For those of you who enjoy a good mystery story, Rosslyn Chapel at the village of Roslin is an extraordinary place. It was built about 600 years ago and the interior is covered (and I really mean covered) with intricate carvings. There are many different interpretations of what the carvings mean, ranging from a simple representation of bible stories and historical characters, through to mysterious masonic symbolism, and finally some purport that it shows the hiding place of the Holy Grail (you have read the Da Vinci Code, haven't you?)
Whatever the reason for their existance, the carvings are none the less amazing. And what is really amazing is that they are still there for us to see. They were somehow saved from the ravages of Oliver Cromwell, only to be attacked by mother nature herself in the form of profuse algal growth on the wet stone. (The roof has been leaking for about 400 years!) The Victorians tried to save the chapel by painting the interior with grey paint, which although done with the best of intentions has made the job more difficult for 21st Century conservaters. Currently there is a huge restoration job being done.
We also took a five minute stroll down the hill from the Chapel to explore the ruins of Rosslyn Castle (Oliver Cromwell did visit this one) and then we went for a longer walk in Rosslyn Glen. The woods were beautiful - very quiet and peppered with odd stone ruins - as unlike the Australian bush as anything could be. The Rowan trees are particularly wonderful at this time of years. They have huge clusters of the brightest, shiniest red berries that I have ever seen.
You can find more photos of Rosslyn
here.
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