The day started at 9:45, when we left our flat to catch the 10:36 train. I was sure we weren’t going to make it, especially considering Donald’s habit of missing his trains. It took about an hour to reach Edinburgh Waverley, where we met up with Gavin, who had gone home to Peebles for the mid-semester break.
First stop was the National Museum of Scotland, which housed Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal to be successfully cloned. On the way to her display, we went through exhibits about the history of Scotland, including artefacts from the witch-hunts.
Next we went to the Talbot Rice Gallery, which had an exhibition for Alastair Gray. I wasn't a huge fan of the art, though some of my flatmates, such as Anton, said it was one of the day's highlights.
From there, we went across the street to stop for lunch, where I had some delicious Scotch pie and chips. Essentially, Scotch pie is pastry with meat inside, and it was pretty tasty.
We walked along the Royal Mile until we found a fudge house, but after such a big lunch, I couldn’t bare the thought of eating any of it.
The last museum was the Scottish Whisky Experience, which took participants on a little barrel ride detailing the process of making Scotch whisky. Then we got to learn a bit about the characteristics of Scotch whisky and how it varies depending on where in Scotland it is made. For example, the lowlands makes whisky with a citrusy smell, while highlands has more of a honey vanilla scent. Speyside whisky is meant to have a tropical banana smell, while Islay whisky has a distinct smoky scent.
We each got a taste of whisky and got to keep the little glasses.
We saw a room filled with different types of whisky, including one from 1897. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to taste this one!
Some of them came in cute little containers.
We wandered towards Edinburgh Castle, but it costs £14 to go inside, so we’ll save that for another day.
We headed to a pub called the Halfway House for dinner, where we shared some haggis, neeps and tatties, the traditional way to eat the meal. Neeps are mashed turnips, and tatties is what Scottish people tend to call potatoes.
I had tried haggis before, but just a wee taste. This is the first time I had it made in a traditional way. It’s not too bad. It’s ground meat with lots of oats, which really give it its flavour. I’d definitely have it again. I see it everywhere on pizza, which sounds kind of interesting. I’ll have to give it a try.
Finally, we went on a New Europe Tours ghost tour. I picked this tour because I really hate being scared, but I’m really fascinated by some of the dark history. They advertised that it focused on storytelling rather than having actors jumping out and trying to scare the tourists in that manner.
The guide said this bridge was built and as it connected the old and new city, the government wanted the oldest person to go across it. Unfortunately, she died a few days before the opening, but since she was so excited, they decided to bring her across. And thus began a bridge connected with death. Our guide, James, said the part we were standing on had collapsed and killed many people living underneath. It's also one of the most popular suicide locations in Edinburgh, with a few people jumping each year.
It was definitely still scary, especially as we walked through the Old Calton Burial Ground. They warned us coming inside that it was open to the public all night, and thus we might encounter some people who enjoy hanging out in cemeteries at night, and who sometimes like to jump out and scare tourists. Not good for my nerves!
There was one particularly creepy gravestone. Our guide said some people believe this picture to have taken shape naturally due to the weather, while others think it was intentionally placed there. I can’t remember whose gravestone it was, but apparently it went against the person’s wishes to be buried there, leaving a very angry ghost.
At one point, the guide brought us inside a mausoleum (after telling stories of creepy happenings inside the David Hume mausoleum, which has since been closed) and told us stories of body snatchers and grave robbers. Apparently, it was legal to take people’s bodies since it was not considered their own belongings after death–although it was illegal to steal their belongings, which remained in their possession.
Our guide explained that sometimes, people were buried six feet under, with other people four feet under, and finally someone else two feet under. He described times where it was raining so strongly in Edinburgh that some of the topsoil revealing old bones underneath.
It was also apparently not so rare for people to be buried alive due to inaccurate testing for death. Therefore, there are rumours of strings reaching from graves to a bell, which a person was to pull if they were still alive after being buried, which subsequently lead to the sayings “saved by the bell” and “deadringer” (though a Google search shows sites saying this may not actually be the origin).
Next we headed up to Calton Hill, where we got some of the most stunning views of the city. We were being told stories about evil faeries and demons whilst walking through a dark path heading up to a half-built ancient-Greek-style building and a monument with a cross on top. Normally, I would have been far more frightened, but I was captivated by the view. I wish my camera could have captured it much better, but the photos can’t do it justice. I’m going to have to go back in daylight to see it again.
About a fifth of this building was built before they realized it wouldn't serve any good purpose, so they halted construction. Therefore, there's a fifth of a Greek-style building sitting at the top of a hill in Edinburgh.
Although the tour was meant to go from 9:30-11, we were barely two thirds of the way through at this time. However, we had to catch an 11:33 train from Edinburgh Waverley, so we missed some of it. Gavin had to catch an earlier bus, and Matti has returned to Finland for a family emergency, so we’ll do the ghost walk again with them later in the spring, and plan to take a taxi back to Stirling.
This day has shown me that there is still so much to see and do in Edinburgh. I just know I’ll be back more than a few times, and I just can’t wait!
Tyla always gets away with a child's ticket, but it meant she had to sit away so they wouldn't know she wasn't under 15. Not fair! Her ticket cost half the adult fare.
First stop was the National Museum of Scotland, which housed Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal to be successfully cloned. On the way to her display, we went through exhibits about the history of Scotland, including artefacts from the witch-hunts.
