Enjoying Enchanted Edinburgh

Walking through old Edinburgh is amazing. I don't quite understand how a city can be so multi-layered, and I mean that literally! 

One of our adventures this visit was a tour of Mary King's Close. Mary King was a citizen who lived in Edinburgh during the middle ages, and one of the old closes (close = an alleyway that was closed at night to keep out the riff raff) was named after her. This close, like many others, were build right on top of when they came into disrepair. For the tour, you descended two flights of stairs - BELOW THE ROYAL MILE - and tour these now-underground and completely enclosed streets, shops, and homes. Some of the rooms still had wallpaper on the walls, one room still smelled (rather strongly) of cow more than 400 years after it was last used to shelter cows at night! In these catacombs many died from the plague and various other maladies due to the cramped quarters and terrible hygienic conditions. In fact, the tour guide explained that everyone used to throw their waste out the windows, which flowed down the streets and into the Firth of Fourth. If you were thrown into the F of F during the middle ages, it would have taken you 15 minutes to sink through the refuse before you hit actual water - this was a method of execution back then. Yuck!!  

Royal mile, above the site of Mary King's Close

On to a much more sweet-smelling story! We toured the Scotch Whiskey Museum near the top of the Royal Mile and learned how Scotch whiskey is made. We enjoyed a guided tasting, much like a wine tasting class, while in a room with the largest and oldest collection of Scotch in one location. 

Dad enjoying his wee dram o' Scotch

Scotch Whiskey Collection

We purchased the upgraded tickets so after the tour and tasting class, we were able enjoy a small dram (way smaller than portions in America) of Scotch from each of the four main whiskey-making regions: highlands, lowlands, Speyside, and Islay. Mom and I liked the highlands option best, while Dad and Bill enjoyed Speyside and the Islay variatals.

We tried like crazy to find a pub for dinner with a table for four that was hosting a live traditional Scottish band. Alas, all such places were standing-room only (if that!) by the time we started looking. The next time they visit, we'll have to make live, traditional music priority #1 in Edinburgh :-)

And the next morning we had to go back to the train station for our return home. I look forward to planning our next trip to this beautiful city!!

One of many steep staircases in Edinburgh

Goodbye, Edinburgh!