EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
October 17-20, 2003
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Oct 18, 2003 - The Palace of Holyrood House - Holyrood House is at the opposite end of the Royal Mile from the Edinburgh Castle. It's the Queen's official residence in Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots lived here between 1561 and 1567 (also where her secretary and confidant Rizzio [read:boytoy] was stabbed to death on instructions from her husband, Lord Darnley).
The kids couldn't resist standing in for the guards.
Mackenzie finally found her name somewhere!
The forecourt leading into the Palace with HolyRood Hill and King Arthurs Seat out behind Mackenzie.
The Coat of Arms over the entrance
Mackenzie ringing the doorbell to see if anyone was home (sure was a modern looking doorbell for such an old place)!
We weren't allowed to take pictures inside so this is it, except for the Abbey and gardens at the end.
The Abbey, the remains of which are to the left of the Palace, was originally built in 1128 by King David I (well he had it built).
After lunch we walked over to Greyfriars Kirkyard where the statue of the Skye Terrier dog (Grefriars Bobby), the dog who stayed at his masters grave for 14 years. They have a statue outside the cemetery of the dog and his bowl and collar are saved somewhere to see if you want (we didn't).
This however, is the Mackenzie Poltergiest mausoleum. It's on the haunted walking tours they do and is suppose to be one of the best documented haunted places (this is his tomb but they say most of the 'incidents' happen in the Black Mausoleum in the Covenanter's prison area which is gated and locked). I guess he (George Mackenzie who was responsible for the persecution of the Covenanters in the 17th century) busted through the door because there was fresh plywood (clearly) over the door, I put my hands over the top and called out to him but nothing. Mackenzie wasn't even going to come over with me to take the picture but we finally got her to the first step! On to the next day...
