Edinburgh

I was completely blown away by Edinburgh. The warmth of the people, the rich history and, yes, even the food. Sure, the pasties and fish and chips were next level, but what surprised me was just how multicultural the food scene was. In that respect, it reminded me a little of my hometown of Toronto.

Touring Edinburgh Castle and hearing the stories contained within — and just outside — was incredible. Scottish history is everywhere in this city, and the castle looming over Edinburgh from Castle Rock makes it impossible to forget just how old the place is.

We also did a Harry Potter walking tour, visiting some of the Edinburgh locations associated with J.K. Rowling and the creation of the books. I’m not a huge Harry Potter fan and never read the books, but I was still delighted to visit Greyfriars Kirkyard and find the gravestone of Thomas Riddell, which Harry Potter fans have long associated with the name Tom Riddle — better known as Lord Voldemort.

Greyfriars Kirkyard was much more my speed. It’s one of Edinburgh’s most atmospheric old graveyards and comes with plenty of suitably sinister history. It was here that I learned about mortsafes — heavy iron cages and structures placed over graves to prevent body snatchers from digging up freshly buried corpses and selling them to anatomy schools. Now we’re talking.

Then there are the stories surrounding Sir George “Bloody” Mackenzie and the infamous Mackenzie Poltergeist. Whether you believe the supernatural stories or not, wandering through an old Scottish graveyard while hearing tales of grave robbers, restless spirits and violent history certainly sets the mood.

Beautiful architecture, fascinating history, great people, surprisingly diverse food and a haunted cemetery filled with stories about body snatchers and poltergeists. Edinburgh checked a hell of a lot of boxes for me.

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