What a wonderful city, I have said it more than once and all of my traveling companions agree, "I could live in Edinburgh" I can't really put my finger on what it is that makes this place so special. Is it the castle that dominaties the skyline? Maybe the famous Royal Mile or the amazing number of literary giants that have called this home. Perhaps it is the sense of the savage history that makes it what it is today, it just is!
We had a great apartment right in the heart of old town with a view of the castle out our window. What fun to watch all the holiday shoppers from our second floor perch. We of course did the obligitory tour of the castle and journyed on a hop on hop off tour which educated us on various famous landmarks throughout the city. Another memorable day was spent getting our pounds worth while riding on an all day city bus pass. Who knew that paticular bus does not loop back around, just another adventure and a great way to see more the city. Our goal that day had been to purchase dinner for Christmas and we ended up touring the town and finding some wonderful cheese at a real cheesmongers shop!
We had scoped out St. Mary's Cathedral the first day we were here so we could attend Midnight Mass with His Emminence Cardinal O'Brien officiating. The bulletin indicated carols at 11:30, Mass at 12. Thank goodness we arrived early to get good seats because there were no carols; the choir, the Cardinal and countless others processed to the altar promptly at 11:30 to begin the service. The cathedral itself is magnificent - arches, statues, frescoes and carvings. This all lent itself well to the pomp of a Cardinal's Mass with thundering organ, angelic choir and enough incense to waft us all heavenwards. All in all it was a beautiful service. The Cardinal, in his opening remarks welcomed one and all, especially a group all the way from San Diego, Texas! And lo and behold, as we were leaving, there was the Cardinal right at our exit so we shook his hand and exchanged blessings of the season. Amazing!
