Edinburgh is built on an old volcano which was reduced to half its size due to erosion from glaciers during the Ice Age.  The city is built on seven levels.  It’s hard to notice unless you’re on a street or bridge that allows you to look down to another level.

 

Interesting things unique to Edinburgh include the Elephant House–the cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter.  She was a single mom at the time and spent her days writing at the café because it meant she could save money by not heating her flat.  Saving money isn’t her problem any more, and the people who allowed her to spend her days at the café are also doing well from the tourist business.

 

Near the Elephant House is another restaurant with a lifelike sculpture of a little dog named Wee Bobby.  Wee Bobby’s owner always ate at the restaurant.  When his owner died, Wee Bobby sat on his owner’s grave every day until the one o’clock cannon was shot.  Then Wee Bobby would go to the restaurant, where the owners continued to feed him until he died.

Speaking of the one o’clock cannon, it is shot from the castle every day except Sunday to mark the time in Edinburgh.  Our castle guide told us that most cities mark the time at noon, but the Scots know it’s more economical to mark the time at one than at twelve.  Truth or legend, you decide. 

 

English major highlight:  Edinburgh has a 200-foot-high monument to Sir Walter Scott.  It’s the tallest monument in the world to an author.

 

It’s been fun to see Scottish men wearing the kilt (the kilt, not a kilt).  The tour guides wear them and so do the street performing pipers, but we also see “regular” men wearing them.  It definitely makes you wonder if what they say they wear under them is really what they wear under them! ?

Our Edinburgh visit ended with a Scottish party at a five-star restaurant.  We had a delicious dinner followed by a wonderful after-dinner show featuring Scottish songs and dances.  The haggis was delicious.  Really!  I also liked the turnip/potato mash served with the haggis.