Edinburgh, Scotland
A few thoughts as we travel…
Edinburgh is a city of discovery, a place where history whispers from every cobblestone.
Walking its streets is like stepping into a living museum, with stunning Victorian and Georgian architecture framing a bustling metropolis. The city invites exploration, its layers of intrigue enticing visitors to get lost among its ancient buildings and streets steeped in stories.
Centuries of history unfold in Edinburgh’s tapestry. By the 14th century, its commerce flourished, exporting wool and leather goods from Leith. Markets buzzed in Cowgate and Grassmarket, where cattle, hay, and grains were traded. Nearby, Dean Village rests along the Water of Leith, its picturesque charm belied by its industrious past as a 12th-century milling hub, powered by eleven mills.
But Edinburgh’s beauty is shadowed by a darker history. Witch trials, murders, and the ravages of the Black Death haunt its past. King James VI’s obsession with the supernatural led to over 1,500 executions for witchcraft. The city also bears the infamy of Burke and Hare, who, between 1827 and 1829, murdered at least 19 people to sell their bodies for anatomical study.
Modern-day Edinburgh offers moments of awe at the National Museum of Scotland. Iconic exhibits like Dolly the Sheep, the world’s first mammalian clone, and the Lewis Chessmen, captivate millions. The Millennium Clock Tower, an intricate 10-meter masterpiece, symbolises humanity’s triumphs and tragedies of the 20th century.
The city’s soul resonates in the words of Robert Louis Stevenson, one of its most famous sons. His legacy reminds us, “Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.”
In Edinburgh, every corner offers inspiration, inviting travellers to explore, reflect, and connect with the past, present, and their own stories.
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