Ev woke up at 6am after a very restful sleep in a big, empty, snoreless bed (because Dan was being an impatient sook with the heater). Dan was sleeping off the scotch from last night and finally got up at 8:30am. We ate a leisurely breakfast, which we actually made for a change and had a slow start to our morning. After getting ourselves ready we finally headed out at 10:30am. We walked to High Street, also known as the Royal Mile, to get some cash. We boarded a city tour bus and enjoyed the fresh air of the open roof double decker bus until it started to suddenly rain when we were half way on the tour. We decided to hop off near the Edinburgh gardens for a walk but only got to the Royal Scottish Academy before deciding it was lunch time. The Edinburgh Dungeon ride was also an option, but inside it seemed lifeless (get it), no seriously, there was no atmosphere at all so we’ll probably do that one of the nights we’re here. We did a bit a of souvenir shopping before eventually getting back to the apartment.
It was a fairly gloomy morning and we both felt the same way unfortunately. Ev did a load of washing this morning (even washing powder is supplied in the apartment) and discovered when we came back that most of the articles came out different colours than when they were put in. Her pink nighty is now purple, and white shirt is a blotchy grey, but hey, at least it’s a free wardrobe change. We had leftovers for lunch and Dan had a snooze on the couch hoping to recharge the batteries. The non-stop travel is catching up with us but we are determined to keep going and enjoy ourselves. We decided that this afternoon we’re better off seeing the Rosslyn Chapel, which is only 20 mins south of the city and just take it easy, we’ll see the rest of the city in the car.
3:30pm rolled by and we contemplated staying in for the day as the weather wasn’t really getting any better, but we thought better of it. Dan felt better. Ev felt better, too. It doesn’t get any better than this. What the hell!?!?!?!? Stop staying better!
Ok, brain freeze over. We got in the car and drove toward Rosslyn, or more specifically, Rosslyn Chapel which is a 15th-century medieval chapel built by William St. Clair and probably most notably used as the scene for the climax of the movie, The Da Vinci Code.
Ev: “We probably shouldn’t spoil the ending for people who haven’t seen it.”
Dan: “If they haven’t seen it by now, they’re retarded.”
Ev then had trouble spelling retarded. What a retard.
No we’re not drunk! Yet...
Anyway, ‘Cue The Da Vinci Code music’
The Rossyln Chapel
The Chapel scene was at the end of the movie when Tom Hanks’ character drove to the church following the Rose Line from Paris. He walked into the church then down the stairs to find the crypt which was supposedly where the Knights Templar’s treasures, including the Holy Grail were kept. We searched, but we couldn’t find them. Now hold the scenes of the chapel you saw in the movie because most of them weren’t the real thing. The 15th century church has been restored many times over the years and decorations added each time. After years of rain, the working church was ‘rescued’ from internal crumbling and has had a canopy over the exterior like a huge umbrella for 14 years and was only taken down this year after the roofing was fixed so water wouldn’t leak through the building. The scaffolding was still there today and we were a little underwhelmed when we first saw the church as we assumed it was bigger.
Due to the restoration works at the time, Hollywood created an exact replica of the West wall of the Chapel for Hanks’ character to run through the chapel entrance and the external areal shots of the church and roads in the movie were models because the tent was still over the entire building. They did use the original church of him walking inside and to the stairs to the crypt, but the crypt scenes themselves were filmed at Pinewood Studios in London. (They didn’t show that in the ‘behind the scenes’ extras). Some tourists request the guides to show them the Knights crypts and the Rose Line under the carpet, but that too is a myth. There is nothing under the carpet but floor boards.
Though the outside was surrounded by scaffolding, we were overwhelmed by the beauty inside. We walked in the chapel for 45 min then stayed for the 20min tour at 5pm to learn more about the history of the building and decorations. We were in awe of the craftsmanship that decorated the chapel. So many carved scenes all over the walls; angels, musicians, the Birth of Christ, the 7 Virtues and 7 Deadly Sins, the Dance of Death, beautifully carved pillars, and five flower types over the entire ceiling. Stain glassed windows also lined the church walls.
One thing the guide told us was that the makers of The Da Vinci Code film were so intent on having the Seal of Solomon symbol of the Sacred Marriage in their film that they stuck one on the wall above the entrance to the crypt where they filmed the final scene of the movie. It left a mark! The church didn’t know about it until filming was finished and they now refer to it as the ‘Hollywood Circle’. We both loved being in the church and also walking in history. Dan bought a wooden goblet with a cross on it from the bookstore.
The sky had cleared a bit as we exited the church and found ourselves trying to remember scenes from the movie as we walked toward the car. Rosslyn itself is a very nice little Scottish village and the drive back to Edinburgh was pleasant. We took the scenic route back home around the city and found it not only beautiful but very easy to get around. We got back to the hotel around 7pm and found a small pizzeria/fish and chip shop called Bene’s on the Royal Mile that was put on the map by the Royals during their many visits and we ordered way too much food: Ev had chicken nuggets and chips, Dan ordered a 16 inch Hawaiian pizza, not realising how ridiculously big it was, and we went halves in Haggis (which was surprisingly yummy) and got some ice-cream. We’ll be having pizza tomorrow morning, lunch and dinner.
