Horrible History: Edinburgh’s Dark Past
Posted September 30, 2009 , comments closedOK, it’s confession time. I know that tourist boards want to promote the positive and – honestly – I really do love all the good things. But sometimes I just feel in need of something a little…darker.
Fortunately, we’re in Edinburgh. Now this is a city which has (it seems) more than its fair share of rogues and gruesome tales. So Simon and I take a deep breath and head up to the Royal Mile for the start of the Ghost Hunter tour (“A 5-Star Scare Factor”).
Edinburgh Castle At Night - Spooky!
The Royal Mile: Queensberry Rules
The Royal Mile is the heart of the Old Town, stretching from the Castle to Holyrood Park. Today it is home to the Law Courts, to shops and restaurants and (during August) to Festival venues. But back in 1707, it was the scene of the terrible tale of our first ghost.
The Royal Mile
On May 1st 1707, the Act of Union was signed, uniting the Parliaments of England and Scotland. In Scotland, the driving force behind the Act was James Douglas, 2nd Duke of Queensberry. Fêted in London, Queensberry was much less popular in Edinburgh.
But Queensberry had greater worries than unpopularity. Queensberry House, his mansion opposite Holyrood Park, held a dark secret. His heir, the young Marquess, was widely rumoured to be insane. He lived at Queensberry House under lock and key.
Legend has it that on the day that the Act was signed, the Marquess broke free from his rooms. He escaped into the kitchens and killed a young lad who worked there. Some Scottish critics described this act as “judgement on the Duke for his odious share in the Union”. The young boy’s ghost haunted Queensberry House and the buildings that replaced it.
What, even up to the 21st Century? Well, if any ghost haunts the site today, it may well be Queensberry himself turning in his grave. 300 years after the Union, in a neat twist of fate, the site is now occupied by the Scottish Parliament.
Wynding Down
Edinburgh Old Town isn’t just grand houses, royalty and aristocracy. Middle and working-class families lived here too, in the lanes and alleys (wynds) that lead off the Royal Mile. By the 18th Century, this was one of Europe’s most densely populated areas. The back streets were so narrow that the only way to build was up – as much as 14 storeys. People lived in very close quarters, and more than a few ghost stories emerged from these back streets.
Edinburgh Old Town
We are taken to Borthwick Close (because neighbouring Bell’s Wynd is “too haunted”). We hear a story of middle-class folk: a pair of lovers murdered in their bed by a jealous husband. The house was haunted by a pair of burning red eyes, but it was a decade before a curious neighbour discovered the bodies.
Borthwick Close is now restored and the buildings are clean and tidy. But the close is steep and narrow. In a space this small, there can still be few secrets. Even on a summer’s night, with sounds of street performers coming from the Royal Mile, the wynds are dark, damp and not a little spooky.
What Lies Beneath
We carry on down the cobbled streets towards the South Bridge, passing the über-hip Missoni Hotel on the way. The guide bravely leads us down a dark flight of steps into the Edinburgh Vaults. This is a cold, damp network of rooms, 4 storeys below ground level.
Once inside the vaults, there is no noise apart from the sound of our group and no light apart from that afforded by flickering candles. I’m a stalwart realist and even I think that this place is creepy!
Edinburgh Castle
The Vaults have an odd history. Dug out in the late 18th Century to support the new shopping centres on the South Bridge, they provided storage and workshops for the businesses above. But they flooded regularly and were abandoned by their legitimate occupants. It wasn’t long before they were occupied by a new set of people: the homeless, the destitute and the downright illegal. For nearly 100 years, the Vaults were a byword for horror. By the end of the 19th Century, they were sealed up and not rediscovered until the 1980s.
It isn’t too hard to imagine ghosts in these vaults. Our lady guide tells us tales of a few benign spirits: a young boy who appears to latch onto blonde women, a crouching figure by the entrance to one of the rooms.
The less benign ghouls are here too: the Hellfire Club, who used the Vaults as a location for gambling, drinking and other nefarious activities. Then there’s Mr Boots who follows groups around and has told many visitors to “GET OUT!”.
Oddly, for such a dark venue, photography is encouraged. As she explains:
“Unexpected things sometimes turn up in photographs”.
