Sunday in Scotland

 

Attending church at St. Cuthbert's was one of the things I was most looking forward to in returning to Edinburgh.  What first drew me here were my mathematical studies, John Napier having been an elder here in his time.  Despite the practical reason for my initial visit, I fell in love with it immediately and choose to go here again today thought there are other churches I would like to attend sometime, such as Canongate (where the queen attends when she is in Edinburgh), Burntisland Parish Church (where Mary Somerville was raised), and St. Salvatore's Chapel in St. Andrews (where Napier would have attended chapel while in school).  I would also like to re-visit St. Mary's, St. John's, and Greyfriars, but this one just has a hold over me.

It doesn't hurt that the church stands in the shadow of a magnificent castle, of course.

This was only the third Sunday the church was holding in-person services.  They are being very careful and here you see the minister (in blue vestments) and some congregants, having coffee outside.  Everyone is masked inside except the minister during the time he is preaching and the small choir during the time they are singing.  Seats are also marked for social distancing.  I was hoping to see Jean here today - someone I met last time (2019) who was so sweet and helpful to me - and I'd seen her in the choir in the online services the two weeks prior, but she was not there this Sunday.  I did, however meet Fiona and also Peter (the minister), and I am planning to come back next Sunday despite other options drawing me.  Our doxology was Guide Me O, Thou Great Jehovah, and I was amazed at how it resounded despite masked congregants and a minimized (seven) choir.  The castle soaring above kind of reminds me of God being our Rock and our Fortress.

I always spend time in the kirkyard here.  (Who am I kidding?  I always spend time in any graveyard I get opportunity for.)

I always visit the stones in the two pictures below.  They have caught my eye from the beginning and are just outside the main door of the church.

A building associated with the church and within the kirkyard had the following graffiti, which also caught my attention - a pretty powerful message in the midst of all the very old tombstones here.
The only thing I had planned for Sunday was this worship service, so I had a bit of time to wander on my own, and that might be the only time this trip that that happens.  My wanderings took me from the kirkyard to King's Stables Road, up through Grassmarket, then onto Bow and Victoria Streets, then up the George IV Bridge and onto the High Street (Royal Mile) and then back the way I had come (with the addition of an impossible to resist side-trip to Greyfriar's Kirkyard).  I hope to post a few pictures of the above without too much commentary beyond what I just gave.

OK, a bit of commentary: the above shows (on the left) where I would have stayed had I not had to cancel my sabbatical last spring, and the below shows Victoria Street, thought to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter series.

I went to the Royal Mile to check out its "closes" - well, just the two associated with my mathematician, John Napier, in some way.  How would you like to walk down either of these on a dark night?

These closes almost flank St. Giles Cathedral, with its unique crown spire.

And there's Napier family related stuff on the exterior of the cathedral on the  north side, east end.  The next 3 pictures are of that, mostly put here so I can easily find them for my studies, but maybe others will find them cool too.

I also stepped into Lady Stair's Close.  It's simply beautiful, contains the Writer's Museum, and contains a turret I once almost stayed in (seems there are a lot of places I almost stayed - sure would have been cool here!)

"Feare the Lord & Depart from Evil!"

Hmm  .  .  .  I guess I found him  .  .  .

I took a turn I had never taken before and found a cool shortcut that landed me on the terrace of Victoria Street.

I was really intending to head back, but I was so close to Greyfriar's  .  .  .

I love how poems about people used to be carved into their stones.  The picture below is a close-up of the picture above and begins with "If thou list that passes by, know who in this tombe doth ly, Thomas Bannatyn abroad and at home who served God  .  .  ."

And, as always, paying homage to mathematician Colin Maclaurin (top right memorial).

And now getting back on track to head for home - taking Candlemaker Row (yellow building mid-picture, Grassmarket Hotel, is the place I almost stayed this time before I was offered free lodging with a friend).

Lunch in Grassmarket at "Made in Italy" - note the masking, distancing, and outdoor seating - and everyone's totally chill with it, which is refreshing to see.

Further sites on the way home, stories of which I have no time to tell - especially said not to tell the two dog stories of "Bobby" and "Bum."

Lamb, squash, and potatoes.  If you know me, you're surprised - more like shocked!  (Dinner winds up being around 9pm each night, which is part of why I'm still blogging at 1:42am Edinburgh time.)