Edinburgh is not so famous for its industrial areas, the likes of this processing plant in Leith balance a widespread image of Georgian terraces and reclining philosophers, such...
...as the above, a truly bizarre modern tribute to David Hume; Scotland's, not Rome's, greatest and most original thinker, another...
This page takes a stroll around Edinburgh. The steps have no systematic form or consistent direction - except to offer a citizen's view of his hometown.
...modern tribute to mediocrity was the St. James Centre, (above) reviled since...
...its creation in the early 70s, was finally put out of its misery four years ago. Across the road, at Greenside, these giraffes stand on the site of the 13 story tenements, of world architectural significance, that the council demolished at the time of the building of the St James Centre...
...which takes us to the zoo, a version of such institutions that at least has the merit of allowing animals to be seen from outside its boundaries in reasonable conditions
Maybe these three oryx, and their beautiful horns, are not so enamoured of these conditions. However, they are creatures adapted to harsh environments with a wide geographical range
And so to a creature better adapted to our climate: Greyfriars Bobby is probably Edinburgh's most famous animal, touching the hearts of...
...millions of visitors in return for having his nose kept clean by myriad hands; in the same manner as Hume's right toe above
When it comes to statues of humans, Edinburgh has a superfluity:
Playfair, outside the
Chambers Museum,
one of the key architects of the New Town, is amongst Edinburgh's multitudinous memorials. Less conventional, and very un-puritanical...
...is the naked figure of the boxer Anthony Hall known as the 'Golden Boy' which tops Old College's dome; here through a (modesty) glass darkly
...Proudly, James Clerk Maxwell, educated in the city, before his illustrious career outwith Edinburgh
Heraldic statuary guards the 'Meadows' which provides a fine space...
...available for sport and leisure - the apparent bird is his boomerang. The backdrop is formed by The Crags and
Arthur's Seat
Monochrome statues need a counterbalance,
here provided by the green grocery
displays near the Meadows...
Daffodils supply a duo-chrome below the Bank of Scotland headquarters, but across the rail line...
...and a slide on its children's play area
...in
Princes Street Gardens,
another 'proudly' presents in full colour
The display of crocuses in the Meadows, joined by...
...a rainbow in Bonnington...
...and duller suburbs need their voice too
But there is promise in dawn light on Leith Walk, as this weary drinker wends slowly homewards
Left, a High Street Close, as lights inveigle winter's gloom, and Scott's Monument becomes an outline. Below, in the cold winds the tenements huddle closer along the canal. Left, however, the lightness of the snow, and the entertainments at the King's Theatre, both lift spirits
A fitting finish for a fine city: the celebrated view from beside Salisbury Crags, as dusk settles
Trailers...
The next page
of this section has a parallel miscellany; this time from
Hà Nội.
The next page
of the Mosaic Section is headed 'Glade'.
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