Stirling, Scotland, United KingdomPremier Inn Stirling Scotland
So I woke up at 6:37.
No, I woke up before that, but got up then, showered, started the kettle and started getting ready for the new day of touristing. Oh, yes, I ate my breakfast in the room - 3 slices of yesterday's pizza. I only intended to eat 2 but then I couldn't figure out when I was going to be able to eat the third, so I ate that one, too. I shouldn't have, though. Then, Marilynn and I went across the street to the cafe where Marilynn had porridge and we both had cappucchinos.
We set off up the hill to the touruist info place. Actually we were going to the Church of the Holy Rood but it didn't open until 11 am so we had a good half hour before the walking tour...which we then spent at the visitor center (Since it was raining, I asked for shelter from the rain - they were gracious - and Marilynn and I both ended up buying these extra cute sheep-print ponchos. We then met our guide Georgia for the walking tour. She was quite interesting - a student at Stirling Uni, she was born in China and lived there for 4 years, learned to speak Chinese, then lived in Thailand for 7 yrs, then moved to South Africa where her father was from. Her mother must have been Scottish because he grandfather was from the island of Jura. She showed us some of the old buildings from the 1200's, 1400's and later too - era of Mary Queen of Scots. She pointed out emblems which showed the guild of the owner, like tailor and brewer. We learned that a house painted yellow signified that the owner was very wealthy.
We saw the hospital founded by one wealthy patron & it was painted yellow. She took us to the New Jail and described it as being almost as bad as the old jail (which was in the Tollhouse). In front of the Tollhouse was a post where the superintendent of the new jail would pin an inmate's ear. Somehow we missed the beheading stone. We looked over the wall of the hospital grounds which had a very nice view. We also went to the church of the Holy Rood but only spett a few seconds there - the churchmen kept telling me about a pedal on the floor - finally I went and pushed it but didn'tt realize the whole purpose was to get my hands sanitized but the sanitizer was empty of liquid. Georgia showed us her favorite graves in the churchtyard and took us up to the top of the cemetery where the ladies used to come to watch the various battles and, then, when they were tired, they retired back to their homes. We walked up and down streets, but manaaged to walk all the way up to the grounds surrounding the castle and look over a wall to see the Wallace Monument and maybe the Stirling bridge - which I couldn't see from there.
That was the end of the tour. I managed to get a photo of Georgia's splendid pair of Doc Marten's.
Marilynn then led me back down the hill where we had to decide whether to go for lunch or the Church of the Holy Rood first. Marilynn opted for the Church - which was quite beautiful. Then we went to lunch in a restaurant housed in Mary Queen of Scot's husband Darling's house where she (Mary) banished him once she discovered he was violent and a drunk and abused her. The house was at the bottom intersection of several streets so the accumulated wates of the streets ran down to his living quarters. He didn't not have to endure it long because he was murdered. Mary was 6 foot tall and had been popular with the common people, but people suspected her of having him killed and eventually Elizabeth had her put to death for treason. At the restaurant, I had smoked salmon with a small plate of oat cakes and a sweet potato, chili, coconut soup - both very good. We waited for a table and then waited for our food. Marilynn kept telling people to close the door because it was cool out and they would leave it open. I got to play peek-a-boo with a little boy about 5 year old.
After lunch - it was now around 3 pm - we walked up the hill and down the other side to catch a bus to the Wallace Monument. Once the bus dropped us off, we took a shuttle to the base of the monument. It is something like 285 steps to the top. There are 3 floors with exhibits so you get a break, but the stone steps are in a spiral with a stone railing and it is a narrow space so it is difficult to pass people going in the other direction.
I also had problems on the first flight because the lighting was dim. I had the most difficulty with that first flight - I got tired and had to rest but the subsequent flights of stairs did not seem so bad. There was a little boy whining about climbing the stairs. We stopped to take photos on the different levels. When we were almost at the top, two little boys - one in a green shirt - both raved about the top and told us we would love it and it was well worth the effort. Indeed it was. At first it seemed as if you only got limited views and then once you completed the circuit there were a few more steps up and it opened up so that you had a stupendous view of the surrounding area and city of Stirling. And the most amazing was the view of the perfect oxbow in the river. We went down much more easily and then went to the gift shop, then waited an extra long time for the bus back to Stirling center.
It was after 5 pm when we got back and Marilynn suggested we look for dinner before going back to the hotel. She suggested Mama Mia which had a good review. After pizza last night, I was not so inclined toward Italian and really wanted a Scottish Ale but Marilynn said we could eat first and then go to a pub. But it turned out that the cooker was broken and Mama Mia could only supply starters and lasagna. We then worked through a bunch of options and ended up at another Italian restuaant. I only wanted something light so ordered an Antipasto Italiano and a red house wine. Marilynn had soup and salad and ice cream with cognac sauce. We walked back to the hotel, watched our British mystery, worked on photoos and blogs or diaries. Now Marilynn has gone to sleep and I need to wrap up and put out the lights.
2025-05-22