2023-11-26 03:31:21
The city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, enchants its visitors with its beauty and rich history, as it combines wonderful historical places and stunning natural landscapes, in addition to its fame for its historic castles and palaces, and its many festivals. However, visiting its main tourist attractions, such as: Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat, and the Scottish Parliament building, is not enough to enjoy the atmosphere of this city, as its depths must be explored; To discover its diverse and captivating character; This city hides for you surprises, places and stories that are stranger than imagination. Are you ready to travel to another time? Join us on a virtual tourist tour. To explore the hidden worlds of Edinburgh.
When walking in the streets of Edinburgh, you must be careful to look in all directions, including up and down, as every wall or stone, wherever it is located, carries a story, revealing charming details from the history of this city, and it is no wonder that Edinburgh inspired the British writer. J. K. Rowling’s writing of her famous “Harry Potter” series, thanks to the events it witnessed and the stories circulated by its residents, were considered mere myths due to the extreme strangeness of some of them.
Royal Mill Street
Royal Street
The joy of touring in Edinburgh lies not only in the splendor of its stories, history, and the beauty of its atmosphere, but also in the experiences and moments that the visitor experiences along the Royal Mile, which extends between Edinburgh Castle and Holywood Palace, which was the traditional route for royal processions in the past. It passed away, and from it the name “Royal Street” was derived. Today, it is considered the most lively street in the old part of the city, surpassed only by “Princes Street”, which is located in the new part of it.
Paisley Alley
From this royal street, narrow alleys called “The Close” branch off. These alleys witnessed several events, which led to some of them gaining great fame, including “Paisley Close” alley, which appears – at first glance – similar to the rest of the narrow and dark alleys with arched entrances. . But, if you look a little closer; You will notice a statue of a small child’s face with a phrase engraved above it in the Scottish language that says: “Get me out, guys… I’m not dead yet!” What is the story of this alley?
It is said that by the nineteenth century, old buildings began to deteriorate, especially those that were composed of several floors. On November 24, 1861, a 7-storey building collapsed in Paisley Close, killing 35 people. Local newspapers reported at the time that residents had removed the rubble over a period of days, and when they thought there were no survivors, the voice of a young child was heard screaming: “Get me out, guys… I’m not dead yet!” The child’s name is Joseph McIvor, and he is 12 years old. His rescue was a happy event. This event resulted in the establishment of a law to improve buildings, especially buildings consisting of more than one floor. When the building was rebuilt; A statue of the child’s face, a survivor of the disaster, was placed on the alley’s entrance arch, with his famous phrase engraved.
Holywood Abbey Hospice
If you continue walking down the street towards Holywood Palace, which was the residence of kings for 5 centuries, and where Queen Mary lived and married two of her three husbands, and it was even the official residence of the late Queen Elizabeth II in Scotland, you will notice the presence of a number of stones engraved with the letter ( S) in copper, so what does that mean? They are the shelter stones, which indicate the boundaries of the legal protection area of the Holywood Palace Abbey, or what is known as the “Abbey Shelter.”
In the fourth century until the seventeenth century, the law stipulated that no criminal might be detained in a holy place such as a church, so some, especially debtors, would seek refuge in the church; To avoid arrest and imprisonment, since in that period even the thief of a loaf of bread was subject to hanging. The shelter covered a large area around the monastery and the church, and outside these boundaries, debtors might be arrested or subjected to violence. Anyone who wished to stay for more than 24 hours in the shelter had to pay a specific sum of money and perform several tasks. In 1880, this law was repealed, and no one might be imprisoned for debt, so the role of the “monastery shelter” ceased to exist.
Toys brought by visitors to Mary King’s Close, gifts for the ghost of little Annie
The ghost of little girl “Annie”
At a time when the Royal Mile is crowded with people, tourists, shops, restaurants, tourist attractions and many buildings, many are unaware that there is a maze of narrow alleys and abandoned houses extending beneath it since the seventeenth century, known as Mary King’s Close. This alley witnessed bloody events, due to the plague that wiped out most of its residents, especially the poor, who lived in the lower floors of buildings, near sewage nozzles and dirt. As a result of the deteriorating health situation, officials at the time decided to build a building for the Royal Stock Exchange (which is known today as the City Hall building), where merchants might sell their goods away from disease and filth. Instead of looking for a new location, they decided to demolish the upper floors of these buildings, and use the lower floors as the basis for the new building; Which led to the burial of the entire Mary Kings Alley. Over time, this buried alley gained fame for containing ghosts, especially following a spiritual scientist from Japan visited it in 1992, and claimed that she did not experience any supernatural phenomena except when she entered one of the rooms, where the spirit of a young girl named “Annie” was very angry for several centuries. ; Because she lost her game. Thus, some tourists began bringing toys for the girl, “Annie.” If you want to experience an exceptional paranormal experience, you should go to “Mary King’s Close” alley, and book a ticket to go on a tour of this maze, with a group of acting guides, who re-enact some of the events in this narrow, dark alley.