One of my favourite parts was the technological history exhibit, which featured a first-generation iPod. I couldn’t believe they had one in a museum. It made me feel really, really old, considering I had my third generation until just last year.
Some of the museum reminded me more of a science centre, such as this robotic arm that would spell out whatever was written into its computer.
Next we went to the Talbot Rice Gallery, which had an exhibition for Alastair Gray. I wasn't a huge fan of the art, though some of my flatmates, such as Anton, said it was one of the day's highlights.
Next up was the Surgeon’s Hall Museum, which displayed surgery tools throughout history, as well as photos and information about interesting surgical cases. No photos allowed inside unfortunately. I’m not keen on seeing anything medical, but it was definitely an interesting museum.
From there, we went across the street to stop for lunch, where I had some delicious Scotch pie and chips. Essentially, Scotch pie is pastry with meat inside, and it was pretty tasty.
My flatmates got very excited upon seeing this advertisement. We have a few songs that are played multiple times every day in my flat, and Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side is one of them.
We walked along the Royal Mile until we found a fudge house, but after such a big lunch, I couldn’t bare the thought of eating any of it.
The last museum was the Scottish Whisky Experience, which took participants on a little barrel ride detailing the process of making Scotch whisky. Then we got to learn a bit about the characteristics of Scotch whisky and how it varies depending on where in Scotland it is made. For example, the lowlands makes whisky with a citrusy smell, while highlands has more of a honey vanilla scent. Speyside whisky is meant to have a tropical banana smell, while Islay whisky has a distinct smoky scent.
We each got a taste of whisky and got to keep the little glasses.
We saw a room filled with different types of whisky, including one from 1897. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to taste this one!
Some of them came in cute little containers.
We wandered towards Edinburgh Castle, but it costs £14 to go inside, so we’ll save that for another day.
From here, we got spectacular views of the city.
We headed to a pub called the Halfway House for dinner, where we shared some haggis, neeps and tatties, the traditional way to eat the meal. Neeps are mashed turnips, and tatties is what Scottish people tend to call potatoes.
I had tried haggis before, but just a wee taste. This is the first time I had it made in a traditional way. It’s not too bad. It’s ground meat with lots of oats, which really give it its flavour. I’d definitely have it again. I see it everywhere on pizza, which sounds kind of interesting. I’ll have to give it a try.
Finally, we went on a New Europe Tours ghost tour. I picked this tour because I really hate being scared, but I’m really fascinated by some of the dark history. They advertised that it focused on storytelling rather than having actors jumping out and trying to scare the tourists in that manner.
The guide said this bridge was built and as it connected the old and new city, the government wanted the oldest person to go across it. Unfortunately, she died a few days before the opening, but since she was so excited, they decided to bring her across. And thus began a bridge connected with death. Our guide, James, said the part we were standing on had collapsed and killed many people living underneath. It's also one of the most popular suicide locations in Edinburgh, with a few people jumping each year.
It was definitely still scary, especially as we walked through the Old Calton Burial Ground. They warned us coming inside that it was open to the public all night, and thus we might encounter some people who enjoy hanging out in cemeteries at night, and who sometimes like to jump out and scare tourists. Not good for my nerves!
There was one particularly creepy gravestone. Our guide said some people believe this picture to have taken shape naturally due to the weather, while others think it was intentionally placed there. I can’t remember whose gravestone it was, but apparently it went against the person’s wishes to be buried there, leaving a very angry ghost.
At one point, the guide brought us inside a mausoleum (after telling stories of creepy happenings inside the David Hume mausoleum, which has since been closed) and told us stories of body snatchers and grave robbers. Apparently, it was legal to take people’s bodies since it was not considered their own belongings after death–although it was illegal to steal their belongings, which remained in their possession.
Our guide explained that sometimes, people were buried six feet under, with other people four feet under, and finally someone else two feet under. He described times where it was raining so strongly in Edinburgh that some of the topsoil revealing old bones underneath.
It was also apparently not so rare for people to be buried alive due to inaccurate testing for death. Therefore, there are rumours of strings reaching from graves to a bell, which a person was to pull if they were still alive after being buried, which subsequently lead to the sayings “saved by the bell” and “deadringer” (though a Google search shows sites saying this may not actually be the origin).
Next we headed up to Calton Hill, where we got some of the most stunning views of the city. We were being told stories about evil faeries and demons whilst walking through a dark path heading up to a half-built ancient-Greek-style building and a monument with a cross on top. Normally, I would have been far more frightened, but I was captivated by the view. I wish my camera could have captured it much better, but the photos can’t do it justice. I’m going to have to go back in daylight to see it again.
About a fifth of this building was built before they realized it wouldn't serve any good purpose, so they halted construction. Therefore, there's a fifth of a Greek-style building sitting at the top of a hill in Edinburgh.
Although the tour was meant to go from 9:30-11, we were barely two thirds of the way through at this time. However, we had to catch an 11:33 train from Edinburgh Waverley, so we missed some of it. Gavin had to catch an earlier bus, and Matti has returned to Finland for a family emergency, so we’ll do the ghost walk again with them later in the spring, and plan to take a taxi back to Stirling.
This day has shown me that there is still so much to see and do in Edinburgh. I just know I’ll be back more than a few times, and I just can’t wait!
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