So many good things to say about this city

It's 2:25 am and I'm wide awake, thinking about how wonderful Edinburgh is and how we're not done here, but we leave in a few short hours. We have to leave such gorgeous sights as these:

Yesterday struck me as especially beautiful. It was sunny and warm (mostly), so we walked to Holyrood Palace, at the bottom of the Royal Mile. HP is the Queen's official residence when she comes to Scotland. I had a really good royal fix--HP is full of OLD portraiture, furniture, tapestries, and the stories to go with them. There are connections with the 20th century generations, too, such as slide shows and films of royal childhoods, and past ceremonies in The Great Hall (eg chef Gordon Ramsay getting acknowledged as a member of the Order of the British Empire). The oldest part of the palace is from the 16th century, and its walls were over a meter thick.  We weren't allowed to take photos inside, so I made up for it outside:

This is the oldest section from the 1500s. 

Detail of the fountain in the courtyard. They turn the water on when Liz and Phil & co. are there. 

The gardens were EXQUISITE. I could have spent all day there. 

Abbey remains. 

The palace from the back. 

I mean, come on!  So gorgeous!