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Sunday, May 25, 2014

Day 2 Edinburgh Evening

Departed the hotel to go to dinner at The Heights at the Apex Hotel.  The name is because you are on the 5th floor looking out at the Edinburgh Castle.  We will be touring there tomorrow.  After a wonderful dinner we went on a walking tour to learn some of the local lore.  Very interesting and a nice walk after dinner.

'Haunted' pub which claims to be the city's oldest. White Hart Inn





A popular story in Edinburgh is that of Maggie Dickson, a fishwife from Musselburgh who was hanged in the Grassmarket in 1724 for murder. After the hanging, her body was taken back to Musselburgh in a coffin. However, on the way there she awoke. Under Scots Law she had served her punishment. Only later were the words "until dead" added to the sentence of hanging. It was also to some extent seen as divine intervention, and so she was allowed to go free. In later life (and legend) she was thereafter referred to as Half-Hangit Maggie. There is now a pub named after Maggie situated on the Grassmarket.


 Directly behind, and far, far below Edinburgh Castle, lies the Grassmarket - a small open space that has played an important role in Edinburgh's history. As the name implies, the Grassmarket used to be where local farmers brought their hay and other produce for sale. But it was also the location of one of the main gallows in the city and crowds would flock in huge numbers to see the public executions. The last Drop Tavern is located immediately next to the scene of public hangings which took place there back in the 18th century.







 Hat's






 This statue of Bobby sits at the corner of Edinburgh's Candlemaker Row and George IV Bridge, and is a Category A listed building



Bobby's statue!!!!






 K Rowling wrote the Potter books over coffee and cake in this relaxed writer/reader-friendly cafe 
The Elephant House








Tomorrow Edinburgh Castle and more..........

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