Back in London Town

Well, the brief mini-break is over.  Yesterday, I got a bus back to the airport (woke up way too early) and had an uneventful flight back to London.  Thankfully, the tube was running a normal service!

Goodness, looking back through my pictures, I feel so thankful for this short trip.  Wow, what a lovely part of God's green earth!  Scotland has become the 33rd country I've been to and it was a delightful one.  Here are some of my favorite pictures:

St John's Church

Palace of Holyroodhouse, as seen from Calton Hill 

The National Monument, and me, in the gale force winds on Calton Hill

Abbey Church

Abbey Church

Me at Edinburgh Castle

On the way up to Calton Hill in the wind.

Oh goodness, the memories I have.  You know, my overwhelming reminder on this trip was that I am blessed.  And I've not done a thing to earn it.  I have so much to be thankful for and trips like this are the sweet, sweet icing on top of a very large cake.

The Abbey pictured above was one of the highlights of me.  It is all that remains of an Abbey built by King David I of Scotland in 1128.  1128.  Wow.  It is attached to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, also pictured above.  This is a working palace and the royal family stay there when in Scotland.  It is also the historic home of Mary, Queen of Scots.  I paid my entry fee and walked into the palace, listening to the audioguide as I walked.  At one point, I was directed up a tiny winding little staircase, to the private bedroom of Mary, Queen of Scots.  I'm not a huge fan of that particular part of history, but for some reason, this impacted me the most.  As I carefully climbed the stairs, a father behind me pointed out to his daughter, "Wow, Mary, Queen of Scots would have walked up these steps too!"  Just wow.  What a reminder of the footsteps of those who have walked before us in history.  Now Mary wasn't exactly a role model, but history fascinates me.  That tour was a great reminder of the fact that history is people just like you and I, who lived and loved and dreamed.  Mary probably would have found it odd that one day, her bedroom would be a tourist site.