Leith district of Edinburgh
Picturesque town
One of the unusual things you can do in Edinburgh, away from ghost stories and ruined buildings, is to visit the beautiful town of Dean, which is regarding 20 minutes away from the city centre. This quiet area is a great place to explore charming old houses and enjoy the stunning scenery surrounding it. . From there, head to the “Water of Leith” trail, which is located near the town and is characterized by its charming atmosphere. They enjoyed walking among the trees near the water streams, and hearing the birds chirping, all the way to “St. Bernard’s” well, which became famous. In the past, it had great healing powers, and nobles from London used to visit it to drink from its water. However, with the development of medicine, the well lost its healing reputation. Also, do not forget to visit the “Leith District”, which most tourists ignore, preferring to visit the more famous neighborhoods, knowing that it is located in an area characterized by authenticity and character, and you will find there many restaurants that serve the best seafood in Scotland.
Old apartments along Royal Circus Lane
Imaginary street
One of the most wonderful things to see in Edinburgh is the houses of Circus Lane, which is located a 20-minute walk from the center of Edinburgh. This street looks as if it came out of the pages of a medieval fairy tale, as rows of charming houses extend along its sides, decorated with flowering plants, and its sidewalks are covered with gravel. It gives it a distinct aesthetic touch, while a beautiful tower rises in it, forming a wonderful background for photos that you can take and brag regarding by posting them on your social media accounts.
Doll exhibits at the Museum of Childhood
Childhood Museum
If you want to see the decor of homes in the “Georgian Era,” all you have to do is visit the “Georgian House” Museum, which is considered an ideal example of what luxury homes looked like in that era. The museum houses stunning collections of period furniture, paintings, porcelain and silver, depicting the style and lifestyle of 18th century society, and is located regarding a 20-minute walk from Royal Street.
In downtown Edinburgh, there is the “Museum of Childhood”, which can be entered for free. Here, you can discover four floors, displaying a collection of old and new toys, including: trains, doll houses, and embroidered children’s clothes. This museum is amazing, and a little scary as well, as you feel as if there are hidden eyes staring at you, and you get the feeling that some of the dolls, especially the human-sized ones, are moving behind your back, just like what happens in horror movies.
Scottish dishes: Scottish tart, smoked salmon, fried Mars chocolate, cullen skink, borridge, and haggis platter.
Traditional cuisine
Walking in the streets of Edinburgh, exploring the beauty of its tourist attractions and its rich history, consumes a lot of your energy, and you will quickly feel hungry, and there is nothing tastier than tasting traditional Scottish cuisine, which will add a special flavor to your trip, and immerse your senses in the spirit of the wonderful city. Among the most prominent of these dishes is “Steak Pie,” made from beef and fresh vegetables, served with thick sauce and mashed potatoes. “Scottish porridge” is a simple, delicious and healthy breakfast dish, consisting of: oats and milk or water, and its secret lies in the additions. Another traditional Scottish dish is Cullen Skink, which is a creamy soup made from smoked haddock, potatoes and onions, served with loaves of Scottish bread. As for the dish “Haggis”, it is considered one of the national dishes in Scotland, and it is a mixture of lamb (or cow) innards with oats and spices. It is usually served with potatoes, ginger and carrots. And definitely do not forget to eat the “Smoked Atlas Salmon” dish, which is distinguished by its unique and rich flavour. For dessert, it is necessary to eat “fried Mars chocolate” bars, which are characterized by their sweet and salty taste, or “Scotland tart”, which is a delicious dessert pie, filled with jam, honey or butter, and can be eaten with a cup of wonderful Scottish tea.
Edinburgh is distinguished by its ancient buildings of Gothic architecture
Information…and advice:
– Before traveling to Edinburgh, read regarding the history of this city; To enjoy more of your visit.
Buses are the best means of transportation in Edinburgh.
– If you are visiting Edinburgh in the summer; Know that sunset comes very late, and sunrise comes very early.
– Always carry a rain jacket with you; In anticipation of weather change or temperature drop.
To take a beautiful picture of Edinburgh Castle, showing how great and large it is, head to the “Vennel Viewpoint”, which is located near the castle.
– Visit Arthur’s Seat, or Mount Arthur, and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
– Put Rosslyn Church on your visit schedule, as it is one of the most mysterious churches in the world.
– Explore the Gilmerton Caves, which include passages and rooms dug by miners in the town of Gilmerton.
– Do not forget to visit the Hermitage Castle in the Edinburgh countryside, to learn regarding its stories, as well as the Forth Suspension Bridge, which is one of the symbols of Edinburgh.
– If you are not afraid of cemeteries, we advise you to visit the Gray Friars Cemetery, where the statue of the dog “Bobby” is located, to learn his story.
Scotland…and the Emirates
The UAE is keen to improve trade and investment relations with Scotland, by opening broader opportunities for the business communities on both sides, which contributes to launching new economic partnerships, especially since Scotland is an important destination, rich in opportunities for joint growth, within the United Kingdom, which has historical strategic relations with the UAE. .
A Scottish delegation visited the Emirates at the beginning of this year. To find out the latest developments in joint projects between the two sides, and to discuss ways to consolidate cooperation in areas of common interest, especially in the sectors: food industries, clean energy, and advanced technology.
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