Hello Hello Hivians
A walk and a history lesson and perhaps an educated guessing game if you accompany me today.
I grew up in Edinburgh and would pass by all that you are going to see in this post on a daily basis.
Being Christmas we have to start with a few shots from the building where this soldier is stationed outside.
Do you recognise the soldier?
Nutcracker ballet
He is of course from Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, The Nutcracker which debuted in 1892 and is set on Christmas Eve. As the nutcrackers came to life they become synonymous with the Christmas holidays.
It does guard a good looking building but I think pride of place goes to the two reindeer who guard the building next door!
The former Linen Bank now The Gleneagles Townhouse
The Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland is located in a former branch of the British Linen Bank, which was later the Bank of Scotland.
It is located at 37-39 St Andrew Square, in the New Town Conservation Area of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site
Designed by David Bryce and Alexander Handyside Ritchie the building was built in 1846.
The bank closed in 2016 and the following year Gleneagles bought it. I think it was late 2021 it opened as a fluffing posh hotel!
It is now guarded at Christmas anyway by a pair of golden reindeer.
For me though you need to look up....
The six Corinthian columns
The building has six Corinthian columns that support statues representing Navigation, Commerce, Manufacture, Science, Art, and Agriculture
How did you get on?
I did say there was going to be an educational guessing game!
Did you match up all 6 statues to what they represent?
Now though we are taking a gentle stroll down the hill to Princes St.
In the distance you can see Arthur's Seat which is actually an extinct ancient volcano.
But today we are looking at the manmade tall structures in Edinburgh.
The Christmas market is in full flow now.
I have absolutely no idea what the thing is called the wheeks the people up and spins them round and round.
But they get a cracking view of Edinburgh Castle if they aren't too scared to look that is!
Together with that modern day ride, the Sir Walter Scott monument is flanked by a big heel.
This year was a big year.
200 years ago Sir Walter Scott was one of the founders of my old school The Edinburgh Academy. We pretty much read all his works at school.
I think Ivanhoe is probably his greatest novel. Have any of you bookworms read any of stuff?
It was a gorgeous day and I actually was heading down this picture.
But you have to be careful of the fluffing trams. It was a project that cost a fortune and I didn't see the need for it.
When my father went to school here there were trams, when I did there wasn't.
Some numpty decided it would be good idea to bring some back. Mega money mega delays and mega frustration to residents and shopkeepers for the years of lost business as the streets were dug up!
Yes this was where I was going, to Calton Hill. Do you know the two structures that you can see in distance?
If you do, then can you name the third much bigger building that is on the hill but obscured by the buildings on the left?
Wait a minute - Do you see the time?
It was rapidly approaching midday and I know it is winter time, but Calton Hill gets crowded with toursists and I wanted to try and avoid the worst of the crowds!
Catch ya later.
I hope you managed to get out for a few walks this week!
Winter is here and this post is an entry to Winter is coming 🥶🥶🥶 - and with it the Worldmappin Winter Challenge 🥳🥳
This is also a post to participate in the #wednesdaywalk initiative from the wonderful @tattoodjay
Thanks for visiting and enjoy the rest of your day!
All images and ramblings are from me, the mad Scotsman TengoLoTodo and pictures were taken with my Google Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone. Note the lead image designed by the author on Canva.
@tengolotodo December 11th 2024
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Awesome thanks guys and Merry Christmas to you all 🎄🎅
Hey @tengolotodo you are welcome.
Thanks for using @worldmappin 😘
Ah man, I love Sir Walter Scott. Ivanhoe is one of my favorite books of all time. My nephew would love that nutcracker too!
Ah it is a classic, and I still read it from time to time. The nutcracker was pretty cool too!
That's a long book to just casually read!
Hehe I speed read so not as long as it could be!
No worries!
Wow, those Christmas decorations are lovely boss boss 👍
Hehe I think so too, are you getting the honey pot decorated for Christmas?
those Corinthian columns are impressive
I love the Nutcracker decorations i saw some on the front porch of a house here that I drove past this morning, would have stopped and got photos of them but it was pouring down with rain maybe another day
Thanks for joining the Wednesday Walk
have a great day
Yeah I love the Corinthian columns, they just give something a touch of class and elegance.
Ah that gives you an excuse to go back when it is not raining and take some photos.
Thanks Jay and enjoy the rest of your day.
you to have a good day
and yes I must try and get out one evening and get some shots of the christmas decorations around here
Educational games here on Hive, now I have a headache! lol So what is the tower right of the building you were referring to?
I came out scratched in almost all the riddles!!! If it had been a competition, I would have arrived behind the ambulance. I have the idea that if I lived in a country with so many huge buildings, I would be looking up at the sky always . You know what? I suffer from vertigo and I think riding in those “flying chairs” would get on my nerves. hahaqjaja. Greetings, my friend
Jeje I loved your phrases...
For example ....
Ah you have vertigo, yes then maybe we would not go on the "flying chairs"!
Thank you my friend and I hope you are having a wonderful sleep 😴💙
I was wondering,which is which? 😁. Still a great place and history.
Christmas is in the air! Advance Merry Christmas, Ed.
Do you have any plans? getaway or something?
Hiya, @glecerioberto here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2407.
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