A walking tour of compact St. Andrews, only one mile across (about the size of Bordentown – and just a little older). The city is the home of prestigious University of St. Andrews, Scotland’s oldest institution of higher learning. It was founded in 1413 and Alma mater of Prince William and Duchess Kate.
Before exploring the University architecture and its seaside location, Michael and Hamish MacHamish give us lecture on Patrick Hamilton, member of the University. He was found under this “face of an angel” in the stone block, burned at the stake in 1528 at the age of 24. Teaching Lutheran doctrines had him condemned to death, making him the first martyr of the Scottish Reformation.
The Chapel….
The architecture of the University is a reminder of its influence on, especially, the American Ivy League.
St. Andrews Cathedral, just beside the sea was the largest and most important church in medieval Scotland.
Its graveyard provides rest even to several golf founders and personalities.
After our stay and tour(s) of St. Andrews (medieval times to the invention of golf, we make our way on another brilliant day (people are asking us to stay longer to ensure this streak of weather continues) toward our last city. And we do mean city. Edinburgh is now one of the most vibrant, happening city’s in the world. We’ll certainly check that out.
We stopped for some gelato and sorbeto to sustain us on the road as we drove by the spectacular Scottish countryside and new highly engineered bridges.
We arrived late into Edinburgh and made our way through diverse neighborhoods, old, new, middle class and wealthy into the gorgeous center of the city. That and our hotel, the eclectic, sustainable, young spirited, Tigerlily was literally vibrating with life. Some dinner at the only restaurant not fully booked on this Friday evening helped us recalibrate our age downward so we could handle the pace for tomorrow’s adventures. Get some rest.