Manchester/Scotland 2025 - Edinburgh Mary King's Close and Other Themed Places

The post is about other cool stuff that you could find in Edinburgh just by wandering around. First stop, the Real Mary King's Close. To be honest, it took me a while to realised what this was all about. At first I thought this was some kind of themed attraction, like a Harry Porter tour or something. Turns out, it's historical! Apparently Edinburgh today has a while Edinburgh of the past buried under it. They just kinda build everything on top of existing city. How mind-blowing is that? So here is also something I am ashamed to say I learnt after visiting this palace (note, I only visited their gift store), above the figurine is actually a doctor during the plague. The Dr is all covered up with a mask and everything to actually protect himself from the plague! Hahahaha, I thought it was a cult or something prior to learning about this :P  Kinda like the KKK :P

You are free to visit the gift store, which stocks a lot of cool stuff inside, and you could also read a little bit about the attraction. So the attraction is actually a one-hour guided walk down to the old city area. I am curious to go, and at first I was dead set of going on my second visit, but the problem is, it cost almost 50sgd for an hour in the dark empty road with an actor-guide telling you stories of the days in the close..... I just for some reason can't find myself parting with my money to visit this place. So for now as of writing, I've decided to visit the Surgeon Museum instead..... If I feel rich while in Edinburgh, I might give this a try.....

I guess this is the door that they lead you down to the old city? I read so many reviews that says that it's basically a tour of walking through one empty room after another while they tell you stories..... Of course to be fair, there are people who also enjoyed the tour. I think it's just a monopoly, to charge so much for a one-hour tour. It's almost like an entertaining experience instead of a historical one. But this was the only way to visit the underground city..... I guess? Well, apparently you could visit other part of the city that leads into the old city, but almost all requires a tour booking..... ask AI for more information.

Lovely painting on the walls of the gift shop/entrance. It looked something out of a story book.

Since we were already here, of course we have to get our photos taken with the plague doctor!

As you can see, the wife takes better more informative photos than the husband does. 

Now, let's move on to other interesting/weird places around Edinburgh. Have I mentioned the Elephant House that all Harry Porter fans seems to be crazy about? Well, good news, I heard the renovation after the fire has been completed and you could go sip your coffee at the original cafe now and get some inspiration for the next big hit!

We also stumbled upon The Ghost Bus Tour's double decker bus. It looked fun, yet cheesy at the same time. Just like the Mary King's Close, it looks more like entertainment and theatre than actual information tour. Maybe I'm just biased? If I have the money and the time, I guess I might try some of these tours? Sigh. Is money a problem?

I think we have mentioned the Frankenstein restaurant before? Here are more photos of it. And no, again, I did not go in. Just stood outside of it because.....

You could see a giant Frankenstein at the front door when they are kinda about to open for business!

And of course I've got to get my photo taken with Frankenstein. If you haven't read this classic, please do. And if you have read it, have you watched the play by Benedict Cumberbatch? It was absolutely lovely! I think I watched it during Covid when many companies and artist made their performances free to watch on YouTube or their own website. I watched so many OneOKRock concert during those days! There was one almost every week! Ahh.... Covid. I did kinda enjoyed it. 

The other book that I was considering to buying. It was found at the bookstore at John Knox's house. Maybe I'll go look for it again. I plan to get another book as a souvenir on my second trip to Scotland too. 

And the last location I wanted to mention is the Museum of Magic, Fortune-telling & Witchcraft. It cost 5pounds per entry to visit a small room of exhibit that consist of personal collection of items related to witchcraft. I heard it was quite interesting even though it was small. But while I was there, they had a private tour on so I was told to come back later. While browsing their gift shop, I felt that the items on sale were kinda cheesy, and there were no good books on the said subject. With just that evaluation, I decided not to visit the museum after all. Hmmm.... was it the right choice? Would I decide other wise if I was there again? 

And here I leave you with a quote from John Ruskin "There is no wealth but life.....". Go reflect!

Manchester/Scotland 2025 - Edinburgh Street Walk and School of Divinity

View of Edinburgh on any day, stairs and more stairs The other city that I've visited that looked like this was Dubrovnik Croatia, but I was only there for a short visit and didn't have to climb all those stairs! Above my husband about to make his way up to probably the Royal Miles. 

Above a lovely simple heart on the ground of Royal Mile near St Giles' called the Heart of Midlothian. You can read more about it here. People used to spit on it for good luck in the olden days! So thankful that spitting is no longer a thing here!

Red wall angel below someone's window, dated 1892. You could also try to read the text found on each side it. Let me know if you figure out what they mean. Man, I took so many photos of small details of the city of Edinburgh, it's just so many to see. I guess that this is what people who visit Georgetown Penang felt like when they see all the old buildings there, with they small details here and there. I once met a Canadian teacher who was solo visiting and she just spend days taking photos of all the details. Now I get it. 

I finally found the statue of Hume! I am a fan of his. 

 

There are also shops here that has the royal seal of approval. I believe these are shops that are allowed to supply their products to the royal family? I've known about them, but I think this is the first time I see a sign endorsing a shop here. 

On our way back this time, we saw the gates of the School of Divinity was opened, so this time, we actually walked inside to take a look around. I think the name of the school was what caught my attention. 

Sunsetting inside the school's courtyard. 

Here is a clearer photo of the courtyard. I love the two towers besides the stairs leading up to the two doors. The whole thing just looked so storybook-like! I think it's so cool to have a school like that. None of my school or university look like this. 

I am not sure if you can see the wordings on top of the light brown door/window? It says "Let There Be Light".  Absolutely divine!

There is also a statue of things guy at the courtyard. Damn, it's John Knox again. He is EVERYWHERE in Edinburgh!

