To complete our tour of the places mentioned in Sir Patrick Spens ('Norroway' and Aberdour were the others), we went to Dunfermline.
It was a long and twisty bus ride, leading to some dispute between Maeve and Brigid about who sat next to whom. Daddy was much coveted, having just returned from Norway, and Mommy let Maeve lie with her head in her lap. I, therefore, got to sit by myself and look at the scenery.
When we arrived, we set out for the Tourist Information Center. On the way, we passed the Dunfermline Cannon. This 18th century relic has a rather odd history. Gifted to the town by a foundry looking to set up a branch in Dunfermline (it didn't get to), it was used on a railing on a dark corner, moved during World War II because people kept tripping over it during blackouts, and finally set up in an odd corner with a plaque. One has to wonder why they didn't just get rid of the thing.
The lady at the information center was very helpful, and terribly concerned that we'd be too cold in the park. (The weather was a beautiful 70 degrees and breezy.) We went down there and ate lunch, then took the girls to the playground. They were thrilled to discover a seesaw and merry-go-round, never having seen such things before. Maeve and I experimented with lever principles; i.e., she sat way out on one end of the seesaw and I sat almost at the center on the other.
We managed to pry the girls off the playground after much prevaricating, then stopped for vanilla ice cream with flakes on our way out. Then we went to the two-in-one abbey and palace (both of course in ruins.) Apparently the abbey guest house had been converted into a palace for Queen Anne. Maeve decided that she would be crowned Queen of Maeveland, and marched through the ruins in a royal procession.
The abbey chapel is now a functioning Church of Scotland. Inside, we got to see the grave of Robert the Bruce; outside were the relics of Queen Margaret of Scotland. We were going to see St. Margaret's cave as well, but it was closed when we got there.
This time, Daddy got the fish and chips for dinner. I went home with the girls.
--Sophia
Addendum: Robert the Bruce's grave under the pulpit.
Sophia,
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed this addition to your blog. It was so refreshing to read about who gets to sit next to whom. Seems like you won out, getting to sit by yourself. Next, I could imagine the lady fussing about your being warm enough.
Lastly, I wondered about the grave of Robert Bruce. What was it like? When I was growing up and reading stories about him, he was treated as a great hero.
Keep writing. We love it.
Gramma
I added a picture of Robert the Bruce's grave to the post.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Sophia