Stirling Highland games






Caber toss with Stirling Castle in the background


Backhold wrestling. The one in the grayish kilt was quite good.


This was the day that we returned to Edinburgh to try to see the Queen.


We weren't allowed to get too close to the gate, so I couldn't get such great pictures....but it was awesome to see and listen to the pipers and the band...very professional. I was lucky enough to get there early and have the front row spot...there were hundreds of people lined up behind us and down the street who were trying to see what was going on.


I waited patiently to see the Queen...and was really disappointed when she entered through a side gate (we were hoping she would come through the gate we were standing by, which seemed to be the main gate). We watched the soldiers do the royal salute and watched the royal standard being raised while God Save the Queen was played, but we couldn't really see anything, as she was hidden behind soldiers. However, my mom pointed out that she could see the very top of her hat moving towards the end of a row of soldiers, so I picked my camera up and managed to snap a photo of her right when she became visible....and then she weaved her way back through the soldiers again....and that was the one glimpse that anyone got.


Then we saw the Duke of Edinburgh because he came to greet the guests inside of the palace gates. We weren't sure who the lady next to him was...Princess Anne maybe?


I was able to get a few better shots after everyone marched out of the palace gates. Here's one of a couple pipers.


Anyway...that was basically my time in Scotland. Upon reviewing my photos, I realized that I don't have any photos of me...I think I was so rapt by everything I saw that I forgot to have someone take my picture. I will be returning in a few weeks...so I am very excited...and I'll be sure to share my pics after that trip (and I'll make sure to have my photo taken), too. This time around I will be in Edinburgh during the International Festival...so that should be fun. Oh! And I'm going to see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo! Can't wait!