The waves crashed against the cliff's side as the wind pounded
on the door like a stranger begging to get in. The young princess looked out her window of Dunnottar Castle and
prayed the ship made it into the harbor. She could just make out the vessel, it
bobbed like a tiny cork among the giant waves of the storm. Her stomach dropped
with every lurch of the ship, even though she stood on solid ground. That
ship carried her love, there would be no
peace until she was in his arms again.
Ok, the writer in me had to do that. Today, I visited my
very first castle... first castle EVER... like in my entire life. And like most
people (especially we women who have very romantic notions of castles) I was in
awe. It didn't hurt that this particular castle, Dunnottar Castle, has been on
my Bucket List for as long as I can remember. I have seen stunning picture
after stunning picture of this splendid feature and it still doesn't do the
"live" version justice.
Dunnottar Castle
Picture copywrited by Jennifer McMurrain
Ok, Jennifer's gonna sound strange alert: I see dead people.
No, that's not true, I don't see dead people. In fact, I
don't want to see dead people. Pretty sure if I saw a ghost now (I saw one as a
child) I'd pee my pants and run screaming so loud the locals would believe a
banshee was present.
I don't see them, but I feel them. I know when one is
present. This is happened to me on a number of occasions, but nothing has felt
as strong as when I walked into the dungeon of Dunnottar Castle.
The Dungeon
Picture copywrited by Jennifer McMurrain
Just walking in there I was absolutely terrified and to be
completely honest I didn't know it was the dungeon until I left. The sign said
"Warden's Office" for some reason I was thinking more along the lines
of some type of official, like a school warden, not a prison warden.
The feeling that comes over me is hard to explain, but this
time I also had physical symptoms... my stomach dropped and I felt a bit
queasy, my legs turned to jelly as I felt extreme pressure in my head. A huge
part of me wanted to look around the room, not for ghosts, but just in general,
but I couldn't. I literally took a few pics and left. There is something in
that room and it is evil. Not bad, not tortured, not Casper the friendly
ghost... EVIL.
It took a good 10 to 15 minutes saying prayers in the sun
before I felt better. And yes I prayed, the last thing I wanted was something
following me home. And yes I believe that happens, too. I told you, weird
Jennifer alert.
The tour of the rest of the castle was pretty uneventful,
until I walked into the brewery. Again I felt I was not alone. But this was not
an evil presence as the one in the dungeon.
The Brewery
Picture copywrited by Jennifer McMurrain
I've look through all my pictures and didn't see anything
paranormal. But there is no doubt that Dunnottar Castle is full of history,
both pleasant and evil and history has a way of lingering...
Wigg's Vault
Picture copywrited by Mike McMurrain