Tuesday. One Week Gone

Today we started by visiting Edinburgh Castle. Unlike many people, including myself, believe, Castles aren't just places where pretty princesses lived. They were actually fortresses where armies lived to protect a city, which makes so much more sense when looking at fairy tales like Repunzel. Of course they would keep the princesses where the army would protect her and keep her from leaving.
The castle has like 800 years of history and stories that I couldn't even begin delving in to. The first bridge you come to was actually really cool. It wasn't your typical draw bridge, it was more of some counter weight system, that when they pulled the pins out of it and enemy soldiers walked on to it they thought it was solid until there was enough weight to knock it off balance, then all of the men on the bridge fell to their death by impalement by the 6 large spikes in the ditch below. A little disturbing yes, but I thought it was inovative.
We saw the Scottish Crown Jewels, which are the 2nd oldest in the world thanks to Cromwell who had the English crown jewels melted down at some point or another. They were stunning, as you would expect. We were also able to see the living quarters from Mary Queen of Scots who I believe was one of the last monarchs to use the facilities. Now they stay at the Hollyrood house, 1 mile down the hill from Edinburgh castle. We haven't been there yet, but we have plans to. We have plans to do LOTS of things, hopefully we can get them in.
The castle was followed by lunch and a visit to the National Gallery of Scotland which had original works from Raphael, Botticelli, Rembrant's self portrait, and many many more names I couldn't even begin to spell. Included were some of Monet and Degas's Impressionist works. Alot of the works were very old and of the religious variety, but it was interesting to see how stories, techniques, and ideas changed over time. We spent several hours in the museum but it is all almost a blur. I'm just learning this whole art world, so I'm trying to take everything in at once!
Tomorrow we visit some Modern art museums, which I'm excited about, probably for the wrong reasons. I like looking at Modern art but I have no idea what the meaning is behind any of them!
Today was 64 degrees, and wet. It rained almost all day, which is sad because it was a beautiful day when we got started this morning. I can never decide what to wear!
We still haven't tried out the 'night scene' I've been given good ideas by reliable sources, but we've just been exhausted by the end of the day!
Thanks for reading. I love to hear from ya'll!!
Kait