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Deacon William Brodie is one of Edinburgh's most colourful, and most famous, characters. Born in the 18th century, Brodie was a respected Edinburgh citizen by day, even becoming a town councillor. However, at night this was far from the case - Brodie was also a prolific burglar. He was eventually arrested and was executed in 1788 - ironically on a set of gallows that he himself had designed. Unrepentant to the last, Brodie's Will contained the facetious remark "I recommend to all rouges, thieves and gamblers to take care of theirs by leaving all wicked practices and becoming good members of society". Edinburgh has a long reputation of being a town of contrasts and Brodie is regarded by many as the embodiment of this. It is also sometimes claimed that he was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's most famous novel - The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Despite his dubious reputation, there is now a small close off the Lawnmarket stretch of the Royal Mile named after him - Brodie's Close - where the burglar is alleged to have lived. Robert Burns is probably Scotland's most famous writer. His birthday, on the 25th January, is celebrated by Scots all over the world as Burns' Night.
Burns was born in 1759 in the village of Alloway just south of Ayr. The son of a poor farming family he was destined to be a ploughman. However the local school inspired his love of literature and he soon began writing himself. Despite being born in Ayr, Burns is intrinsically linked with the city of Edinburgh. He first arrived in the city in 1787 at the age of 28 where he planned to make a living from writing. However, whilst he was successful at first, it soon became apparent that his writing alone wouldn't support him so he became a customs officer. He died in 1796 of a heart attack aged just 37. Burns' most famous work is the poem Auld Lang Syne, sung the world over on New Year's Eve. And another well known poem is his Address to a Haggis, now an intrinsic part of Burns' Night celebrations.
In Edinburgh there is a Burns Memorial located at the end of Regent Road on Calton Hill. Designed by Thomas Hamilton in the style of a Greek temple, it was built in the 1830s nearly 50 years after his death.
It was in 1853 that this building, also known as the Outlook Tower, was first converted into a huge "camera" whereby images of the surrounding city are projected onto a viewing table below - and visitors have been flocking to see it ever since. Today there is also a running commentary to go with the images and an accompanying exhibition on the history of photography and holography. And there is also a viewing platform, which allegedly gives some of the best views of the city.
The Camera Obscura is open daily, but times vary according to the time of year so check in advance for opening hours. Entry costs around £3.50 for adults. The Royal Mile is the road that runs between the Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. One of the oldest streets in the city, it grew up as a vital thoroughfare between the two most important buildings in early Edinburgh, the Castle and Holyrood Abbey.