Then we headed for the Royal Mile, the famous section of streets between the Holyrood Abbey and Edinburgh Castle.  We ate a late breakfast in a cafe and then wandered towards the castle.  River took quite a few pictures along the way.  Some of the highlights include these classic red telephone boxes.  These are now being replaced by more exposed public phones that offer internet and text messaging in addition to the traditional phone service.  They aren’t nearly as aesthetically pleasing, though.  

We also encountered Adam Smith, father of modern economics and creator of the invisible hand metaphor.  It seems to me that the market’s guiding hand hasn’t been merely been invisible recently, but perhaps absent altogether? 

Nearby is the Heart of Midlothian, marking the spot where the tolls where collected at the old entrance to the city.   Apparently, some people have a tradition of spitting on the heart or leaving their chewed gum here.  There are several interpretations of the origin of this custom, but all of them seem pretty barbaric to me.

At the top of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle is perched on the basalt plug of an extinct volano.  This position provides an incredible view over the city as well as making the castle almost impossible take by force.  The water supply, though, was restricted due these geological circumstances and became a severe weakness during sieges. 

There is an incredible historical legacy in this castle.  We learned a bit about the people who lived in the castle, including Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scotts, while looking for clues to complete puzzle sheet the kids were working on.  While exploring the castle, we saw the sword, sceptre, and crown known as the Honours of Scotland and heard the one o’clock gun that ships in the harbor once used to set their chronometers.

This lion guards the entrance to the Scottish National War Memorial in the castle.

We also saw the churchyard known as Greyfriars Kirk where the scottish terrier Greyfriars Bobby is buried.