So our day went from an average morning to a very good afternoon, thanks to the Chapel. We’re more energised for our day trip to Loch Ness and the Highlands tomorrow. We love Scotland.
View Larger Map
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan-ev/collections/72157624677997272
It was a fairly gloomy morning and we both felt the same way unfortunately. Ev did a load of washing this morning (even washing powder is supplied in the apartment) and discovered when we came back that most of the articles came out different colours than when they were put in. Her pink nighty is now purple, and white shirt is a blotchy grey, but hey, at least it’s a free wardrobe change. We had leftovers for lunch and Dan had a snooze on the couch hoping to recharge the batteries. The non-stop travel is catching up with us but we are determined to keep going and enjoy ourselves. We decided that this afternoon we’re better off seeing the Rosslyn Chapel, which is only 20 mins south of the city and just take it easy, we’ll see the rest of the city in the car.
3:30pm rolled by and we contemplated staying in for the day as the weather wasn’t really getting any better, but we thought better of it. Dan felt better. Ev felt better, too. It doesn’t get any better than this. What the hell!?!?!?!? Stop staying better!
Ok, brain freeze over. We got in the car and drove toward Rosslyn, or more specifically, Rosslyn Chapel which is a 15th-century medieval chapel built by William St. Clair and probably most notably used as the scene for the climax of the movie, The Da Vinci Code.
Ev: “We probably shouldn’t spoil the ending for people who haven’t seen it.”
Dan: “If they haven’t seen it by now, they’re retarded.”
Ev then had trouble spelling retarded. What a retard.
No we’re not drunk! Yet...
Anyway, ‘Cue The Da Vinci Code music’
The Rossyln Chapel
The Chapel scene was at the end of the movie when Tom Hanks’ character drove to the church following the Rose Line from Paris. He walked into the church then down the stairs to find the crypt which was supposedly where the Knights Templar’s treasures, including the Holy Grail were kept. We searched, but we couldn’t find them. Now hold the scenes of the chapel you saw in the movie because most of them weren’t the real thing. The 15th century church has been restored many times over the years and decorations added each time. After years of rain, the working church was ‘rescued’ from internal crumbling and has had a canopy over the exterior like a huge umbrella for 14 years and was only taken down this year after the roofing was fixed so water wouldn’t leak through the building. The scaffolding was still there today and we were a little underwhelmed when we first saw the church as we assumed it was bigger.
Due to the restoration works at the time, Hollywood created an exact replica of the West wall of the Chapel for Hanks’ character to run through the chapel entrance and the external areal shots of the church and roads in the movie were models because the tent was still over the entire building. They did use the original church of him walking inside and to the stairs to the crypt, but the crypt scenes themselves were filmed at Pinewood Studios in London. (They didn’t show that in the ‘behind the scenes’ extras). Some tourists request the guides to show them the Knights crypts and the Rose Line under the carpet, but that too is a myth. There is nothing under the carpet but floor boards.
Though the outside was surrounded by scaffolding, we were overwhelmed by the beauty inside. We walked in the chapel for 45 min then stayed for the 20min tour at 5pm to learn more about the history of the building and decorations. We were in awe of the craftsmanship that decorated the chapel. So many carved scenes all over the walls; angels, musicians, the Birth of Christ, the 7 Virtues and 7 Deadly Sins, the Dance of Death, beautifully carved pillars, and five flower types over the entire ceiling. Stain glassed windows also lined the church walls.
One thing the guide told us was that the makers of The Da Vinci Code film were so intent on having the Seal of Solomon symbol of the Sacred Marriage in their film that they stuck one on the wall above the entrance to the crypt where they filmed the final scene of the movie. It left a mark! The church didn’t know about it until filming was finished and they now refer to it as the ‘Hollywood Circle’. We both loved being in the church and also walking in history. Dan bought a wooden goblet with a cross on it from the bookstore.
The sky had cleared a bit as we exited the church and found ourselves trying to remember scenes from the movie as we walked toward the car. Rosslyn itself is a very nice little Scottish village and the drive back to Edinburgh was pleasant. We took the scenic route back home around the city and found it not only beautiful but very easy to get around. We got back to the hotel around 7pm and found a small pizzeria/fish and chip shop called Bene’s on the Royal Mile that was put on the map by the Royals during their many visits and we ordered way too much food: Ev had chicken nuggets and chips, Dan ordered a 16 inch Hawaiian pizza, not realising how ridiculously big it was, and we went halves in Haggis (which was surprisingly yummy) and got some ice-cream. We’ll be having pizza tomorrow morning, lunch and dinner.
So our day went from an average morning to a very good afternoon, thanks to the Chapel. We’re more energised for our day trip to Loch Ness and the Highlands tomorrow. We love Scotland.
View Larger Map
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan-ev/collections/72157624677997272
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