Edinburgh For the Potter Head

 What did I tell you about my attention span! Its hard to come up with this last post! I certainly am no Potter head and the longer I wait the lesser I remember about all the Harry Potter stuff we did! Maybe Tootsie should write this Blog.

Edinburgh unlike London does not have shooting locations of the movies. But a lot of inspiration comes from here and JK Rowling lived in Edinburgh while she wrote some of the Harry Potter books. There is even a graveyard (kirkyard) from which she grabbed a variety of names. I don't remember all of it but the ones I do are for Anne Potter and Robert Potter (Harry's parents), McGonagall (Although the stone is for William McGonagall), Moodie, Black and Voldemort (or Thomas Riddell). Although I must tell you that Charles Black's tombstones plaque had been stolen! That's about 200 pounds of stone that someone carried out! It apparently showed up on EBay and the church is trying to purchase/ get it back!

Geyfriar's Kirkyard	The graveyard beyond the flogged wall that has a number of the graves we are looking for
McGonagall, if you look closely he was a Poet and Tragedian! His Poetry I think was the tragedy as the example shows!	There is Voldemort! Thomas Riddle!
The Black Mausoleum - Grave of George Mackenzie. From the time when Presbyterians were targeted for practicing their religion, Mackenzie took it upon himself to "catch" these "offenders" and sent them to Covenant prison (early version of concentration camp) where they were tortured. When he fell sick and later died he wanted to be buried here in the Mausoleum where he could continue to hear the prisoners cries! It is said that he still comes out and even physically attack people!	George Heriot School as seen from the Kirkyard George Heriot School from whisky tasting at Royal Mile.

The George Heriot School was originally an orphanage and an inspiration for Hogwarts. Hogwarts 

A tunnel with the Potter name, but apparently the name Potter was actually inspired by Rowling's childhood friend

Teviott Row House, houses the University Library. Was an inspiration for Hogwarts as well. Apparently some dual was fought outside of a building that looked just like this

 Nicolson's Café was the place where J.K. Rowling wrote a lot of the initial Harry Potter books while she lived in Edinburgh. This is likely the first coffee shop she worked at after moving to Edinburgh as it was then owned by Rowling's brother-in-law.

Elephant House Cafe! Opened in 1995, The Elephant House has established itself as one of the best tea and coffee houses in Edinburgh. Author J.K. Rowling ,had her first book published while she was writing in the back room overlooking Edinburgh Castle, making The Elephant House the “birthplace” of the series of Harry Potter novels.

The Lawn Market Street - Here is apparently where a lot of the hangings happened in the olden days! Looks like it was a social gathering. This street is lined with pubs where the locals would throng to after a hanging. The word "hang over" ring a bell? At the end of this street is one of the best views of the castle!

Obviously a huge Hogwarts inspiration - Enuf said!

Diagon Alley aka Victoria Street

Quaint little street with lots of stores and cafes! A couple of great Potter stores here!

The little Potter head on her birthday!

This I believe has a reference in HP with the eyes and noce on top! Turns out its a lady's consignment store!

This is the Scottish emblem I think! Its a unicorn! Fantasy Land is where we went!

Edinburgh City Chambers

JK Rowlings hand prints at the city chambers. She was awarded for her philanthrophy

At one of the HP Stores

The Baltimore hotel where Rowling wrote the last of her books!

Apparently JK R finished the Deathly Hallows in the Baltimore Hotel, cooped in a room for 4-5 months. WHen she finished she resorted to vandalism! She scribbled on a bust statue in the room - JK R was here! Now the hotel not to be undone, jacked up the room rent to $2000, installed a red door to the room and never looked back!

For Tootsie this was her highlight, we did this walking tour on her bday!