Ok, signing off this post with another fairy tale of Edinburgh Castle and cherry blossom! 

I love you Edinburgh!

Manchester/Scotland 2025 - Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland (7/7)

 

I saved the best for last on what I saw at the National Museum of Scotland! (Ok, I lied, the best for me was actually the viking grave and witches, lol). Anyway, here is a post about ancient creates in Scotland, or at least, their skeleton remains. But first, above an example of Jurassic Sea Life in Scotland, and I think that big creature there could be Nessie, right? I've visited Loch Ness before from Fort Augustus , but I've not seen Nessie before. I hope that is about to change when I visit the Loch Ness Centre on my next trip! 

There was a hall at the ground floor of the museum in one of the wings that have just skeletons of gigantic animals! They have them whether on land or see! So I am guessing what is shown here is probably a big gigantic aqua creature! Perhaps a whale? 

They have these huge skeleton that looked like a deer with antlers. They looked so magnificent. It's something I've never seen before so I thought it was pretty cool. Perhaps they are reindeers?

Here is another skeleton example. Could this be a moose? Oh man, at times like this I wish I've taken more info sign of objects I'm interested :P

Jaws! Of some animals which I have no idea what. Dinosaurs? Or maybe just a crocodile. Who knows! 

Ok, this one here is a dinosaur! It looked kinda similar to the one in Manchester Museum, but somehow I like the one in Manchester Museum better. Maybe cause there were less people in the museum there and so it's like you get the dinosaur all to yourself. Also, I was a lot more clear headed when I visit that museum even though I just got off a redeye flight. For the Scotland Museum, I was kinda fatigue from a whole day of walking, as well as information overload at the basement of this super huge museum. 

Selfie with the dinosaur!

They have modern gigantic sea creature hanging around too, so here is a selfie of me with the great white shark and some giant sotong behind! Lol. 

My a selfie with just the skull of the dinosaur and my fearful eye! Lol. That is all for my post on the National Museum of Scotland! I can't believe there are SEVEN parts to a museum that I didn't even plan to visit! I highly recommend you do go visit, and if you don't have time, just visit the Kingdom of Scots will do, that alone was mind-blowing, especially the collection of old artefacts that they have at the basement. Totally worth it!

Manchester/Scotland 2025 - Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland (6/7)

This post is about cool portrait and pendent I saw at the museum. Above is King James VI. He looked so young, so apparently he is the boy king. While trying to confirm that the photo really is of him, I had to google it, and you can read more about him and more history of Scotland here. But for some reason, I kept thinking this is the painting of Bonnie Prince Charles. I am rather conflicted of the portrait of him in the series Outlander after hearing so much of him though....  

Again, another beautiful piece of jewelries that looked fit for the royalties. 

To be honest, I can't confirm whether the above info is co-related to the jewelry photo before it. I am thinking it is if you read the description. Hopefully it wasn't referring to a different jewelry! That would be so embarrassing for me!

There was a section in the museum where all these lovely pins and brooches were being displayed, and I was quite taken by them. Especially on the fine workmanship of each pieces, as well as many that consist of a portrait of someone's head on them. 

I mean, look at these! There are so small! A pendent, a ring. Something you could wear on your body. It's so personal, and so erm, direct. Imagine wearing a pendent or a ring with a photo of your partner on it! Lol. Isn't it a bit too much? I mean, if it's in a locker format, at least you could close it after looking at it. But these pieces, they just started at you. And I wonder who this guy is that his portrait on all these pieces!

Or is it all of different person but with the same white makeup and same style of hair wig? Lol. 

I guess they still do such jewelry pieces these days, mainly of Jesus to wear close to you at all times. I think it's nice, to wear something that is so personal to you on your body. For me, I am intrigued by words, so I wear mantra bands on my wrist. 

Manchester/Scotland 2025 - Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland (5/7)

After the Christians found their way to Scotland, everything changes, and soon everything was about churches and such. Scotland do have some very beautiful and unique churches, and we'll see how many I can manage to visit in my next trip. For this 2025 trip, I think I only managed St Giles', not counting Kirkyard that is. But for 2026, I think I will at least see Rossyln Chapel, and the Italian Church of Orkney, and maybe a few cathedral like Glasgow Cathedral and Inverness Cathedral. We'll see how it goes! 

Here are some of the earlier example of Christian artefacts. I kinda like this simple Jesus figurine hanging at the cross here. It kinda looked very simplistic  and minimalistic. I think I don't mind having this in my home.  

Here are some angels holding a shield? Carved into some stones. These could be part of a building or memorial or even tombstones. I like angels too! 

A priest/monk carrying a cross? I'm pretty sure that is not a cross, right? Now I bet you wish I read the description of the figurine or took a photo of it. Sorry! Sometimes, I just like to take photo of the item as they just seems to be such a nice piece of art, even if they might be religious in nature. I think one can always be able to appreciate an object of beauty regardless of what it is associated with, right?

More Christian related items. 

Here is another of Jesus that looks like a carving on a stone slab. This one looked so primitive, perhaps even before medieval times, is that even possible? Yup, checked on Google and Jesus pre-dated before medieval times!

I guess with Christianity came the printing press machine? Isn't why the religion spread so fast and wide, because of the printing of the bible? But at this section of the exhibition, I was more interested in the books on displayed. I love old books. Fun fact, I once volunteered as a distributed proof reader of old text. I did that for a month while working (can't remember which company), because I was so bored at work with nothing much to do I might as well contribute to society is some small ways!. So I would translate old text to readable everyday English of today. Ha! I've contributed to the literature field after all!

Beautiful old books. 

See, I told you they were mostly religious in nature!