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Wednesday, July 19, 2006


ROSSLYN CHAPPEL
The Rosslyn Chapel was featured in both the book and movie (a crew filmed 10 hours a day for four days in late September). This is where Langdon and Neveu uncover the truth of the Holy Grail -- and where I would deliver my last line for the show. It felt so good knowing I made it through this experience, and everything went as planned.

ABOUT ROSSLYN CHAPPEL
The Rosslyn Chapel, founded in 1446 by Sir William St. Clair, is located seven miles outside of Edinburgh. The chapel (also known as St. Matthew's Collegiate Church) was originally a Catholic church. Today it is a working Episcopal church, wrapped in scaffolding to protect the roof from the elements. This place has garnered so much attention because of its connections with Freemasonry. It is often called one of the most mysterious places in Scotland, because inside a variety of stone carvings relate to biblical, Masonic, pagan and Knights Templar themes. Dan Brown wrote: "For centuries this stone chapel had echoed with whispers of the Holy Grail's presence. The whispers had turned to shouts in recent decades when ground-penetrating radar revealed the presence of an astonishing structure beneath the chapel -- a massive subterranean chamber. Not only did this deep vault dwarf the chapel atop it, but it appeared to have no entrance or exit. Archaeologists petitioned to begin blasting through the bedrock to reach the mysterious chamber, but the Rosslyn Trust expressly forbade any excavation of the sacred site." Our guide told us about a mysterious chamber directly below the main room. He said the trust might excavate it a few years from now. But he also said the Da Vinci Code book had "little truth to the chapel." I'll let you figure out those inaccuracies for yourself, but I will say there is no Star of David. Note: St. Clair family descendants do not believe they are direct descendants of Christ.

GETTING TO ROSSLYN CHAPPEL
Although the chapel is only seven miles from Edinburgh, in traffic it takes 30 minutes by car. If you drive, take the Edinburgh bypass: Straiton Junction A701 to Penicuik/Peebles. Follow A701 to the sign for Roslin (3 miles). Once in Roslin Village, follow signs to the chapel. Two bus services operate to Roslin: Lothian Buses service 15A (not 15), and First service 62. This place used to be lucky if five or six people visited each day. Now you can hardly move. Entry: �7 ($12.70). Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland; tel.: 131-440-2159 (outside UK 44-131-440-2159).

DA VINCI CODE MOVIE
What's especially fitting is that the day we finished filming was the day the Da Vinci Code movie opened up worldwide � including in Scotland. On our last night together we bought tickets for the movie. We all really enjoyed it (despite the mediocre reviews). Obviously we are biased, but seeing the cities and places we came to love on the big screen was a treat. With a bit of luck, our show will air in a couple of months, and you will share the same feelings. We'll keep you posted.  Posted by Picasa

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