For our last day in Edinburgh, we decided to walk over to the University of Edinburgh. Wow. Now we are going to try to convince our kids to do a semester abroad there…or maybe even grad school? Just kidding…sorta. 

Seriously, what a beautiful university. 

   
    
 
I also enjoyed the fact that the sexual assault awareness campaign is going on on UK campuses as well…

   
    
And, as I’ve mentioned before, J. K. Rowling spent quite a lot of time in Edinburgh and much of her inspiration for Harry Potter came from here. 

I’m just guessing that the name of this street, Potter Row, and the university’s bookstore might have influenced her as well?

 
Speaking of which, on my bucket list was a visit to George Heriot’s School, which was supposedly Rowling’s inspiration for Hogwarts. Since school was in session we couldn’t get onto the grounds, but I went into full on paparazzi mode and took photos through the fence. 

   
    
    
    
   
I know I’m a nerd, but it kind of made my day. 

FINAL THOUGHTS AND MISCELLANEOUS STUFF

Edinburgh is filled with hills. Steep hills. And stairs. Lots and lots of stairs. 

   
 
The Scots really know how to present a cup of cappuccino…

  
We ate dinner one evening in Deacon Brodie’s Tavern. I enjoyed learning all about William Brodie, who was supposedly the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.   
   
We also made it to Greyfriar’s Tavern and the statue of Greyfriar’s Bobby.  
A few more random pictures…

Finally, our last day in Edinburgh, we had Cullen Skink Soup, which sounds kind of disgusting (I kept picturing a big, fat skink!), but was actually kind of fabulous – especially on a chilly, drizzly, day.