Trip to Stirling Castle

Today the Fellowship group took a little excursion to Stirling Castle, about an hour northwest of Edinburgh, in Central Scotland. It's said that "He who holds Stirling, holds Scotland." Stirling sits on a high point overlooking a bridge that crosses the River Firth, which is the crossing into the Scottish Highlands. Stirling was home to a couple of epic medieval battles where the Scots defeated the huge English armies despite impossible odds. In 1297, William Wallace (aka Braveheart) fended off the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge . And in 1314, picking up the mantle of the executed Wallace, Robert the Bruce won the battle of Bannockburn nearby. Stirling later became one of the key palaces for the Stuart kings and queens. It's not as spectucular as Edinburgh Castle (I'll post photos later), but it has some nice views. We also toured the former residence of the Earl of Argyll - a 17th Century gem.

In a few hours we're all heading out to a Chinese dinner to celebrate the 51st birthday of our new friend Yang Zejun, one of the top macroeconomists for the Chinese government.















Walking to the Castle



The "Outer Close" Courtyard




The Great Hall (banquet hall)



It's good to be the King

















Wonder how old that tree is














William Wallace Monument - Tower in Distance



Statute of Robert the Bruce