During the middle ages, in order to stay within the city walls, people built up instead of out which is why edinburgh is so tall looking, this is looking out from the new town (built mostly during the 16th century)across the valley where the railroad goes, looking at the old town, the part that used to have city walls. It is very beautiful, but very imposing at the same time
In the background waaay back there up on the hill side, is Edinburgh castle. We were going to take the tour through it but we were too late on Sunday and we had to catch the train, this is taken from one of the bridges that links the new part of the city to the old part.
Here is a closer view of the castle, its fuzzy because of the rain. It is built on a hill of volcanic basalt.
This is St. Giles church on the Royal Mile which is the main street (actually its the same street with 4 different names as you go down it; Castle Hill, Lawnmarket, High Street, and Cannongate) between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace which was built in 1529 for James V, and is now the Queen's official Scottish residence. The church in the background is the Tron Kirk (kirk means church)
This is the WW2 war memorial.