Day 19 Da Vinci Code and final post

As we work our way back to Edinburgh we stop at the Culzean Castle.   A 'modern' castle in that it was built in the 18th century; 1777-1792, not in the 15th century.  Hey, indoor plumbing, not chamber pots; gas lighting, not whale oil.

A few highlights:

An indoor bath tub.  Note the two sets of 'hot' and
'cold'.  No faucets tho........

In the entry way we found several walls full of flintlocks and sabers.  We asked, 716 pistols.

A great 'swan pond' as well.

This is inside of the 'gas house' below the mansion.  One of the first
uses of coal gas to light the mansion.  They didn't burn the coal, but rather
heat it to drive of a gas, scrubbed it to removed impurities, stocked
it and pressurized a piping system.  Quite sophisticated for the time.

Scottish Deer.

Our final stop is one of our most interesting, the Rosslyn Chapel.   Built in the mid 1400's and intended to be a huge collegiate church dedicated to St. Matthew.  A full foundation was built, but only the choir, Lady Chapel and part of the transepts were built before construction was halted soon after the founder's death in 1484.  Made of sandstone, it is the most 'tricked out' church we have seen.  Hundreds of figures; Biblical, allegorical, mythological, whimsical and botanical are carved throughout the chapel.

There are enough 'New World' carvings of plants that many believe the founder's grandfather, the sea adventurer, Prince Henry of Orkney, did indeed, set foot in the New World a century before Columbus.  Whoa!

Another great story/legend.  The master mason, after completing his most expressive chapel pillar needed to take a year off to recharge his creative batteries.  When he returned, his apprentice mason's pillar was so much more beautiful and creative than his, that in a fit of jealousy, he murdered the apprentice.  Both pillars are in the front of the chapel for comparison.  The master mason was hung for the crime, and effigies of both are carved in the chapel.

Now we get to the reason that attendance has quintupled in the last 15 years.  Dan Brown's The Di Vinci Code.  The book has sold over 80 million copies and the climactic scenes of the movie were filmed here, primarily in the crypt and vestry below the chapel.  A great book and story, but no floor doors, Free Masons, or Shroud of Turin.  But a beautiful and unique building to enjoy.

No pictures were allowed inside.  The Docent stepped out so I grabbed a few.

A great adventure to Scotland.  19 days on the road in a fully packed sedan with right hand steering.  Tom was excellent as the driver.  Driving on the 'wrong side' is challenging, Tom, again could not be faulted.  Probably more stressful are the one-lane roads on the Isles of Orkney, Skye and Mull.   It was like driving on a driveway, with lots of traffic, for a week.  Fortunately our car had a GPS screen to assist in our travels.  We had maps, but the GPS really saved the day.

The food was great. A mentioned before, better than Irish food, but not up to Spanish cuisine.  Scottish food isn't necessarily unique, just well prepared and presented.  I must of had fish and chips at least six times.  Each the same, each different.

History?  Throughout time, they were either getting beat up by the English, or 'bickering' among themselves.  Bickering is a bit tame.  Clan wars were constant, vengeful and bloody.  For generations.  In modern times, the Brits and Scots have agreed to disagree.   A couple of years ago, the Scots voted to stay in the United Kingdom.  As of a couple of weeks ago when the UK voted to 'Brexit', the Scots aren't sure that their unity vote was a smart move.  (The Scots voted overwhelmingly to stay in the European Union.)

The people were universally friendly and courteous.   I can't remember the number of times people said 'thank you', and 'please'.  It is their culture, it is who they are; we could learn from them!

Visit Scotland!