Day three in Scotland

Today is Friday and time to get a look at the countryside around Edinburgh. To do that, we took a 9 hour tour down to the borders area (the Scottish and English border). The first stop was Rosslyn chapel. It was built around 1446 Sir William St Clair who was a member of the Knights Templar and made famous most recently by Dan Brown in his blockbuster book The DaVinci code. To see more of the Chapel go to: http://www.rosslynchapel.com/



This really ugly picture is of the renovation of the outside of the Chapel. They have made so much money from the increase in visitors that the funds are now available to repair the external areas of the Chapel. No pictures were allowed inside but even though the outside was ugly the inside was spectacular. There was carved stone everywhere with many symbols of the early church. It's easy to see why Dan Brown used this in the book.









The next stop was at the Melrose Abbey. This is the ruins of a abbey built in the 12th century by King David the 1st. The history of the monks that occupied the abbey is fascinating and as you can see the abbey now lies in ruin.










Flat Ella is really enjoying seeing the abbey. She walked through the stone arches and was amazed at the size and intricate stone work of the building.
















The interior of the abbey was spectacular with blue sky above the long gone roof.





















For centuries the abbey served the local area with full monks who lived in the abbey and tended to spiritual needs and lay monks who did the work but also participated in things spiritual.











Again, this is for Ella. This is the bus that Flat Ella rode in all day. A great new bus except for the flat tire we found when leaving Melrose. So, we called the tire guy (that's him under the bus) and he got us on our way again. Flat Ella really liked seeing the country and the bus ride.






We made it home in time for dinner at the local pub with lots of loud college kids and now it's time for some rest. This vacationing is getting to be hard work.
More tomorrow I hope.