Tonight, I’m relieved to say that we have no appearances. Or so I think. When we leave the Vaults at the end of the tour, Simon turns to me and says:
“I’m sure I felt somebody blowing on the back of my neck when we were down there”.
Yikes.
Princes Street Gardens: Good and Evil
The next morning, we take a stroll through the neatly trimmed lawns and well-kept flower beds of the Princes Street Gardens. Princes Street is on one side, with shops and road works (soon to be a tram network, but don’t ask an Edinburgh resident about THAT unless you’ve got a spare hour). On the other side, cliffs rise straight up to the castle and the Old Town.
Firth of Forth and Fife
So are the gardens all that they seem? Well, not quite. They used to be home to the Nor’ Loch, a “filthy and offensive bog” which was a repository for rubbish, detritus and much, much worse.
17th Century Europe had something of a witch obsession. Witches were hunted down, tried and then burned at the stake. Edinburgh took its part in this witch hunt: potential candidates were subjected to trial by ducking in the Nor’ Loch and, if they floated, were found guilty and sentenced to death. If they drowned, they were found not guilty (but, obviously, were also dead).
A century passed, and the Nor’ Loch was drained as the area was converted to gardens. Hundreds of human bones were found –those poor unfortunate non-witches. By the 19th Century, Robert Louis Stephenson described the gardens as “full of girls and idle men, steeping themselves in sunshine”.
We stroll idly through the gardens ourselves, enjoying the sunshine. Then we walk up to St Andrew Square to the twin temples of the Royal Bank of Scotland (finance) and Harvey Nichols (retail). We carry on down towards Queen Street, admiring the views up to the Firth of Forth and the Kingdom of Fife. Now we’re walking amongst the neat Georgian terraces of Edinburgh New Town. Nothing untoward could possibly happen behind these tall front doors.
Could it?
-Louise Heal
Planning a trip to Edinburgh? Browse Viator’s Edinburgh Tours, Sightseeing & Things to do, from walking & biking tours to Loch Ness and Stirling Castle day trips from Edinburgh and more, or enjoy multi-day trips to the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye to further discover the beautiful countryside. Want more scary tours? Check our Edinburgh Dungeon and our Murder and Mystery Walking Tour of Edinburgh for further thrills. If you are a Dan Brown’s fan, our Da Vinci Code and Scottish Borders tour is for you!
Unusual Things to Do While on Vacation
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Going on a vacation with your family? Traveling into a place that you are not familiar with to spend the holidays? Then you have to make sure that you have to come out of your shell and put on your adventure cap. When traveling for a vacation your intention is to enjoy and have a good time, unfortunately, there are times when you do not enjoy your vacation because of doing the same old thing whenever you go on such vacation. Doing the same routines like staying at your hotel room and taking pictures at different scenic spots can get real old. So how can you turn around an otherwise boring vacation? Well start shedding your boring vacation techniques and put on your sense for adventure. First thing that you have to do is to get out of your hotel room and explore the sights, you did not travel all the way there to appreciate your hotel room. Once you are out ask guidance from the hotel receptionist on the best spots that you can go to, or better yet why not grab a map and find the spots yourself. The latter is preferred than the former because of the fact that losing your way in an unfamiliar place is part of the adventure, just remember to ask for directions when you completely lost your way and your map is no help at all. Once you find your way explore the different sites not just by taking photos and appreciating its scenic view, you have to, this time, find a way to explore the sights up close and personal. For example, if you want to appreciate the river and its white water then you have to try white water rafting, many vacation spots offer this kind of extreme sport for a reasonable price so what’s there to stop you from trying it out? Or maybe you would like to enjoy the scenic route of a hiking trail, then maybe there is a certain area that offers more than a hiking trail by offering adventure activities. Maybe you can explore the forest from above using a zip line, this is a fun activity that gives you a feeling of adventure while taking great photos from above for your souvenir. Or maybe you would like to bring out your family’s competitive spirit, instead of staying at your hotel room and play board games why not go out and play competitive games like paintball? Paintball is a fun multiplayer game that allows you compete with one another or play together as a team, this is also a fun way of enjoying the scenery or the sights in a competitive and fun way. After all the exploring and fun before you head back to your hotel it would complete your vacation if you try and relax by looking for a perfect spot to watch the sunset, ending your day with a relaxing scenery will always keep you energized and ready for the next adventure the following morning.
