I've officially been in Edinburgh for two weeks. I survived Burns Night! And I still haven't tried haggis... I'll get to that eventually. Maybe.
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| Robert Burns - Scotland's National Poet |
Yesterday, (Saturday the 28th) I went on a trip with the International Student Center to the town of Dumfries and Caerlaverock Castle. Dumfries' claim to fame is that it houses the Robert Burns Center which is basically a museum of Burns life. I learned he was the author of the Auld Lang Syne: a long established feature of New Year celebrations in every corner of the world. The Globe Inn is also in Dumfries where Burns died in 1796. We were in Dumfries for a couple of hours then moved on to tour the ruins of Caerlaverock Castle. It was very beautiful and interesting. The only problem was that I was freezing. As usual. Nevertheless, I managed to snap about 100 photos. I won't post them all...
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| The town of Dumfries |
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| Statue of Robert Burns in the town center |
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| Famous pub overlooking the sight where its namesake killed his rival in 1306 |
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| There were sheep everywhere and they were so tiny and cute! |
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| Entrance to the castle |
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| There were about four swans in the moat surrounding the castle |
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| Over the entrance to the once heavily fortified castle |
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| The courtyard |
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| All over the walls were initials and dates from people who were here |
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| 1047 |
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| JK Rowling perhaps? |
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| This was the courtyard to the first Caerlaverock Castle...about 300 yards behind the first. It was built in an area that was too wet and so they rebuilt which is the current castle. The first is all but gone. |
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| The trees were all heavily coated in moss because it was so moist in this area |
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| Like stepping into Narnia - SO green! |
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| Back view of the castle, coming from the first castle which is through the woods |
Caerlaverock Castle: A brief history
The present castle was preceded by several fortifications in the area: a Roman fort on Ward Law Hill and a British hill fort that was in use around 950. Around 1220 Alexander II of Scotland granted the lands in the area to Sir John Maxwell, making him Warden of the West March. John Maxwell then proceeded to build the "old" castle, 200 metres (660 ft) to the south of the current one. This castle was square in shape and was one of the earliest stone castles to be built in Scotland. It had a moat with a bridge facing north. Only the foundations and remains of a wooden enclosure around it remain. In the 1270s the "new" castle was built, and Herbert Maxwell, nephew of John Maxwell, occupied it.
Being very close to the border with England, Caerlaverock castle had to be defended several times against English forces. One such occasion was the Siege of Caerlaverock of 1300 by Edward I of England who had eighty seven of the Barons of England in his host, as well as knights of Brittany and Lorraine. The Maxwells, under their chief, Sir Eustace Maxwell, made a vigorous defense that repelled the English several times. In the end the garrison were compelled to surrender, after which it was found that only sixty men had defied the whole English army for a considerable period.
Possession of the castle was subsequently restored to Sir Eustace Maxwell, Sir Herbert's son, who at first embraced the cause of John Balliol, and in 1312 received from Edward I an allowance of £20 for the more secure keeping of the castle. He afterwards gave in his adherence to Robert Bruce, and his castle, in consequence, underwent a second siege by the English, in which they were unsuccessful. Fearing that this important stronghold might ultimately fall into the hands of the enemy, and enable them to make good their hold on the district, Sir Eustace dismantled the fortress, a service and sacrifice for which he was liberally rewarded by Robert Bruce.
Anyway...
So thats what I did this weekend. I tried a new church today: St. Catherine's Argyle Presbyterian Church, and it was really good. The pastor said something I really liked. He was talking about the apostles original encounters with Jesus in John 1 and how each one came to believe He was the messiah and follow Him in a different way; and that because Jesus already knew them He knew exactly how to approach them. Depending on where they were in their life he challenged them, changed them, commanded them, or convinced them. And he does the same with people today. He finished in verse 51 when Jesus was saying they would see greater things than this and he said:
"He bears our hell so we might share in His heaven"
I thought that was a really neat way to think about it. I will write again soon. Cheers!
