But for Harry Potter fans, Elephant Café isn't just any café, but the birthplace of J. K. Rowling's excellent books. There the single mother could spend hours and hours with her baby, writing her book and absorbing the atmosphere of the 14th century architecture which surrounds the magnificent castle built on the hill. It isn't hard to imagine this castle to have inspired Rowling in her creation of Hogwarts, and the café must be an outstanding place to create the characters as you can sit hours watching people; their features and motions.

But the café itself is an inspiration as well. Following the name of the café, there are elephants in all sizes and shapes placed around in on tables, windowsills and even walls, many of which are in sale. These African and Indian influences may not have anything to do with British wizarding world, but the atmosphere and lightning are perfect and it is admirable to see that this proud little café has not wanted to change with the fame. Only a piece of wall is filled with press cuttings of Harry Potter and its author but the rest of the area is Potter-free, you just have to go with the imagination. And you can see that many are following Rowling's example as the regular tapping of laptop from one table and the scratching of a pen on notebook from another tell of inspiration being in work. But writing isn't all you can do here. From opening to closing the large tables are occupied by students on their breaks, families gathering together, old friends changing news and people deep in their newspapers forgetting to drink their coffee.

For Edinburgh visitors the Elephant café is highly recommended place to visit. Even if you couldn't care less about Harry Potter, it is an outstanding spot to enjoy town's architectural wonders safe from the Scottish weather. Situated in 21 George IV Bridge, it is very accessible in the middle of the tourist attractions of the Old Tow. And advertised as a gourmet coffee and tea shop it indeed offers large supply of delicious coffees and teas, as well as a large supply of pastry's and lunch options.

Glasgow is not the gritty, working-class metropolis of legend. It never was, and there are many attractions and things to do in this Mecca of the North.

Glasgow, in fact, is one of the UK's most visited cities. It hosted the Great Exhibitions of 1888 and 1901, became an industrial powerhouse in the twentieth century, and has returned as a place of culture since the Second World War. The city hosted the popular Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988, and was designated European City of Culture in 1990. In 1996, it hosted a spectacular Festival of Visual Arts. More than two million tourists visit from within the UK and from Europe and more distant areas every year.

The Old and the New

Glasgow is home to many of Scotland's principal performing arts organisations:

• The Scottish Opera
• The Scottish Ballet
• The Royal Scottish National Orchestra
• The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
• The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
• The Citizen's Theatre

In addition, there are many new small and "experimental" venues and lively pubs and clubs, especially clustering around the Glasgow centers of learning. Since the city's first university was established in 1451, Glasgow has been hailed as a powerful seat of learning. Lord Kelvin, Adam Smith and James Watt are just some of history's great thinkers associated with the city's academic past. Today's educational establishments include:

• The University of Glasgow
• Strathclyde University
• Glasgow Caledonian University
• The Royal Scottish Academy of Music
• Glasgow School of Art
• College of Commerce
• College of Building and Printing
• College of Food Technology
• Glasgow Hotel School (Strathclyde University)

Visitors are often surprised to learn that Glasgow has the largest retail sector outside of London. Residents and visitors from around the UK and overseas are drawn to the city's expanding shopping outlets, which include:

• Shopping malls like the chic and trendy Princes Square, the enormous St Enoch Centre, Sauchiehall Street Centre, Parkhead Forge, the historical Argyle Arcade, and the Buchanan Galleries (opened 1999)
• The main pedestrian shopping thoroughfares of Sauchiehall Street, Buchanan Street and Argyle Street. .
• The unique and colorful Barras weekend street market
• The smaller, character filled outlets of the city's bohemian West End
• A wide range of top class cafés, restaurants, pubs and wine bars

The city of Glasgow is proud of its tough industrial past and current vibrant economy. The city employs City Centre Representatives to help shoppers and visitors around the city, and a comprehensive City Watch close-circuit TV scheme keeping a watchful eye on the streets.

 

Short visit, but full of interesting things.

Edimburgh is a strange city, it is full of unexpected situations.

In example you can walk in the chaos of the main way and if you turn, for mistake or desire, in one of the Closes, suddenly you can find yourself in a space between the palaces where the voices and the noises of the main way are unable to reach you despite to the only 20 meters from the main way.

