WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

Me-noo-oot-an-aboot; jus' cruisin'

400 year old, ten storeys on the Royal Mile! Dez Rez +++
As regular visitors will know, the YAMster often takes off from the hutch, over to Edinburgh.

Auld Reekie... the name given to it from the days of everybody burning coal fires. London had its 'peasoupers', Edinburgh had its 'reek' - smutty, smelly smoke, which clung to the winding streets and clustered buildings; much of the city's housing is in the form of tenement flats, several stories high. The original 'auld toon' buildings were mainly built in the early 17th century - yes, 400 years and still in use! It is probably my years of living in Edinburgh which engendered my great love of architecture.

The 'new town' is of mainly Georgian structures, but there are also some wonderful modern statements... not least the parliament building - which I have yet to visit! must remedy that. The 'old' is on the South side of Princes Street  and the 'new' on the North side. Princes Street itself is a bit of a mixed bag - not all of it good. The gardens themselves are, of course, a wonderful benefit to the city and one of the delights each year is to see what the flower clock is going to celebrate. 2016 is the centenary of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland!









Yes, look at that, the sun shone popped out just for the panoramic! Don't worry, it reverted to form half an hour later. These images were taken during my visit in July. Was headed for the magnificent Georgian-built Art Gallery.























Just the other side of this building, inside the garden boundaries stands this fellow;

John Wilson (1785- 1854) was a writer renowned for his many talents, rather than for a single literary work. A prolific man of letters, he was a critic, poet, reviewer and essayist. In addition, he was admired as a brilliant orator, and was also an accomplished sportsman from a young age. Indeed, he had a particular affinity with all things youthful, and was well-loved as a lecturer and teacher by his students. Even his physical appearance was impressive, with his flowing hair and athletic frame. A formidable personality with an intellect once described as gladiatorial, he made a significant contribution to public and literary life in Edinburgh.

(This information excerpted from Portal to the Past).

There will be more of these piccies on Tuesday.

10 comments:

  1. Wow, you did a fantastic job on the unique perspectives to get great photos!!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  2. Keep the pictures of your lovely country coming. It is keeping it on the top of the list for our next big trip:)

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  3. Golly now you have me Edinburgh dreaming. We really do want to get to Scotland and Ireland before we are too old.
    Sincerely TOGM

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  4. Good Day, YAM
    Did you get sunburned with all the sunshine? The clock is lovely. janice xx

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  5. I believe what you call tenement flats. We call subsidize housing, you pay a % of your income.
    But we could use more housing for low income.

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  6. 400 years old. That's older than anything that's still standing in the US. Wow.

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  7. A wonderful city. And you clearly had better weather than the couple of days I had at the Festival in August.
    Cheers!
    Gail.
    PS I once shared an office with a geologist called Heather Auld. On the office door we stuck a postcard saying 'Welcome to Auld Reekie'!

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  8. I had no clue that it was possible to build such giants houses that time... and it has something what stays in my memory :O)

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  9. Flats four hundred years old and still in use. Over here we have so many codes and regulations they would be torn down and what a waste all that beautiful architecture would be lost. The flower clock looks similar to the one in Nati. Lee likes a man with flowing hair that is why she got me I have a flowing beard and skirt.
    Thanks for being a friend
    Sweet William The Scot

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  10. I do love your language and your stories!!!

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