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| The dark and gothic Edinburgh skyline |
It is impossible to be in Edinburgh and not think of gothic horror stories. The skyline is hopelessly romantic, all dark tracery cut into stone towers jutting out over the city. Just being there sets the imagination off.
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| The Scott Monument, a Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott |
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| The Frankenstein Pub pays homage to Mary Shelley's classic gothic horror story |
You can see that Harry Potter might have been very different had JK Rowling written it in a cafe in London or Dublin instead of here.
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| The Elephant House cafe, beloved of authors, where Harry Potter was born. |
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| Diagon Alley in the Potter films |
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| Edinburgh is an enchanted gothic wonderland full of arches, crowns, Stags, Unicorns and spooky gates that beckon you inwards - if you dare. |
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| Doctor Who is represented in Edinburgh too |
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| I fell in love with the city. There are evenancient pink timbered houses! |
I've only ever gone through Edinburgh but this has made me want to go pay a visit. What an amazing place! x
ReplyDeleteI do think Scotland does gothic better than anyone else. All those wonderful castles - whenever I see a particularly amazing one it is usually Scottish. I simply can't believe I have reached the age I have and gone the places I have without ever yet going to Edinburgh. Should I save it for darkening evenings and autumn nights, or go in the summer, I wonder....
ReplyDeleteMy one time I stopped at Edinburgh was to come into the station, change platforms and onto the next train to London! I do remember looking up at the castle as the train pulled in and thinking - my goodness!! That's a castle and a half!!!
ReplyDeleteOne day I won't be in such a rush and will hopefully see all these wonderful places you've showcased here in gorgeous technicolour!! Take care
x
Our posts must have crossed! It is a castle and a half, and we've not seen it properly either. Sounds like we must all go and spend time there. x
DeleteYou two are soooo right - it is an amazing place, gothic bits and pieces at every turn, and I want to spend more time there very soon. It was freezing cold last week, and the grim grey weather added to the aura. I suspect it would be quite splendid in Autumn and less tourists, was very crowded on a Saturday. Minerva x
ReplyDeleteI have been to Edinburgh with my mother who was visiting me from Japan while I was still a postgraduate a long time ago. Handsome architecture with a steep hill. Unforgettable delicious and good priced salmon and steak! Glad to know that you had a good time despite cold weather!
ReplyDeleteWe found the food very good there also. And yes - that steep hill , ha ha! Minerva x
DeleteEnchanted indeed! A city I've always wanted to visit.
ReplyDeleteI've never crossed the border, shocking isn't it? I must go, Edinburgh looks gorgeous. x
ReplyDeleteI love Edinburgh! I've been there a few times and since my husband is English, I even know how to pronounce it!
ReplyDeleteI had the good fortune to go to Edinburgh a few years ago and I loved it! We also ended up going out to Rosslyn Chapel (you can take the bus there!!), which was spectacular, although they were doing some renovations to the outside at that time. My dream is to go back to Edinburgh and spend more time.
ReplyDeleteTilda, How funny, it sounds as if we may have been to Rosslyn at the same time. That scaffolding was a disappointment but did not dent the mystical magic of the place at all. We must return to see it now in it's splendour. Minerva x
DeleteIt is on my list, fascinating post
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your visit
Thea x
Sounds like we all wish to visit Edinburgh either to see it for the first time or to spend more time there - we should have a huge magical meet up!
DeleteMinerva x
I could totally LIVE inside your blog! I love everything 'Harry Potter'...I have read the series at least seven times through. I am a young soul in an ageless body. I am on Pottermore.com
ReplyDeleteOoops! I'll be back...I need to get a roast beef in the oven for dinner! My youngest son just reminded me!
Ta! Ta!
Teresa in California
http://amagicalwhimsy.blogspot.com/
Please come visit my blog!
Hello Teresa! Thank you for stopping by, and thank you for the kind comments, you are welcome to live in our blog with us if you like. ; ~ )
DeleteI will have to look up Pottermore.com and your blog too.
Minerva x
I certainly understand how you could fall under the enchantment of such a wonderful city - I'd love to visit!
ReplyDeleteOne day I am sure you will .... Minerva x
DeleteReally a wonderful gothic city and as I'm currently doing my phd in medieval literature, I love that kind of architecure
ReplyDeleteWell i didnt know Edinburgh looked like that, all Gothic and everything, what a great place, and a place i think Mr P and i need to see, good piccies.
ReplyDeleteIts good to be back in blog land.x
Pixie x
Oh what a lovely tour you have given us...MORE MORE please...
ReplyDeletehappy weekend wishes to you and yours
daisy j x
Hello, dear Minerva
ReplyDeleteAbout Pottermore.com
Ah...even J.K. Rowling herself is a member there, but she has kept her name a secret. After all she was the one who began the site for those of us who love all things Harry Potter. Pottermore.com is a fun place to continue the journey into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You can 'read' portions of all of the books along the way with virtual things to do, objects to collect, house points to win, duals to fight once you have been 'sorted' into one of the four houses of Hogwarts. After you answer questions about your witch or wizard inclinations, then you are sorted into a house. Since J.K. Rowling knows how the questions and answers sort you into a particular house, she sorted herself into Gryffindor. There is an excellent youtube video all about Pottermore.com and also a quite recently made video with J.K. Rowling and Daniel Radcliff talking all things 'Harry Potter', which was filmed in October 2012. A youtube.com search with J.K. Rowling with that date should show you where it can be viewed.
I do love the coast of California and the collectible stores that are so charming. It is nice you are in the kind of business you are in, a very wise choice and fun too.
I would love to come to Scotland, and especially Edinburgh. I used to have a pen pal years ago and should have kept up that correspondence. She was a nurse at the Nurses Home in Lancaster, Glascow and her name was Wilma Murray and was a niece of James McRoberts the acclaimed minister years ago. She would be in her late 60's or early 70's by now and a sweetheart of a lady.
Life is interesting. Such remarkable architecture to be seen in the U.K. just from these glorious photos you have shared. (I have never been to the U.K. but would love to!) There just isn't much here in the states with older structures, and just the mystic of the Celts and the ancient history that abounds in the U.K. is what fascinates me.
Have a grand rest of the weekend!
XO
Teresa in California
http://amagicalwhimsy.blogspot.com/
I have been reading Alexander McCall Smith's books recently, and lo and behold here is your wonderful post about Edinburgh! I am enthralled with your photos of this city.
ReplyDeleteITs been such a long time since I was last in Edinburgh and it really is due another visit. A long weekend is just the ticket this summer I think.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping into our Gatsby post. I hope you can join us again for our Naughty But Nice Petit Four Stand Giveaway which begins today.
Bon weekend!
Paul x
glad I'm not the only person who brings their gnomes indoors to keep them warm!! x
ReplyDeleteHa ha! I LOVE your Gnomes though .... mine is kind of sinister, I bring him in because otherwise he might cast a spell on us. x
DeleteDear Minerva,
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with Edinburgh instantly when I spent a month there in 2011. Such a lovely city - though I saw it a bit more cheerful as your great photographs show. Do you know the lovely book "The Silent Traveller in Edinburgh" by Chiang Yee? It is worth a glimpse!
Thank you Brigitta, I will look this up.
Deletex
Oh the enchantment is indeed magical. Thanks so much for sharing the lovely photos and information! Nor sure if something else juust went by as it say I just commenteed? ? But I did not so if I commented twice ... I had not finished and this is the comment I meant to send lol Hope your wekend was lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you Willow! x
DeleteOh my... just came back to visit your new post and popped in to see comments here. I do apologize for the garble of words I left above . My phone keys can get sticky and aggrevate me to no end. If I don't proof read when they stick then I do write quite a shamble or mish mash ... eek.
DeleteOnce again Edinburgh looks amazing .
Sorry for the previous garble
Great pictures but for me the city look a bit scary *smile*. Have a nice start to the week.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Elna, It is scary, but in the nicest possible way. x
DeleteOne of our favorite BBC shows is "Rebus" which takes place in Edinburgh. I see what you mean.
ReplyDeleteEdinburgh does have a deeply mysterious almost dangerous feel to it (not in a crime way, but in a spiritually challenging, passionate way) that makes it a stand out, remarkable city.
ReplyDeleteI visited Edinburgh many years ago. It was a stop on a tour so we never really got to explore it as much as we would have liked.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are wonderful especially the first one. Makes me want to go back and take the time to really see the city.
There is such a powerful allure to Edinburgh - and Scotland as a whole. I've yet to set foot in this beautiful country yet, but I do hope the gods of travel will see their way to lead me there one day so that I can follow in your footsteps and enjoy my own journey through Edinburgh.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs & a great many thanks for your terrifically nice comment on my vintage outfit post this week (it's always so lovely to hear when someone especially likes one of my ensembles),
♥ Jessica
Nice blog!! Thanks for sharing. Edinburgh
ReplyDelete