Why You Should Visit The National Museum of Scotland?

I am not a museum goer. However, since my visit to the National Museum, I kind of started to love these places. And this museum bestowed me with wonderful piece of knowledge about the history of Scotland.

Almost all the historical significant structures has undergone multi million pound (~ 47 million in pounds) renovations in Scotland recently. So does the national museum. Due to the surge of visitors year by year, that was a wise decision to take anyway. 

Merges happens for museums too. The official national museum of Scotland was formed as a merge between the new museum of Scotland + Royal museum in 2006. The place is so rich in its collectibles itself. Ranging from historical, cultural, antiques, science, technology - this is a place where you can spend learning something. And kids will love this place for the interactive items that are around. I was enjoying each and every corner of this museum. 

I entered the museum through the basement and climbed up to the wonderful white color painted, glass paved hall. It was so beautiful with with the sunlight that was filtering through. The structure is very old to when it was constructed. There are several exhibits that you can enjoy at this location.

There are close 9000 exhibits in this museum and majority are authentic ones, not the replica's. Several exhibits which are opened to public after the renovation are not seen by several generations. And this makes the museum a special place to go.

Here is what the main areas that you can visit once you are in the museum

• Grand Gallery
• Art Gallery
• Natural Habitat Gallery
• Scottish History and Archaeology
• Science and Technology
• World Cultures
• New Galleries 

If I have enjoyed this, then think about the kids. I could see more kids than adults in the gallery. With parents and grand parents, the kids were trying to learn new things from all around. With great happiness and excitement, they were racing through the museum alleys and enjoying their heart out. Sweet childhood days!

Things To Know About The Central Library

Library isn't the place that I like to visit at all. However, I thought of paying a visit as there was a Photography Exhibition going on and it was *free* :) 

This is one marvelous heaven of book and literature. Attain a membership and enjoy the wide collection of world famous books everyday.

Spent sometime around the photography exhibition and returned to the path of discovery.

Quick facts about the library:

• Opened in 1890 and the first library building in the city
• 500,000 book loans annually issued by the library
• Library has the card indices to track and find the books 
• Utilized the day light to the most through its architectural design

More Pictures Along The Royal Mile

This post is a continuation of the Royal Mile walk post, which you can read by clicking this link. I have around 234 pictures taken on the one day trip to Edinburgh. So thought of sharing some more.

Music again. This gives life to the streets and the surroundings. A bagpiper sharing is talent with the rest of the world. This musician has the skill. I enjoyed it for sometime. In-fact Scottish music is something I enjoyed from television. So enjoying it live was a precious moment for me for sure.

People likes the food, drinks, the varieties - there are more restaurants in the city than the people. And all are different and adds their own flavor to what they offer.

The City Sightseeing red bus that you can see in almost all the cities in UK. I took the ride one day. My main aim was to take some videos from the open roof of the bus. And it was wonderful. Pay 13 pounds and hop on and off the bus at the designated stops. A very good way to enjoy the town in an organized manner.

The Scottish attire. The traditional Scottish uniform or formal. You can see this as a primary outfit for any events in Scotland.

More street performers. I always try to stop and watch (pay some money at times) to encourage this people. They are doing it to earn some bucks or at least a recognition. We can give both right? Just give it then.

The Famous Royal Military Tattoo Event

When my colleague first asked me whether I am interested to go for the Military Tattoo, I told him that I am not interesting in getting a Tattoo. After realizing that it was one of the several funny ignorant moments in life, I took it in a stride and studied about it. When the Edinburgh trip came along, I read little bit more about it to get more understanding.

The Military Tattoo is a yearly event that is performed by the royal military. And I wondered how come they call this moment with a word Tattoo and it was interesting to know how it was derived. For me, it was kind of a  royal level of piping championship. Band of the powerful ones.

Close to 3 laksh spectators in and around UK, fire works, the castle premises - the experience is certainly at a different level. 

And the best part is that the event location is the Castle entrance. Temporary stands on the either sides enables the visitors to enjoy the dazzling beauty of the parade with a view.

And the event really got a military strictness in its execution. Heard that not even once the schedule had a shift due to any reasons. The week before my visit, during the parade it rained and still the show went on and everyone sit and watched. That's the craziness the people have towards this event. Amazing.

Things To Know About The Royal Mile

Walking up the road towards the castle, you will end up at the junction which merges with the Royal Mile road. Royal Mile is the vein of Edinburgh old villages. You walk through the path and can witness the historical sweetness of Edinburgh. And trust me, I had a tough time to navigate through bustling crowds on the way. Most crowded location in Edinburgh for sure.

The path is precisely a mile in distance and connects the Edinburgh Castle and HolyRood palace. So as you can think, a mile becomes royal mile when it is constantly used by the royal family. Like anything else :)

When you walk along the path you can see connected tenements along the line. And narrow passages that runs to both the directions which was so interesting to watch. Like secret passages and without a map, you are lost for sure. The paths are paved with smooth stones and everything around radiated a royal touch and feel. 

Adding more colors to the place, apart from the usual structures the place was filled with performers and high volume of shopping events as a part of the Fringe Festival.

Lot of street performers as a part of the festival made people to take a moment to gaze at them. This act specially should be pretty tiring. They were still for hours. Appreciated.

There is no Scotland without music. And it is not just music. It is always the perfect one. I really wonder why these people are not coming on to the main stream yet. Highly skilled in what they do. I listened to them for almost 10 minutes. Their fingers created magical waves of sound which trembled the old rustic walls and added more taste to its existence.

I have mentioned about the architectural elegance about this place couple of times. Doesn't matter whether a house is big or small, all are treated with the same perfection for the look and feel. Beautiful homes near to the royal palace.

The above picture is not an entrance to the Harry Potter style school. It is a restaurant located on the right side of the Royal Mile when you walk towards the HolyRood palace, just out from the castle entrance. 

People walking along the Royal Mile. There are several attractions alongside. Including the authentic Scotland Whiskey tasting and food. Really an experience for a life time.

Ok. Give me a way people. I have to reach the other side in a minute :)

Royal eh? Oh yes. My eyes started paining trying to devour each and every details on the way. A real hungry traveler. How much ever you enjoy the entire place, you will still feel like going there again and connect the dots. That might be an hallucination. Because the beauty is enjoyable for a life time.

A short video on The Royal Mile: