Advertisement
Published: January 4th 2024
Edit Blog Post
Today our cruise ship stopped at South Queensferry in Edinburgh. After getting off the ship we had to take a shuttle into Edinburgh. I booked tickets in advance to see Edinburgh Castle but somehow could not find the tickets online. So instead, Renata and I decided to walk the Royal Mile.
The Royal Mile The Royal Mile is a street that runs between two significant locations (Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse). Along the Royal Mile, we
1. Took some pictures with Owls
2. Stopped by the Writers Museum,
3. Entered St. Giles Cathedral
4. Passed Tolbooth Tavern (Now a Scottish Pub. The building used to be a toll collection station, a Council Chamber, a Police Court and a Prison.)
5. Visited Bakehouse Close (the site of Alexander Malcom’s print shop and where Jamie and Claire’s romantic reunion took place in season three of Outlander after they’d spent 20 years apart)
6. Ended up at Holyroodhouse (Did not see any Royals Though )
We then made our way back down the Royal Mile. We stopped by Greyfriars Bobby Pub for some Haggis, Neeps and Tatties (a traditional
Scottish dish of lamb and hearty oatmeal with aromatic mixed spices, mashed swede, potatoes and gravy) and Smoked Scottish Salmon before heading nearby for the start of our Harry Potter Edinburgh Walking Tour.
Harry Potter Tour When we started our Harry Potter Tour we were sorted into houses. I was sorted into Hufflepuff and Renata was sorted into Slytherin. We had various Harry Potter trivia during the tour. I wasn’t that great at answering questions but Renata got a few questions right. Places that were seen on the tour include
1.
The Elephant House (where J.K Rowling wrote some of her manuscripts for the first 2 books). Unfortunately, due to a fire in the building, the Elephant House is currently closed until further notice
2.
Greyfriars Kirkyard: Where J.K. Rowling used some of the names on the tombs for inspiration for the series leading characters including Robert Potter, William McGonagall (a famously bad poet), Elizabeth Moodie, Thomas Riddell (aka. Lord Voldemort), and the stolen gravestone of Black. Greyfriars Kirkyard is rumoured to have been the inspiration behind the graveyard in Godric’s Hollow, the resting place of Harry’s parents
3.
Greyfriars Bobby: Harry Potter Tour
Edinburgh Castle inspiration for Hogwarts Tomb of Greyfriars Bobby, a famous Skye Terrier or Dandie Dinmont Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died on 14 January 1872. Could be the inspiration for Dobby, the elf.
4.
George Harriot School: where her children went to. Hogwarts also mirrors George Heriot’s with its system of four houses and an ongoing house competition each year
5.
Maggie Dickson on Grassmarket Street: Maggie Dickson a fish-wife who came to fame after being convicted of killing her newborn baby. She survived her subsequent execution and was subsequently known as Half-Hangit Maggie. Inspiration for "Nearly Headless Nick"
6.
Victoria Street: the inspiration for Potterverse magical shopping area, Diagon Alley
7.
Edinburgh Castle: Inspiration of Hogwarts
We also learned about J.K Rowling’s upbringing and where she went to school. In the end, Gryffindor won the competition while Renata and I had to head back to catch the shuttle bus back to the ship. Tomorrow is another at Sea Day but the day after that we dock in Le Havre, France. Until Then!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.288s; Tpl: 0.039s; cc: 15; qc: 44; dbt: 0.0767s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb