Saturday 2 June 2007

Town Mouse - Country Mouse

I love living in Edinburgh, it's a small city (though expanding steadily since the new Scottish Parliament was established). There are lots of local neighbourhoods, such as Stockbridge, Morningside, Marchmont, that have their own character and good numbers of small independent food stores and second hand shops. Also in the tradition of Scottish cities, people live in the city centre, we live a five minute walk from Princes Street, the main shopping street and only a minute away from Haymarket Railway Station. I love the cinemas (especially Filmhouse), theatres and galleries of Edinburgh which make it feel culturally a much bigger city than it is. There are lots of parks, such as the Meadows, Bruntsfield Links and Princes Street Gardens, so the city doesn't feel too built up. There are also wonderful walks to be had along the River Almond and The Water of Leith, it's not unusual to see kingfishers here, and herons, dippers, grey wagtails. Along the Firth of Forth, to the north of the city, there are areas where you can walk and see a variety of wading birds including oyster catchers and curlews. Within Edinburgh there are the wonderful open spaces of Corstorphine Hill and Arthur's Seat, with their wildlife and landscape. Then outside Edinburgh its not far to the Pentland Hills! So its an ideal place for someone like me who is both a town mouse and a bit of a country mouse at heart!

Town Mouse, Country Mouse for Sunday Scribblings

38 comments:

Betty Carlson said...

My very first trip to Europe was to Scotland -- Aberdeen, to be exact! I was 16 and it was one of the most exciting times of my life.
I went for a music festival and next year my daughter may be going to Scotland with her lycée music group. The wheel turns...

Kamsin said...

I'd totally love to visit Edinburgh some day. Despite being 1/4 Scottish I've only been north of the border twice and both times were for week long conferences, so I never really got to see the country!

Anonymous said...

The view from your window is spectacular. Thanks for the tour of your home, it sounds like a wonderful place to live.

Rose

xo

Anonymous said...

Yes, I like the town and country aspect. We must live nearish each other, we are a minute from Princes Street and 5 minutes from Haymarket.

spacedlaw said...

Sounds like a great place.
I must come and see it one day (It's not that far after all).
N.

Karen Travels said...

This place sounds lovely - I need to come for a visit. Someday I would love to do England, Scottland and Ireland all in a summer.

Someday.

sundaycynce said...

I spent about 24 hours in Edinburgh, probably 6 or 7 years ago. It was an extension of a trip with students. Edinburgh is far too lovely a place to spend such a short time. I guess the idea is to give us a taste to make us want to come back. I surely hope I will make it back again some day with lots more time to explore.

Demetrius said...

I absolutely adore Edinburgh and can't think of a better example in the world of a city and people who have so graciously managed to balance the beauty of nature and the vibrancy of urban life.

Rethabile said...

Never been to Scotland, but have a friend who always brings back Xmas cake the way I like it: lots of icing.

Regina said...

We loved Edinbourgh when we were there- and Arthur's Seat- wow! It was a very cosy city indeed!

Jennifer/The Word Cellar said...

I spent a year living in London and visited my friend in Edinburgh for Hogmanay. It was a lovely city. Of course, any place with a castle seems to be interesting. (At least to an American!) We then drove up to the Highlands (in the dead of winter!) and the raw, brutal beauty of that landscape just blew me away. I felt something deep and ancient up there and often think of returning. I desperately want to get to the Hebrides.

Anonymous said...

I really want to come visit Edinburgh some day, follow some family roots.

I'm really lucky because I live in a similar place, a little smaller and less of a history, but a nice offering of a lot of things. It's a lucky mouse that can have it's cake and eat it too....

Shelley said...

The Firth of Forth? That's the coolest name... if it didn't exist in the real world, someone surely would have had to make it up!

Lovely.

Anonymous said...

When I see the bird names the only thing that pops into my head is 'kingfisher? which kingfisher? is it the same as MY kingfisher? etc. etc. etc.