Boston, USA Vacation Rentals
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The American city of Boston is a great place to spend an enjoyable vacation. As the capital of the state of Massachusetts, this exciting city offers a wealth of museums, parks, shops, restaurants, sports, entertainment and more! What’s more, Boston has a great selection of holiday rentals, so it’s an ideal destination for a self catering vacation for all the family. If you want to learn some culture during your vacation, be sure to check out at least some of the interesting museums in the city. There’s Boston Fire Museum, The Commonwealth Museum, Museum of African American History, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science and so much more! If you have got kids with you, then be sure to head to the Boston Children’s Museum, which has plenty to keep the youngsters occupied during their visit here. There’s also a walking tour called The Freedom Trail, which gives visitors the opportunity to see 16 historic sites on a 2.5 mile trail. It’s definitely worth doing during your stay in Boston and you can choose whether you want to do a self-guided tour or you can take advantage of one of the guided tours available. Make sure that you wear a comfortable pair of shoes if you do this walking tour. Other things you can do during your stay in Boston include having a ride on a Swan Boat in the lagoon at Boston Public Garden. It’s a relaxing way to spend your holiday. Boston Public Garden itself is also a great place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you like boats, it’s also worth taking a sightseeing cruise while on holiday in Boston. This will give you the chance to see the city from a different view and there are a variety of cruises that you can join, depending on what you want to see. Or if you prefer to see Boston from a great height, you should pay a visit to the Bunker Hill Monument, which is 221 feet in height. There are 294 steps that you can climb to the top of this monument – if you are feeling fit! But if you do make the effort to climb the monument, you will be glad that you did, as there is an amazing view from the top. Boston is also a great place for shopping and wining and dining. There are many areas that you can go shopping, as well as eating out. While you are in the area, be sure to visit of one Boston’s markets. For example, there’s the SoWa Open Market and Haymarket, which are ideal locations to buy and stock up on some provisions for your self catering holiday. You will never go hungry in Boston, as there is a great range of restaurants where you can eat, when you don’t want to dine indoors at your holiday rental. Boston is a great holiday destination for everyone. This American city is ideal for a family vacation, a sightseeing trip or a relaxing break – and it’s perfect for holiday rentals.
Get a Guaranteed Price For American Express Around the World Cruises
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You can be assured of getting the best of everything at the lowest price when you book one of the American Express around the world cruises. American Express deals with only the top cruise lines in the cruising industries and negotiates with them to have extra amenities included in the price quoted for each cruise. There is even a club called World Cruisers with American Express that is specially designed for those who want to take world cruises and see the world from the comfort and luxury of a cruise ship. The travel agent you deal with will work to get you the most competitive deal available and will make the reservations for you based on the itinerary you choose. You may have a ship preference in your American Express around the world cruises (http://www.amttravel.com/cruise-lines/world-cruises.html). However, there is still a choice in itineraries and cruise lengths. The Holland America line offers world cruises on the Rotterdam on various dates throughout the year. For example, you may want to choose a 36-day cruise that departs from Singapore and sails to Cape Town, South Africa visiting such exciting destinations as Phuket, Mumbai, Dubai, the Seychelles and Richard’s Bay. There are also cruises of shorter and longer durations on this ship for you to choose from depending on the amount of time you have for enjoying the experience. Princess Cruise Lines offers American Express around the world cruises on the Dawn Princess, the Pacific Princess, the Tahitian Princess and the Royal Princess. If you don’t have a preference in the cruise ship, you can search the American Express Travel site to find the information you need about the itineraries and departure dates and cities, as well as find information about the cruise ships. This information is helpful in helping you decide whether you want traditional seating for your meals or open seating. You also gain the information you need about events aboard the around the world cruise ship (http://www.amttravel.com/cruise-lines/around-the-world-cruises.html) that may require more formal attire and the types of shore excursions you can expect when you stop in the various ports of call. Silverseas is yet another of the many cruise lines that carry passengers on American Express Around the World Cruises. Choose an exciting itinerary aboard the Serenity for 1 106-day cruise that departs from and returns to Los Angeles. Such a cruise circumnavigates the world and takes you to exotic locales that will enable you to make memories that will last forever. An American Express world cruise will be a dream come true as you see the sites of Cabo San Lucas as one of the stops in Mexico and explore several of the Caribbean Islands before making your way across the Atlantic. The sights of the Far East will thrill you to the core and you can walk in the footsteps of the ancient cultures in the destinations in the Middle East and Africa. Each of the ships that offer American Express Around the World cruises are somewhat smaller than the typical cruise ships, though no less luxurious. Every detail of the cruise is planned, right down to the luxurious bed linens and towels in your bathroom. The smaller size means that the number of passengers is also smaller so that you have more opportunity to make new friends and to spend time with them engaging in the numerous activities offered on board.
