Auld Reekie Calls To Us: Edinburgh Part 1 of 2

Auld Reekie. In Scots, it means 'Old Smokey', the traditional nickname for Edinburgh, Scotland. I had always associated Edinburgh with art festivals, Scottish literature, heritage sites, ghosts and ghouls. Now I associate it with a history fraught by secrets and bloodshed. But let us take it from the beginning.

Edinburgh here we are!

Day One (31st May 2011):

Rachel, Erwan and I arrived at Haymarket as our hotel was nearby. For the three nights that we spent there, it cost less than £50 per person for a comfortable room with three beds (Ritz Hotel is about 3.5 stars on average according to websites); we agreed that it was a great bargain.

Park Overlooking the Castle

All the travelling took a bit of a toll on us on the first day, which led to a slower start to our trip. The weather was not bad too considering how far up North we were. Walking around the city, including the park overlooking the castle, was incredibly relaxing.

Anne Frank!

I taught them something I learnt in Spring this term. Not being something we have had as part of our childhood, making daisy chains was definitely a new 'skill' to pick up!

Teaching them how to make daisy chains

From the high rise buildings and streets to the men in kilts playing bagpipes and inscribed nameplates on the benches to the daisies, the awe over the new environment seeped into us like the cold yet inviting lotion smoothened on the skin.

Adorable Ice Cream Van

Day Two (1st June 2011): 

The hotel provided us with breakfast each morning as well, and these were actually the only time we had purely "Scottish" food. Haggis (the brown one on the left side of the ham) is a mixture of the minced innards of sheep with spices and onions. I also had black pudding for the first time, which is something like sausages made of blood. Yes, you read this right, blood. There's also the fried oatcake above the tomato, along with the sausage, egg and ham.

I would like to taste deep fried Mars Bars one day, though.

Scottish breakfast

The Edinburgh Pass is such a money-saver! We purchased a two-day pass each for £39 and were able to enter many attractions (not the Castle, however) for free.  

Group photo

Dynamic Earth, a science museum, is the first of the several we were to see. The exhibitions were wonderful, and I wonder why there are not a lot of interactive ones in Malaysia. I suppose the bill would hit the roof, but imagine how amazing learning could be! (On a related note, search 'Fun Theory' on Youtube for absolutely brilliant ways of making life fun.)

Hilarious signboard.

While we were in our time-travelling machine (an elevator), we heard an endearing conversation between a boy and his mum.

Mum: Look, this is like the TARDIS. Remember the TARDIS? (Doctor Who reference)
Son: Are we travelling through time?
Mum: Only pretend time-travelling.

Dynamic Earth

As we headed towards the Castle, we noticed the Museum of Childhood, a rather different sort of repository that consisted of many childhood related items covering the various aspects of childhood. Think of toys, books, clothes, objects from school and that of home.

One of the many lovely museums

We dropped by The Elephant House after that, hoping to have lunch where J.K. Rowling wrote part of her first Harry Potter book. Publicity from Rowling probably explains why there were too many customers already forming the crowd.

Camera Obscura, by the Castle, was our next stop. Here we entered a world of illusions. The pictures will speak for themselves.

Mirror maze

Further

Lovely masterpiece! Look at the surface of the cylinder!

Nearer

Beheaded

When you stand in the same room ...

...you may be feeling taller...

...or shorter.

Good one, Albert.

Magnificent views

Erwan and I went for the Auld Reekie Underground Tour. The abandoned storage vaults were once inhabited by the homeless after living on the streets was a crime. It became a grim confinement for the poor, the sick and the bad. The vaults are now said to be haunted. The dark and damp atmosphere was unnerving, but overall I thought it was alright. There will be lots more to tell.

Haunted Underground Tour, anyone?

Jekyll and Hyde Bar/Restaurant for dinner

By the way, R.L. Stevenson is Scottish.

We then went for an evening tour to discover the tales of Edinburgh's famous criminals, victims of the gallows and the guillotine. To be hung or have your head chopped? Much of the tour told of the blurred lines between the good and bad in the past, since ordinary people could be charged for the most trivial of things.

Spit in the Heart. No, really.

There was once a prison house in Merket Cross (aka Market Cross), where the heart on the ground marked the room where the criminal waiting for execution would sit in and the people would spit on to display their disgust.

History hails.

There is too much to write now, so I must split this post into two parts. The young survivor of collapse said in the 1800s, "Heave awa, Chaps. I'm no' dead yet" to tell his rescuers that he is still alive, but I will give it a bit of twist and say "Heave awa, Chaps. I'm not done yet!!"

But I will. Soon, I hope.