Edinburgh’s Secrets
Everybody loves a good story. I, for one, am a fan of different sorts of stories. I would indulge in an exciting fiction but nothing beats real events. I have a very soft spot for juicy, incredible, and even scandalous accounts from history.
One story I couldn’t forget was a feature from History Channel about the secret “underworld” of Edinburgh. It explores the story and places that provided Robert Louis Stevenson with inspiration for his classic work Strange Case of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde. The documentary unfolds by exploring the two faces of the novel’s main character that was said to be a representation of the old and new Edinburgh. At that time the city was expanded to provide clean and decent residential and business districts for the middle-class. While a new Edinburgh was built, the old half of the city lingered in poverty and squalor.
The creepiest part comes when the feature reveals the underground tunnels that lead to a medical school where cadavers are bought for dissection. Many people were reported missing because of “body thieves” — murderers who prey on helpless victims whose bodies are sold to medical students or professors.
Of course, nowadays Edinburgh is among the most modern cities in the world and the aforementioned horrors were long buried in history. There is so much beauty in the city for tourists to relish. There are countless travel packages and hotels in Edinburgh city centre. As for me, the dark and gothic allure of Edinburgh’s past is a unique and irresistible magnet.
