It is getting dark here in Germany, wet and grey with the shortening hours of daylight. Foggy, misty, ... Scottish!
I had spent lots of time in Edinburgh in the past years, where my sons went to boarding school during the final two years of their education. They had a great time, and so had I, visiting the Edinburgh area and the Fringe Festival which usually took place when their new term in August started. Looking through my archives though, in search of a "Scottish" grey damp atmosphere, I could not find a single misty dark picture. It seems the weather was always fine - or I have fallen into the amateur photographers' trap of only fixating the nice moments in life ...
For male readers, Ian Rankin's crime stories with Inspector Rebus might be more suitable: Edinburgh at its gruesome best and its dark grey mostly damp Scottish granite scenery. ...
Arthur's Seat, the hill next to Holyrood House which belongs to the Crown and is often in fog. Some of Rankin's murderers make use of this area.
more Scottish Poets:
I had spent lots of time in Edinburgh in the past years, where my sons went to boarding school during the final two years of their education. They had a great time, and so had I, visiting the Edinburgh area and the Fringe Festival which usually took place when their new term in August started. Looking through my archives though, in search of a "Scottish" grey damp atmosphere, I could not find a single misty dark picture. It seems the weather was always fine - or I have fallen into the amateur photographers' trap of only fixating the nice moments in life ...
... older sisters! ...
Edinburgh's Princes Gardens
On the Royal Mile
Sir Walter Scott Memorial
Calton Hill
I have been reading Diana Gabaldon's part historical part phantasy series "Outlander" set in Scotland. The books are wonderful for light reading at the pool in summer. And as the series has eight extremely thick volumes, they will last through several vacations. Which made my husband lament rather unnervedly that I had developed an unhealthy addiction to some unknown Scotsmen! I guess the books are for women: Which woman would not want to be like the heroine, an all-knowing, admired, progressive, modern doctor, much ahead of her time, who survives and travels between centuries, taking up all sorts of roles that we would like to try out, heals people with herbal medicines and sometimes self-grown Penicillin (think about it ! How likely is that ?!) ? And on top of that she experiences the greatest, truest love affair with her wedded rough-gentle red-haired Scot (Hm, maybe not ...).
Having read these books which play in the 18th century around the Jacobite risings, the Battle of Culloden and the loss of the clan system in Scotland, I can fully comprehend any Scottish desires for independence.
Having read these books which play in the 18th century around the Jacobite risings, the Battle of Culloden and the loss of the clan system in Scotland, I can fully comprehend any Scottish desires for independence.
the new Scottish parliament next to Holyrood House
For male readers, Ian Rankin's crime stories with Inspector Rebus might be more suitable: Edinburgh at its gruesome best and its dark grey mostly damp Scottish granite scenery. ...
more Scottish Poets:
Sir Walter Scott
" To all, to each, a fair good night, And pleasing dreams, and slumbers light."
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