10 Miniature City Marvels Around the World
Posted , comments closed10 Miniature City Marvels Around the World
If you’ve ever read the book Gulliver’s Travels, and wondered how Gulliver felt when he was washed ashore from his shipwreck and woke up in a land of tiny people called Lilliput, here’s your opportunity to find out.
You probably won’t get tied up and find yourself in the middle of a war of tiny nations, but you will get to see some astounding miniature buildings. The attention to detail at these parks is hard to believe. You’ll find yourself wondering how the designers created such intricate, exact replicas.
Bekonscot Model Village and Railroad – United Kingdom
This miniature park is located just 10 minutes outside of London in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. It was constructed in 1929, making it the oldest park of it’s kind in the world. Walking through the two-acre site will undoubtedly give you a glimpse of what English country life was like in the 1930‘s.
It was built in the back garden of the designer, around his swimming pool (which he used to represent the sea) as entertainment for his guests. Much later it became a tourist attraction. The six model villages are all make-believe places with shops that have silly names like the Lee Key Plumbers Merchants.
Wander through the colorful gardens, take a train ride around the property, stroll along the elevated walkway, play with the radio-controlled boats and enjoy the picnic area.
Madurodam – The Netherlands
This was a great park that we visited when my children were small. They thought it was incredible that they were bigger than the buildings and it was fun to watch them race down the paths, stopping occasionally in front of a structure that they recognized from our travels through this small country.
While strolling through the miniature city you’ll see gabled houses, canals, windmills, cows, canal boats and other typical Dutch scenes. You’ll even find a mini version of Schiphol airport, which took two years and four months to complete. The detail in this park is so amazing that you’ll enjoy it even if you are traveling without kids.
The park is located in the Hague, just outside of Amsterdam. A route guide to help you navigate the park is available in 13 different languages.
Cockington Green Gardens – Australia
This park opened about 30 years ago and is still a family owned establishment. It’s so well done that it’s won several tourism awards. The gardens are located about 15 minutes outside of Canberra.
The original models include the thatched roof village of Cockington in Great Britain, Baraemar Castle in Scotland and Stonehenge. Since then, the owners have added an international area where you’ll see the Lahore Gate and Red Fort from India, St. Mark’s Church from Croatia, the Palace of Darius – Perspolis from Iran and a lot more.
Along with the miniatures there is also a cafe, a small steam train ride, a mini train display, lovely gardens that sprawl across a two acre area, and an indoor exhibit area which currently displays an incredible 34 room Georgian style doll house.
Window of the World – China
Located in the city of Shenzhen, this is a park where you can spend a good portion of a day and see 130 of the world’s most incredible sights. You’ll wonder why you bothered to travel the planet when you could have seen everything in one place.
Set on 148 acres, you’ll find replicas of a 354-foot tall Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles, the Acropolis, the Pyramids, the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon and on and on. The displays in the park are built at ratios of 1:1, 1: 5 and 1:15.
If you like, you can choose different adventure trips to experience while you are visiting including skiing in the indoor alpine area or navigating the Colorado River. There are also several festivals each year hosted at the park – the Cherry Festival, International Beer Festival, Pop Music Festival, World Dance and Singing Gala and others.
