Harry, Mary, Vaults and Graveyard

It figures that it would take me three weeks to actually go on a Harry Potter tour. I did love it though. The group learned that J.K. Rowling, as expected, used much of Edinburgh as the inspiration behind the books. What I didn't know was how ingrained mythology was in Scottish culture, as well as how the unicorn is the country's animal, much like the bald eagle is our "mascot" if you will. I even managed to show off my nerd knowledge by answering a few of the questions posed to the group. We learned the dark past of Scotland and witches, and then saw a few graves that the infamous Rowling got many names from for her books. The only downside being all the places I want to check out because of the tour. From there, especially with it only being five, although it was already dark, I decided to go on a tour of Mary King's Close. Not far down the Royal Mile, the main hub of tourism (and technically one and one eighth mile), I walked right in and got literally the last slot for the final tour of the day. Thank goodness, because although I was planning on taking tomorrow off, that may be the day I head to Sterling Castle and to see the William Wallace monument; although I'll have to see where my energy levels are before taking off. On the tour they walk you through history, taking us in your preserved rooms, telling us the gory stories behind death, the plague, and beheadings. Understandably, we were not permitted to take photos, as that area is now beneath a government building; part of the rich story that was told to us. As a true glutton for punishment, right after walking out of my third tour of the day, I immediately walked across the street to "The City of the Dead" tour. This takes you to the normally locked section of Greyfriers Graveyard, with a shocking amount of accounts of hauntings and mysterious happenings, as well as to the underground vaults beneath the city which were originally intended to be a market. Wisely, I decided to pop in to a local pub and grab some food with the half hour between my guided trips. Getting the only thing with vegetables available, a pizza (go figure), I was on my way. I checked in early, with my highly sardonic guide, and waited until everyone else showed up. I didn't have to wait long. Promptly at half seven (7:30) we were walking (yes, more walking) to our first destination; the vaults. Thank goodness he ttold that there would be no one in a mask popping out from around any corners. Giving us historically accurate representation, while giving us a spooky story, and also making us all laugh was interesting to behold. Our docent for the evening gave they why of how the vaults came to be, and moved seamlessly in to the tales that have given so many a fright, even including some of his personal experiences with other groups. In one chamber, and with plenty yarn being woven, he plunged the gathering in to complete darkness. Listening to the sounds of those above us, cars driving, people walking, and the deeper sounds of someone rustling their jacket, shifting from one foot to the other, all of us waiting for a ghost from the story to whisper in your ear or poke and prod you... waiting, in darkness, totally blind to even the hand in front of your face. Well we all had a good jump scare, and then laugh, when he turned on his flashlight and said loudly "Nope, nothing there." Once we had made our way down the slippery slope of the old tiled walkways, and in to the fresh air, we were moving again. Although it was the third trip to the graveyard in the same day, they each had a different story to be told; a testament to the history this city has. Part of this exhibition is learning the history that made these events come to pass, and why these poltergeists might haunt the areas that we're told they do. Assuredly quite a fun way to learn history, going over kings, religion, wars, invasion, and persecution. Once you've gotten the backstory, the gate is unlocked, and you're lead inside "Covenanters Prison" which was, and not to be too dark, what is known as the first concentration camp. Given more story, once again being more on the morbid side of things, we were then taken to the location dubbed tastefully as "the black mosuleum." It is said that this is not only the place where most 'encounters' happen, as well as the possible site of a mass grave might be. Now, there is a funny thing about certain architecture with a curved sort of roof, that if someone is speaking in the front, and you stand in the back right in the center, it sounds like there's a speaker system directing the voice of whomever is speaking right around you. That is NOT the type of position you want to be in when someone with a mask pops in to give you a fright, and the voice protects itself to feel as if the wind is at your back, with someone looming behind you, ready to snatch a hold. So it was quite a the moment of trepidation, but at least I wasn't alone, and we all got a good laugh from that too. After calling our chaperone a liar, he was quick to point out that he said there wouldn't be anyone in a mask inside the vaults; well, you got me there. Much too soon, the tour was at an end, and I may not have gotten any photos (much too dark, literally) but it was highly amusing. There are some things that I have heard many times, and from multiple people, but the way this story was laid out was probably my favorite. Things were in my favor too, because the end of the tour was just up the hill from my lodging. Getting back just after 10, I realized I had been out and about for roughly twelve hours, and walking most of that time. My feet were aching, my legs about to give out, and I couldn't be happier about it. Here's to having fingers crossed, after a long night's sleep, that I can do it all again tomorrow.Read more