more closely 2 years ago and, although it was interesting and HUGE, once was truly enough. However, Alison and I went to meet up with a good friend and fellow Sock Summit-er, Pat. We met at a new yarn store in the city called Kathy's Knits. It had just opened and we were able to meet the owner and her husband; they are very nice people. The store carries some very interesting yarns like Blacker. I bought 2 skeins in pink (anyone out there surprised?), there were also some other unique and interesting yarns as well but I can't remember what they are at the moment. I'll probably remember at 2 a.m....
After enjoying the store, the three of us went to the Scottish Whisky Society to sit in a quiet place and have lunch, away from the crowds. It is a fabulous place; very elegant but not snobbish. Here are the three of us: Lydia, Alison and Pat.
Later that afternoon, we walked Pat to the train station through the incredible mobs of people there for the festival. There were so many people that one could hardly move; it was absolutely suffocating. In the meantime, Rod and Bill drove to meet us at the Whisky Society for dinner. We had a lovely meal and I just took a few pictures out of the window looking north...
And Bill took a shot walking back to the car...again looking north...
Those are the only photos we took and it is truly a shame. It is a gorgeous city. Bill and I were going to go back the following day but Bill really didn't want to deal with the crowds and neither did I. So we wen't to Tantallon Castle instead. I never realized that Bill loved that kind of thing so much. We had a beautiful day and a very kind and patient chauffeur (Andrew, Alison's son.)
The castle is located on the top of a bluff overlooking the sea. It is in ruins but much of it can be toured. It was incredibly fascinating.
Here are the levels of the Douglas Tower. Unfortunately it was shelled and ruined by artillery in the 1500s.
Looking across the sea is Bass Rock. It has it's own lighthouse.
This is looking up the walls of the entry hall. You can see the floors with the indentations where the fireplaces were.
Bill looking into the entry. This shows the inner courtyard and Bass Rock across the sea.
Again, here is the inner wall but you can see the pockets for the floor joists on each level
And the well...
This was closed off but there were several stairs like this; winding and made completely of stone.
Chauffeur Andrew, trying to be patient with the tour-ons.
This is looking back across the inner yarn towards the main part of the castle
That's Bill and me...
Oh, and there was a dungeon...it was very exciting stuff. Below is the prisoner's potty; the hole was quite small but, even if a prisoner tried to escape through it, it would be a very long way down into the sea below.
Below is a slit in the prison which provided the only lighting and ventilation...I can't imagine how cold it must have been in there!
The picture above shows the turrets that protrude out of the towers. Alison tells me that this is very Scottish architecture and falls under the term Baronial
And below, a better shot of the lighthouse on Bass Rock.
More to come...stay tuned!
