The Tulip Museum & More!

Yesterday afternoon  Mom and I went to the tulip museum.  The museum had the history of tulip farming in Holland.  It had lots of information on where tulips originated and why they started growing them here.  After going to the tulip museum we went to the cheese museum.  At the cheese museum we got to taste some very yummy cheeses.  You could also dress up in old Dutch clothing.  

Mom and the tulip museum!

Tulip museum

Mom at the tulip museum.

This is me at the tulip museum.

This is at the cheese museum

Then yesterday night Dad and Thomas and I went to see some of dads friends from work play at a bar.  Dad even got up on stage and joined them for 4 songs it was Awesome.  Who knew my dad was so cool?

Franck is singing and playing guitar, Dad is
playing the Bass and Toff is playing the
Drums!

:)

Royal Palace and New Church

Yesterday afternoon the three of us went to visit the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.  It is a beautiful building right at the center of Dam Square.  The Royal family still use it to today.  The inside was really beautiful.  It has many decorations and such to look at.  There are also many rooms that you can look inside of.  

Royal Palace

After visiting the Royal Palace we went to the New Church in Amsterdam, which is located right next to the palace.  The church had a photography exhibit inside it which really took away from the beauty of the church its self.  I was a little disappointed.

New Church Amsterdam

Scotland Day 4: St Giles' Cathedral, The Scott Monument and The Nelson Monument

On Monday we had another great day in Scotland.  First we went to St Giles' Cathedral.  It is probably the most beautiful church I have ever been in.  There was hardly anyone inside it which was nice because I got great photo opportunities.  The architecture in it was amazing!  The ceiling had arches and the stained glass windows were beautiful. 

Next we went to the Scott Monument.  It is a monument for the Scottish author Walter Scott.  It was completed in1844.  It is 200 feet 6 inches tall.  The three of us all climbed 287 stairs to the top.  The views from the top were great.  

After that we went to Calton Hill.  At the top of this hill is a monument called the Nelson monument.  Dad and I Climbed to the top of this monument too.  It was only 170 steps to the top.  From the top of the Nelson monument we got even more amazing views than we did from the Scott Monument.  

After visiting the two monuments we walked back to our hotel to get our bags and then headed to the airport.  The three of us had a wonderful time in Scotland and I hope that I can go back some day! 

This is St Giles' Cathedral

This is the inside of the cathedral.

This is mom in front of the Scott
Monument. 

This is Dad and I in front of the Scott
Monument.

Scott Monument

This is a picture of the top of St Giles'
Cathedral from the top of the Scott
Monument.

This is Mom and Dad on the top of the Scott Monument

A view of the Edinburgh Castle from the top of the Scott
Monument.

View of the Streets of Edinburgh.

This is Mom and I at Calton Hill.

This is the Nelson Monument.

This is a view of Edinburgh from the top of the Nelson
Monument.  If you look carefully you can see the
Edinburgh Castle in the distance.

This is another view from the top of the Nelson Monument.

Another view from the Nelson Monument.

This is me at the top of the Nelson Monument.

Scotland Day 3: Edinburgh Castle, Mary Kings Close, and a walk down the Royal Mile

On Sunday the three of us went to the Edinburgh Castle.  It was even more fun than Stirling castle.  Some of the buildings there date back to the 12th century.  The Edinburgh castle is built on top of a hill.  There are cliffs surrounding it on many sides.  Inside the castle we went inside many interesting places.  We got to go inside a war memorial.  There was also a tiny little chapel that we went inside.  At the castle they also have the crown jewels of Scotland.  We saw the sword, scepter and crown.  They did not allow photography inside the room so I don't have and pictures, but if you are interested I am sure you could find some pictures on the internet.  Also at the castle we got to see the prison.  That was really interesting.  It didn't look like too much fun to have to live down there.  We also went into the Great Hall.  This is where they held most events at the castle.  The views from the castle were also amazing!

Next we went to Mary King's Close.  This was a tour of the under ground streets of Edinburgh.  We got to see some old houses and a stable where they kept cows.  We also learned about the plague.  Our guide also told us some ghost stories.  They did not allow photography on this tour so I don't have anything to post.  So you will have to use your imagination to picture it.

After finishing at Mary King's Close we walked down the Royal Mile.  The Royal Mile is a street that starts at the Edinburgh Castle and goes down to the Holyrood Palace.  The street goes past many beautiful churches and old buildings.  The Holyrood Palace is the official residence in Scotland of the Queen.  It is very cool looking from the outside.  We did not have the chance to go inside the palace because we got there too late in the day.  We did get some wonderful pictures of the outside though. 

We also got to have some wonderful chocolate mousse for dessert for mothers day.  It was absolutely delicious.

The Edinburgh Castle

Dad and I inside the castle walls

Mom standing by a huge cannon

This is a Scottish war memorial

This is my mom and dad by a fancy horse sculpture

This is the inside of the Great Hall

This is the prison 

A church along the Royal Mile

The Queens Gallery

The Holyrood Palace