In one of these spaces outside from the time, the museum of the writers is found.

Settled during 1622 in memory of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, all the guides will say you to visit it at least for the building itself.

But, if you want to understand as the Dr.Jekyll had to be felt during his work on the formula that would change him in Mr Hyde, try to walk around the evocative Closes in the middle of the night; stop yourself on th little particular of the buildings around you, try to breathe the atmosphere... but after, don't play with chemistry, of course!

But what are the Closes?

In the 1644 they decided to wall some poor quarters because of the plague.

The wiskey blurred the minds, it is known, and in this case also the memory, in fact they simply forgot about those quarters.

So over them, they started to construct a new level of the city, this level is now called Royal Mile.

Living in Turin (Italy) I'm quite used to hear story about underground galleries, but when they forgot that the Closes were an entrance of an underground world, they forgot also in that world persons were living.

Therefore during the jobs they had two Edimburgo: the new and bright one and the dark one, where the people lives under the official side of Edimburgh.

Then the plague thought to resolve this dichotomy of the city and in the decades a lot of voices about the ghosts of the old inhabitants conviced the people to stay away from the Closes.

Thanks to the fear of the plague and of the ghost, for 400 years the basement of the royal mile kept in a good conditions a lot of narrow lanes and houses of an entire quarter.

Obviously today the tourism does not have more fear of the plague so, in the Mary King' s close, the tourists can visit an house, considered by the guides, "one of the best existing examples of city architecture of the XVII century", all obviously flavored with a lot of ghost stories expecially of child ghosts for which people leaves flowers and toys in the close.

So if you are planning to go to Edimburgh, bring with you your ghost-buster suite!

Festivals aside, Edinburgh is a diverse, exciting place to visit. The museums and art galleries here can take up a day's visiting alone. The national gallery of Scotland Complex is free to enter and shows works by Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin and many others. The Queens' Gallery on the Royal Mile has changing exhibitions, including a wide range of art and treasures held in trust by The Queen. Then there's the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. This is also free to enter and includes works by Dali, Warhol and Hirst.

If you're looking for more of an experience The Real Mary King's Close is a guided tour of Edinburgh's famous underground streets, showing what life was like in the city in the 17th century. Later in the evening the Edinburgh literary pub tour begins at the Beehive Inn.

Shopping can also be a bit of an experience in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Old Town Weaving company shows tartan being woven on the premises. Upstairs there's an information point where you can find the tartan for any clan, as well as other information on Scottish names and history. In the Scotch Whisky Experience by the castle not only can you buy your favourite single malt, but there's a tour which lasts about an hour revealing the mysteries of whisky and offering free tastings.

When it comes to eating out in Edinburgh there's a wide choice, ranging from lunch time cafes, Indian restaurants, Thai, Italian and many bistros. The Rhubarb restaurant on Prestonfield Road recently won Best Hotel Restaurant 2007 and is the latest restaurant from James Thomson whose other Restaurant, The Witchery By The Castle is already Scotland's most famous place to dine out.

Walk the streets of Edinburgh and you'll notice many pubs and bars. The Golf tavern overlooks Bruntsfield Links and is a unique place to enjoy a drink. The Bollinger Bar at Palm Court is Scotland's only Bollinger Champagne bar. The Prestoungrange Gothenburg on the High Street brew their own real ales on the premises. And The Jam House on Queen Street is Edinburgh's newest Live music venue, also offering fine dining in this old Georgian town house.

If you want something a little more lively The Stand Comedy Club has the best in Scottish and international stand-up comedy. There are many theatres and playhouses such as the Edinburgh Festival Theater on Nicolson Street and the Ross Open Air Theatre in Princes Street Gardens. But if you want something more authentic The Thistle on Leith Street boasts the best traditional Scottish entertainment the city has to offer.

Arts & Entertainment

The National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street boasts some of the finest collections in Britain on many subjects. From Egyptology to Dolly the first cloned sheep, the whole is housed in a fine and vast building. The cafe at the bottom is worth popping into just for lunch or a hot drink, and the bonkers clock in the atrium is worth anyone's visit. Happily, the museum is entirely free.