Swiss Miniatur – Switzerland
This open-air miniature park is located in Melide on the shores of Lake Lugano. It was built about 50 years ago with the goal of representing a smaller version of the country of Switzerland. All of the models are built on a scale of 1:25.
Inside the park you’ll discover 120 replicas of houses, castles and cathedrals that represent life in Switzerland including Burgdorf Castle and Chillon Castle. There is also a wonderful display called Heidi’s Village in Maienfeld, which is a must-see for anyone who read and enjoyed the book.
For the train lover, there is an extensive miniature train display that includes 11,500 feet of track and 18 moving trains. This outdoor park is open from mid-March through mid-November.
Forbidden Gardens – United States
This park, which is located in Katy, Texas, about 25 miles outside of Houston, was built in 1997 by a Hong Kong native living in the United States. His idea behind the development of the park was the hope of educating people about the history and culture of ancient China.
The sprawling park sits on 40 acres and inside you’ll find replicas of the Forbidden City, the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Summer Palace and more. If you visit with your kids on Asian Adventure Day (which needs to be booked in advance) they will get a guided historical tour, and have a craft activity like making Chinese opera masks or paper lanterns.
Ave Maria Grotto – United States
This unusual park sits on four acres of a Benedictine Abbey in Cullman, Alabama. It was constructed over a 40-year period by a monk named Brother Joseph Zoetti. He built the 125 miniatures of famous churches, shrines and other buildings out of, well, basically junk that people donated for the cause – glass, marble, costume jewelry, broken tiles, whatever, along with some cement and other building materials.
As you walk down a forested trail you’ll pass by replicas of St. Peter’s Basilica, various Spanish missions, scenes of ancient Jerusalem and even a Tower of Babel. What started as a hobby for him became a life’s work and has been written about in a book entitled Miniature Miracles.
Mini Israel – Israel
This park is symbolically laid out in the shape of the star of David, with each point representing a specific area – Tel Aviv, Haifa, Negev, Jerusalem, Galil and Center. In it you’ll find 350 structures which have historical, cultural and religious importance to Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
The models were built on a ratio of 1:25 and completed in 2002 by a diverse team of designers, architects and model builders from different areas and various religious affiliations. It is located in the Avalon Valley near the city of Latrun.
Along with all of the religious structures you’ll also see live bonsai trees, about 30,000 figurines of people, 500 figures of animals, and close to 5,000 mini automobiles, trains motorcycles and airplanes.
Mini Europe – Belgium
After spending a few hours at this park in Brussels, you’ll feel like you’ve visited all of Europe. The models are a representation of 80 cities consisting of 350 buildings. You’ll see things like the Viking Ring Fort of Denmark, the City Hall of Stockholm, the Doge’s Palace in Venice, the Acropolis of Athens and the Houses of Parliament in London.
This park is very well known for the quality of the models. Many of them were quite expensive to build (hundreds of thousands of dollars.) Some of the models were gifts donated by the country represented. Many of the models actually work, like an erupting Vesuvius.
Tobu World Square – Japan
Let’s face it, most people are not going to get to that many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But, if you make it to this park you’ll at least get to see 42 of them in a miniature 1:25 scale. Some of the models include the Great Wall of China, Parthenon, Statue of Liberty, Sphinx and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The creators of the park paid very close attention to detail during the five years of building. In fact, you may want to bring binoculars so you can get a really up-close look at the engravings, reliefs and stained glass found on some of the models. Every display has been well thought out – a great example of this is Tokyo Station surrounded by hordes of miniature people.
Read about author Deanna Hyland and check out her other BootsnAll articles
Photo credits:
Bekonscot by bortescristian on Flickr, Madurodam by przemion on Flickr, Cockington Gardens by mecookie on Flickr, Window of the World by dcmaster on Flickr, Swiss Miniatur by MnGyver on Flickr, Forbidden Gardens by Mr. Kimberly on Flickr, Ave Maria Grotto by southerntabitha on Flickr, Mini Israel by Templar1307 on Flickr, Mini Europe by Crispy Rice on Flickr, Tobu World Square by scion_cho on Flickr