Rising Spirits - Sarah's smile

Edinburgh's past comes alive in the subterranean vaults that lie beneath the well worn paths of the city's cobblestone streets. Orginally used as storerooms, workshops and drinking dens in the 19th century, they became inhabited by poor Highlanders and Irish refugees from the potato famine. They slowly deteriorated and were abandoned to poverty, filth and crime.

But there is a darker side to the past, something few people care to discuss -- the plague that struck the city in 1645. Legend has it that the disease ridden inhabitants of Mary King's Close (a lane on the northern side of the Royal Mile -- the site of the City Chambers -- you can still see its blocked-off northern end from Cockburn street) were walled up in their homes and left to die. When the lifeless bodies were cleared from the houses, they were so stiff that workmen had to hack off limbs to get them through the small doorways and narrow, twisting stairs.

From that day onward, the "Close" was said to be haunted by the spirits of the plague victims. One of the most famous is "Sarah", a little girl who died of the plague, but has been seen as an paranormal apparition carrying a doll, walking with a small dog named "Bailey".

EXPLORE MORE!

Edinburgh (remember its pronounced Edinburr!) just begs to be explored. From the haunted undergound vaults to HolyRood Palace and the wynds that riddle Old Town to its picturesque urban villages, it is filled with quirky, come-hither nooks that tempt you to just walk just a "wee bit" further -- to see green sunlit hills, a glimpse of the rust-red crags, a blue flash of the distant sea, or a paranormal apparition -- and ramble on through your wanderlust.

Edinburgh, the Athens of northern Europe, enjoys a spectacular setting where crags overhang a bustling city that stretches to the English Sea. But there is more to the city than just siteseeing the past -- there are cozy shops, 5 star restaurants and a bachanalia of pubs to enjoy.

During the Fringe, the performing artists light up the city providing a cornucopia for all of the senses to enjoy. Just don't run out-of-time or Scotch Whisky!

So now you know -- Dun Eiden = Edin-burr

Edinburgh owes its existence to the Castle Rock, the glacier-worn stump of a long-extinct volcano that provided a near perfect defensive position guarding the coastal route from northeast England into central Scotland. (picture above is Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, taken by Zunie.)

Back in the 7th century, the Castle Rock was called Dun Eiden (meaning "Fort on the Hill Slope"). When it was captured by invaders from the kingdom of Northumbria in northeast England in 638 AD, they took the existing Gaelic name 'Eiden' and tacked it onto their Old English word for fort, 'burh' to create the name Edinburgh. So know you know why its pronounced - Edin-burr.