If it's a film you're after, why not try the Cameo cinema on Bread Street? Enjoy the experience of relaxing in wide, comfortable seats in a space with more in common with the 1950s that the 21st century. The staff are friendly and student discounts are available.

For cheap theatre, the University's student company is one of the best in Britain and one of the few to operate a theatre entirely on its own back. The Bedlam Theatre is an Edinburgh institution, with shows every week of term. It is home to the first Scottish improvised comedy troupe, The Improverts, who create comic scenes from audience suggestions every Friday night of term at 10:30.

Accommodation

The city boasts many fine hotels, not least the Balmoral and the Scotsman (so called as it is housed in the building previously occupied by the venerable Scotsman newspaper). For somewhere a bit cheaper, good deals can be found in hotels throughout the city. Visit Edinburgh Hostels for more details.

Food and Drink

While the city has the usual number of kebab shops and chippies to keep the stomach and wallet full, there are healthier places to eat cheap. Recommended is Uncle T's on Forest Road, a Mediterranean take-away. The couscous is a must at only £3. The same price will buy you a large curry at the Edinburgh Mosque which operates a lunch kitchen throughout the week.

Slightly more upmarket places include the Thai restaurant Anthalya, opposite the Festival Theatre, and Bonsai, a Japanese restaurant off Pleasance Road.

Daytrip

If you're looking to take a break from the city, the seaside resort of North Berwick is only half an hour away by train and highly picturesque with an old fashioned sweet shop to boot.

Transport

Trains from Glasgow run every half hour. Waverley, the main train station, is situated slap bang between the Old and New Town. From here you can catch the Airport Express for a bus direct to Edinburgh Airport (£3 one way; £5 return) every fifteen minutes.

Taxis are in abundance around the city and bus trips cost a pound for short journeys.

What to see

Anyways, after arriving at our destination we ( my family and the our couple friends) went to watch the Edinburgh Museum which is at royal mile. It is very absorbing and meticulously organized. The artifacts and models trace the history of Edinburgh.

Museum of Childhood

It is some what similar to Doll museum in Delhi. There are toys and games of all kinds from many parts of the world. Ananya went berserk with joy on seeing so many of her favorite items (which include dolls, teddy bears, train sets and cycles). It was very difficult for me to keep her under control and she doesn't lend an ear to her father's soft don't-do-it pleas. The museum is a treat for "young" adults also.

We had time to explore only these two museums, but there Edinburgh is a treasure for history lovers. There are 'People's Story', Writer's Museum, Lauriston Castle, The Brass Rubbing Centre, Queensferry museum, Newhaven Heritage Museum.

The Royal Mile

The Royal mile is the backbone of the Old Town of Edinburgh and no other part of Edinburgh is as rich in folklore and historic significance as this ancient street. Some of the most popular attractions in Edinburgh can be found here. Sightseeing the Royal Mile should be done at a leisurely pace mainly because there are many sights to take pictures of and stories to learn about at every step but also because it's going uphill.

Princess Street

One of Edinburgh's most famous attractions is the Scott Monument right on Princess Street. The monument dedicated to Sir Walter Scott is one of the most recognizable tall buildings in the city. The entire length of the north side of Princes Street is crowded with shops. The south side has Princes Street Gardens and is an excellent vantage point for admiring the Old Town, Castle Rock and Edinburgh Castle.

Advice

The cheapest food to find on Princes Street is from any of the 3 Gregg's bakeries on Rose Street, the street that runs parallel with Princes Street or in Marks and Spencer. There are also many affordable pubs and cafes on this pedestrian Edinburgh Street.If you're mainly interested in sightseeing and taking pictures, walk along the south side of Princes Street, the one with the gardens, to avoid the shoppers.

