Edinburgh by bus

Everything sounds better when you pay in pounds. It seems so cheap. 15 pounds for a city tour? Sure, but then you realize in dollars...about $27. I never really thought about the money unless I was buying souvenirs. The money spent on food, drink, and sight seeing seemed totally worth it whatever the cost.(see my money blog)
Travis, Ryan and I had been walking around and decided to check out the bus tours. We went to the visitor center located on Waverly Bridge connecting old town to the more modern areas.
We decided on the City sightseeing tour which started every 15 minutes or so. We climbed to the top of the double decker bus and I, of course, got my camera ready. We started by driving past the Princess Street Gardens. These gardens adorn an area which was once water and ice. We went around the palace getting a better look at how the palace was built/carved into a mountain/volcano. Gorgeous!
Some things I learned on this tour:
1. Scott Monument is the tallest tower in the world dedicated to an author.
2. Edinburg was home to Robert Louis Stevenson and current home to JK Rowling.
3. In the 1930's witches/clairvoyants were still prosecuted.
4. A close is a walkway or wind which opens into a courtyard.
5. Burking means murder
6. A man named William Bodie was the man behind the character Dr. Jeckell/Mr. Hyde written by Robert Louis Sevenson. William Bodie would make beautiful cabinets for the rich then rob them.
7. Hogwarts and the quiddage arena are based on the George Harriet Scool where JK Rowling's kids currently go to school.
8. Dr. Bell was a teacher of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Edinburgh and Dr. Bell was the basis for the famous Sherlock Holmes.
9. The palace where the royal family stays is called Holyroodhouse and is defined by the use of crowns on street signs. The name translates to Holy Cross.
10. The saying "Where there is a will; there is a way" was started in Edinburgh. The story goes like this: the coaching road from Holyrood to London was a 4 day journey and due to the highwaymen (robbers/murderers) one had to make a will before embarking on the trip. If there was a will made out; there was a way to get to London.
11. Sean Connery was a milkman in Edinburgh when he was younger. He is said to have had the largest route in history because EVERYONE claims he was their milkman. lol