Edinburgh. May 21

This morning was cooler and wetter than yesterday, but deciding that it was very appropriate to the city we were staying in, we went ahead and joined a 2 hour walking tour through the city. At the beginning we went up to the Castle entrance and were able to look down at our apartment!

See the grey apartment building with the two blocks sticking out? We were left of the first block!

 On the tour we were taken to historical areas of the city, explained who the Royal Mile statues were dedicated to, learnt about the terrible living conditions of ‘Old Town’, and the subsequent building of the Georgian ‘New Town’(the first city build on a grid). A large part of the tour was also dedicated to the large Greyfriars Cemetary in the middle of ‘Old Town’. This was for two main reasons; a dog, and Harry Potter.

The dog, Greyfriars Bobby, was a little Skye terrier that had belonged to a night watchman of the surrounding area. Eventually the dog was left masterless and the community took him in, some feeding him, some paying his ‘Dog Tax’. He would also return to the graveyard everyday to visit his master, hence getting the name Greyfriars Bobby. They loved him so much, that he was given a large gravestone in a central part of the cemetery, a water fountain dedicated to him, and plaques marking where he was a regular. So now, one of the major images you see around the city is of this dog. It’s super weird and good.

Ash v sad about dead doge

Bobby nose touching

In regards to Harry Potter, the cemetery, and neighbouring school and cafes are all mentioned because J.K Rowling lived in the area. The school inspired Hogwarts, and there are two cafes in which she is supposed to have written her books, avoiding the cold of the house she couldn’t afford to heat.  The guide took us to 3 graves, McGonagall, Moodie and Tom Riddle. This was all very exciting for Elise, and having not been allowed to go down to Voldemort’s on the tour, she made sure to go back after.

Maybe it's Mcgonagall's secret squib brother?

Moodie/Moody, what's the diff?

Found Voldy 

We walked back to the Grassmarket on our way to the castle, and ran into someone we had met on our tour, so we all went to lunch at Edinburgh’s oldest pub, and settled for a warm soup and bread. We then split up again and the two of us climbed the many steps up to Edinburgh Castle.

Grassmarket and castle

The castle was amazing, rising up out of a huge volcanic plug. We toured the rooms with the Crown Jewels, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scott’s son James the 6^th (who would unite the Kingdoms), Military museum and lots more medieval sites. We also saw the dog cemetery, which was pretty weird/fun.

Having a lawl

Castle building

Ultimate queen

Loving the faux marble

Elise on watch 

Building out of rock

Castle rock climbing

New pals

Where's the dog cemetery though?

View towards Scott monument and Calton Hill

Found doges below

Dog cemetery 

Army lads just like in 'Sunshine on Leith' guyz (it's a film, okay?)

After the castle we went to Mary’s Milk Bar, a place in Grassmarket that we had found to have coffee earlier in a break from the tour. We each got a Dark Chocolate and salt hot chocolate, which was super delicious.

For dinner Elise made a pasta dinner and we ate and watched some telly and were merry.

Love A&E