We attended the opening night of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/the-experience) on Thursday and it was an event to remember. They set up stadium seating for about 20,000 in the courtyard of the Edinburgh Castle and the show uses the Castle as a magnificent backdrop for lighting. The show reminded me at some points of a spectacular halftime show, probably because of the marching bands and the stadium-like seating, but this was not like any halftime show I've ever seen. First, Edinburgh Castle is a massive gray stone backdrop on which they shine colored lights in various patterns to highlight the particular act or band. Secondly, there is a distinct multi-cultural aspect to the show as musical and dancing groups from around the world performed. There were Zulu warriors from Africa, Maori dancers from New Zealand, and dance groups from Malta, China, and India. 

These were fantastic, but the highlight of the Tattoo is always the "Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Dragoon Guards, The Queen’s Royal Hussars (Queen’s Own and Royal Irish), The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland and 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment . This prodigious 260-strong pipe band is completed by The Royal Army of Oman, Australian Federal Police, Tasmanian Police, Canada’s Paris Port Dover, Manchester Scots Guards Association and Tattoo debutants The Pipers’ Trail, a new pipe band formed by the Tattoo to enable a wider community to play a part."  In other words, the Scottish bagpipers and drummers, and the highland dancers. They were amazing. You could just feel the swell of national pride in these extraordinary musicians and dancers whenever they took the field. At the end of the hour and a half show, the lone piper high up on the Castle ramparts plays a tune for the fallen warriors of Scotland, and there was hardly a dry eye in the stands. Very dramatic. This is followed by a wonderful fireworks display and a full stadium sing along of the Scottish tune Old Lang Syne. Everyone grasped hands and swayed and sang together. We totally enjoyed the evening and hope you enjoy our pictures. If you want to see more of what we saw and heard, here is a Youtube link to last year's Tattoo to get the full experience:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE3IKSCjCEc