Edinburgh's great public spaces

Our last two days in Edinburgh were spent visiting great public spaces (and of course eating really great food).   One day was spent investigating the Royal Botanical Garden.   What is so amazing is that it is open to the public free of charge (with the exception of special exhibits).   Atlanta - are you taking notes?  With that comes a different sense of space and activities. It is also fairly large so you don't feel claustrophobic as a visitor or too programmed.  When I came here 15 years ago, I didn't have strong feelings one way or the other.  Now, I would argue this is one of the botanical gardens I have visited.  Interwoven in the community, a great visitor center, multiple cafes, and well-manicured gardens.  They also have 10 nineteenth-century glasshouses hosting exotic plants from South America and other parts of the world.  They have been restored recently and are beautiful - very Victorian. 

We also spent time visiting Calton Hill and the associated burial ground (you knew I was going to find those!).  This is a great old park atop one of Edinburgh's hills replete with multiple monuments, a museum undergoing renovations, and great views of the city.  The Old Burial Ground sat below Calton Hill.  The Scottish burials are distinctive from American ones with open air walled rooms for families or distinctive individuals.  Like many cemeteries in the United Kingdom, it was not in good condition, and felt sad and forgotten.  There was however a monument to Abraham Lincoln forthe Scottish-American soldiers who died in the Civil War.

We ended our time in Edinburgh by going back to Wedgwood (so good!) and stopping at our favorite tourist bar Whiski. 

On to Inverness.......enjoy our photos below and on the Edinburgh album page.