Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh, Scotland

In the early 1800's a man called John Gray, a gardener, arrived in Edinburgh with his wife and son looking for work. The weather was cold, however, and the ground was hard, so there were no gardening jobs available. He took what work he could find, and became a member of the Edinburgh Police Force - a Constable.

As a condition of his job, John Gray was required to have a dog. He bought a Skye Terrier and named him Bobby (Bobby was the nickname for Constables in the Police Force). Bobby became a beloved and loyal companion.

Unfortunately, after a few years as a policeman, John Gray became ill with tuberculosis, and died in February 1858. He was buried in old Greyfriars Kirkyard (Churchyard) in an unremarkable grave with no gravestone.

For the next fourteen years, Bobby sat and kept guard over his master's grave. He left the grave only for food, waiting patiently until the one o'clock gun was sounded, when he visited the cafe at 5/6 Greyfriar's Place which he used to frequent with his master. There the owners (who changed over the years) would feed him his dinner. The last owner to feed Bobby, John Traill, had a special dish made for him (engraved "Bobby's Dinner Dish"), which can be seen in the Museum of Edinburgh.

The gardener and keeper of Greyfriars, James Brown, tried often to remove Bobby from the Kirkyard, but finally gave up and provided a shelter instead, by placing sacking beneath two tablestones at the side of John Gray’s grave.

Bobby’s fame spread throughout Edinburgh. On a daily basis the crowds would gather at the entrance of the Kirkyard waiting for the one o'clock gun and a glimpse of Bobby leaving for his meal.

In 1867 a bye-law was passed that required dogs to be licensed or destroyed. Sir William Chambers (The Lord Provost of Edinburgh) paid Bobby's licence himself, and presented him with a collar with the brass inscription "Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed". This can also be seen at the Museum of Edinburgh.

The people of Edinburgh looked after the faithful Bobby while he watched over his master. Bobby died in 1872.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is a castle fortress which dominates the sky-line of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle here since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until the Union of the Crowns in 1603. As one of the most important fortresses in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle has been involved in many historical conflicts, from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century, up to the Jacobite Rising of 1745, and has been besieged, both successfully and unsuccessfully, on several occasions. From the later 17th century, the castle became a military base, with a large garrison. Its importance as a historic monument was recognised from the 19th century, and various restoration programmes have been carried out since.

Few of the present buildings pre-date the Lang Siege of the 16th century, when the medieval fortifications were largely destroyed by artillery bombardment. The notable exception is St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, which dates from the early 12th century.[1] Among other significant buildings of the castle are the Royal Palace, and the early-16th-century Great Hall. The castle also houses the Scottish National War Memorial, and National War Museum of Scotland.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Shop the Royal Mile as you head down from the castle. You can find lots of beautiful wools and all sorts of touristy items. I've read stories that the the Royal Mile is haunted as well. What more can you ask for than ambiance, haunts, and great shopping?

Beautiful Utah Desert

London Lodging

 

Multiple flights of stairs, no elevator, small, wonderful!

Lagoon, Farmington, Utah

 

 

 

 

Scarborough, England

Scarborough is a town on the North Sea coast of North Yorkshire, England. The older part of the town lies around the harbour and is protected by a rocky headland. The most striking feature of the town's geography is a high rocky promontory pointing eastward into the North Sea. The promontory supports the 11th century ruins of Scarborough Castle and separates the sea front into a North Bay and a South Bay. The South Bay was the site of the original early medieval settlement and the harbour, which form the current Old Town district. This remains the main focus for tourism, with a sandy beach, cafes, amusements, arcades, theatres, and entertainment facilities.