Then there's Calton Hill at the heart of the city with stunning views over Princes Street, the Old Town and Edinburgh Castle. Advice: Avoid going on Calton Hill after lunchtime if you want to take pictures of Princes Street and the Castle because the sun is in front of you at that time of the day. You can see all of the Edinburgh Centre from Calton Hill: North Bridge, Old Town, the Hub, Ramsay Gardens, Edinburgh Castle, Princes Street, and further to the right, St Andrew's Square

Edinburgh Castle

I was amazed to hear that Edinburgh castle is built on extinct volcano.Few visitor destinations around the world can pride themselves with such an amazing historical attraction at the heart of the very compact Edinburgh City Centre but even fewer can say that their number one attraction sits on an extinct volcano. Like Tower Bridge of London, this castle was also used as a prison and Queen Mary was imprisoned here.

Advice

In summers the best time to visit and explore the castle is around 9.00 am. You should be able to have the exploring to your heart's content and attend the one o clock gun ceremony. For taking photos, midday should be avoided because at this time the sunlight is at its strongest and shadows are harsh. Go first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon. The Castle is an impressive fortress waiting to be explored, a hub of history and has splendid views of Edinburgh.

The view from the castle gives visitors a chance to appreciate Edinburgh's geological variety: hills, sea and extinct volcanoes as well as its man-made skyline.

Where to stay

Edinburgh is an expensive city, so prices are quite high. Some of the areas outside the City Centre such as Newington, Morningside, Tolcross, Stockbridge or Haymarket are a tourist's dream in terms of choice. It takes 10 minutes by bus to reach Edinburgh's centre. The city has very good public transport system so it is better to compromise on accommodation.

What to do

Edinburgh Festival, which is a collection of many arts festivals and Hogmanay celebrations are kind of mascots of Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Festival has its base in Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) which was established in 1947 to heal the wounds of the war. The Edinburgh Festival is actually a number of events which take place in July and September every year.

Hogmanay is the New Year in Scotland. In Edinburgh, Hogmanay spans into four days of Winter Festival that takes place in December end. Thousands of people participate in the torch procession from the Edinburgh Old Town to Calton hill.Night afroe Fiesta is a street carnival with themes changing every year. There's music, dance and street theatre in a carnival atmosphere.

Interesting Facts

• The One o'clock Gun in Edinburgh Castle fires every day at exactly One o'clock except on Sundays.
• Edinburgh was the first city in the world which had its own fire-brigade.
• It was built on seven hills, like Rome.
• One of the most popular cures for baldness in the 17th century Edinburgh was the application of the burnt ashes of dove's dung.
• The first McDonald's restaurant opened for business in 1952 in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh was once a prison for sailors from different countries back in the 18 and 19th century. This included some high named people’s people such as some crewmen that sailed with John Paul Jones, who was the founder of the American Navy. Some of their handmade ships and other belongings can be found displayed in the Prisoners of War exhibition.

Some other fine attractions you can find at the Edinburgh is the Honors of the Kingdom exhibition, this tells the story of Scotland’s Crown Jewels which were saved from Cromwell. These jewels became some of the oldest surviving regalia in Europe. It also has the famous Stone of Destiny that was taken to Westminster Abbey back in the year 1296. However 700 years later the stone was returned back to Scotland.

There are so many great things, historical things, to be seen at the Edinburgh Castle. Some of the most surprising might be the One O’clock Gun, which you can see on display in the history of time guns and timekeeping exhibit. Once standing proudly on the castle ramparts but now lies in its on exhibit is the huge seize cannon Mons Meg. Of course don’t forget the National War museum, where you can find uniforms and equipment that soldiers used as they marched into battle on different lands other than their own. You can see many wonderful historical valuables dating back to the 17th and early 18th century. The Battle of Culloden flags are also on display. One of the most complete collections of uniforms however would be from the French revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.

One of the oldest buildings is St. Margaret’s Chapel, which dates back to the 1100’s. I bet that is gorgeous to see. Dating back to the 15th century, will find that the principal courtyard “Crown Square” is still standing. Built by James IV, the great hall makes a fine place to visit. Another wonderful place to see is the Half Moon Battery which was created in the 16th century.

For all you memorial lovers who stand proud of all those who have died protecting what they love, please do not forget to stop by the Scottish National War museum which was added after the first World War. Please pay your respects to those who wore the uniforms and the weapons once upon a time in the 17th and 18th centuries. Without these soldiers we would not have such a wonderful place to come to and see all the glorious history the Edinburgh has to offer.