TAKING A TURN IN EDINBURGH

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It's called Athens of the North,

Where ghosts and spirits stir,

Phantoms and witches do so too.

And if you come here you'll see them too!

The clean air, azure sky with cotton ball clouds, people milling about and relaxing in pubs and cafes. Everything was just as I had imagined. But there was a scent of mystery in the air too. Edinburgh truly lived up to its reputation of a haunted city.

A chill went up my spine when we visited a cemetery. For once, I was thankful we had not taken the more adventurous night-time tours. The gravestones looked ancient and some were covered by moss. I peeped through a locked iron gate and saw even more graves, which somehow looked more unkempt and surrounded by thick green shrubs. It looked as if nobody had been there in centuries.

"That's where the ghosts live. The door is locked for everyone's safety. So that no fool tries to enter." Our guide casually informed us.

The potterhead in me came alive when our guide pointed out certain graves with names of the characters from the series. I was thrilled to see McGonagall, Black and even Tom Riddle engraved on tombstones. After that, everywhere I went I saw things which definitely inspired J.K. Rowling to write her epic series. I even saw the café in which she actually wrote the books. The temporary stadium erected for a festival reminded me of a Quidditch Stadium. I remembered my visit to Oxford and the crack on the pavement that resembled Harry Potter's infamous scar.

There were other interesting anecdotes too. One particularly heart wrenching one was that of a pet terrier called Bobby. His statue is now a famous tourist hotspot. After his master's death, he guarded his grave for 14 long years until he himself passed away. His faithfulness, determination and love for his master touched my soul. It inspired me because if a dog doesn't give up, then so won't I. Although, many have dismissed it as a lie to draw tourists in, I deem that it's the message of this traditional story that's important and not the actual incident.

A thing that everyone was curious to know about was 'haggis', which is the national dish of Scotland. When our omniscient guide finally answered our question, the vegetarian in me cried out in disgust. It was a very detailed description involving sheep's heart, liver and lungs. Suddenly, I felt quite queasy.

The Edinburgh Castle draws in millions to its gate. It's a large and imposing structure looking over all of Edinburgh. But it's not very welcoming for some. Many University students believe that if you enter the castle gate, you'll fail your final examinations.

This monument has had a bloody history with numerous sieges, ghost stories and lost crown jewels.

It is one of the quaintest little cities I have seen, with a fairytale appearance and its quirks are what made it all the more fun to visit.

J�3Y�VS

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