They just don’t make castles like they used to, in both the literal and metaphoric sense! To put it bluntly, visiting St Andrews’ Castle was slightly anti-climatic. How could I have known? While my Berea friend and I really enjoyed poking around the nooks and crannies that are essential to any castle, we both found it slightly difficult to imagine the grandeur of the place in its original state.
Originally constructed as the Bishops’ Palace, St Andrews’ Castle is indicative of the close medieval link between church and state. Reflecting the turbulent religious situation of the 16th century, many acts of martyrdom and murder have occurred under this fortification’s shadow. If only walls could talk! By the 17th century, however, the castle had been totally besiege, destroyed, and left to ruin. Although I appreciate historic preservation, I (hesitatingly) admit that making the castle into an attraction almost strips away any magic that might have been left. If St Andrews Castle were simply sitting upon the edge of a rock, not surrounded by guardrails or an oddly shaped Visitor’s Centre, the whole experience would have been far more organic. Having said that, our brief traipse around the Cathedral was totally unadulterated. Thankfully both St Andrews sites are included in the (amazingly generous) Historic Scotland membership pass.
St Andrews Cathedral, destroyed by a Protestant mob during the Reformation, still holds much of its original shape and feel. In other words, it was far easier to imagine the knaves, buttresses, and altars where they should have been. Even though a Visitor’s Centre (which happened to be closed this afternoon, attesting to the casual sense of Scottish time) is on the grounds, its presence is closely concealed behind a cloister wall. Also adding to the overall feel of the Cathedral is the graveyard. Morbid, yes, but the sheer impact of history is incredibly present. Due to the impending rain and chilly temperatures, we didn’t stay long at St Andrews Cathedral but hope to return at a later (and maybe even sunny!) day.
Catching up on assignments tonight, working on a short story, and thinking about how incredibly old-ladyish my food store is: fibre cereal, nuts, and raisins. Keeping dry food in my room is certainly limiting! Considering how my groceries have stayed safe in the refrigerator over the past week, I might become bold and attempt to keep small amounts of meat again. Here’s hoping for the best!
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