Today it was raining a lot.  I even broke down and bought an umbrella.  After that, the rain stopped, of course.  But it didn’t matter.  I’d already decided to spend the day touring inside at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The Palace at Holyroodhouse stands at the end of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and is the official residence of the Queen when she is in Scotland.  The State Apartments are renowned for their magnificent plasterwork ceilings and beautiful tapestries.  One of the most impressive rooms in the Palace is the Great Gallery where you find portraits of real and legendary kings of Scotland.

The Palace is probably best known as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots, and was the setting for many dramatic episodes in her short reign.  It was here Mary witnessed the brutal murder of her secretary, Rizzo, by her jealous husband.

On the grounds of the Palace are the ruins of the 12th-century abbey.  According to legend, King David I founded the abbey on the very spot where he had a vision of a stag with a cross between its antlers. 

Tomorrow is my final day in Scotland.  I’m heading for the Royal Museum and the Museum of Scotland.  I’ll report in when I can.

Until then,

--Gerri