Patois42 said...

How blessed you are to have all of that right at your steps. Sounds simply delightful.

Clare said...

Edinburgh sounds like a really nice place to live and I enjoyed reading about it. It sounds beautiful.

The Magical Rose Garden said...

Sounds like the best of both worlds, all right!

Rob Kistner said...

Sounds wonderful Juliet -- just wonderful. ;)

gautami tripathy said...

It seems you have best of both! Thanks for giving us insights into Edinburgh.

megan said...

Sounds like a happy mix of town and country. Glad you wrote this. My thinking about this post was more exclusive; i.e., that in choosing one, we lose the other. Your view cheers me.

sage said...

thanks for the tour of your town--I hope to visit scotland someday

Unknown said...

I've never been to your little bit of the world. I'd love to but not in the winter!
Can someone explain to me what the Firth of Forth is?

Christy Woolum said...

You do have the best of both worlds. I would love to visit Scotland someday.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Thanks for all your comments! Rose - yes we like our view too, though the photo os only part of the view!

Katherine - yes we must live near each other!

Mike - I am exactly the same when I see bird names!

Sarala - Firth is the Gaelic or possibly Scots word for estuary, though it extends further than the actual estuary. Sorry, I am tryign to get into the habit of adding links or explanations where things may not be recognisable or understandable to non Scots. Sorry that in this case I failed!

awareness said...

Edinburgh is one of my all time favourite cities.......and it's been a long time since i visited. thanks for the little tour.....and your perspective on your city with some country in it.

January said...

Sounds like the perfect place for both a town and country mouse! Once of these days I'll have to visit Scotland--sounds amazing!

Clockworkchris said...

What a fantatic description! I have always wanted to visit Scotland. I think it's because of those Highlander movies I watched as a child, but that isn't important. You really know where you live and I liked hearing the names of all the places. There is so much language that I would never hear in all of your writing; "Firth of Forth," "The Water of Leith," "Arthur's Seat." Thanks for this exciting venture into Edinburgh.

Kerstin said...

I imagine living in Edinburgh to be similar to Bath. Both beautiful cities with lots of history and cultural offerings, surrounded by gorgeous countryside. I have fond memories of Edinburgh and you are lucky to be living in such a wonderful place; your post summed up perfectly all the things I love about city living :)

Tammy Brierly said...

Sounds like a beautiful place to be.

longspider said...

Edinburgh sounds just as gorgeous as I imagine it to be. Would love to visit sometime, as I too am ''a town mouse and a bit of a country mouse at heart'' :)

I miss European cities where people still actually live in the city center. Over here, at least in middle America, that is very unusual these days. Downtown Tulsa is nothing but business, it completely shuts down after 5pm.

kikare said...

i was in Edingburgh for a few days some years ago, and i really like the fact that the city is so close to nature. i will never forget the sensation i felt when i turned a corner down town and saw a huge mountain in front of me. that felt awesome.

Inconsequential said...

:)
Thanks for the visits.

I'm sure My ending will make a lot of people smile....

Molly said...

I've been myself, many years ago, just after seeing the Highland Games. Gorgeous place.

Anonymous said...

So nice to see Edinburgh through your eyes.
My mother was Irish and my father Italian.
I grew up only knowing the Italian side.
When I finally get myself across the water I want to go to Ireland & Scotland first!
Take care,
Frances

Anonymous said...

So nice to see Edinburgh through your eyes.
My mother was Irish and my father Italian.
I grew up only knowing the Italian side.
When I finally get myself across the water I want to go to Ireland & Scotland first!
Take care,
Frances

tricia stirling said...

i loved my very brief visit to edinburgh. the only thing i didn't like was the brevity, and leaving!

Lucy said...

Edinburgh sounds like home sweet home. nice post and view!

Anonymous said...

Edinburgh sounds like a quite lovely place! Maybe even a place a traveling mouse like I would enjoy.