Both views are from the Balmoral Hotel towards the Scott Monument, named after Sir Walter Scott. Sadly, the incredible plaza and gardens over the train station no longer have the same elegant design. The old view shows an existing tram system, which was decommissioned in 1956. Decades later, it was decided that maybe Edinburgh needed a new tram system. The recent photo shows the new tramline construction on the right, a project that has been underway since 2008 and angered citizens for a number of years with cost over runs and traffic delays.
Here's a view from the Scott monument toward the Balmoral Hotel.
And the approximate view today.
Edinburgh is such a beautiful city, with amazing green space so close to the city center. It's definitely a place I would like to visit again. Here's a link to the previous post on theses Edinburgh views and the tram system. And here's a link to information on history and progress of the tram system.
Here's a street sign in Edinburgh.
So much for progress! Those gardens must have been magnificent. Pleased to hear you timed your visit just right for the fine weather :)
ReplyDeleteI was scrolling through your postcards in google reader today, Christine, and came to "Changed Priorities Ahead" and suddenly wondered if you were changing something about your blog. Ha, ha. I had to go back and read everything you'd written just to see. That would be some way to announce it if you were. I was glad to see it was only a photograph of a sign. Of course, it does make me wonder how Edinburgh's priorities changed....
ReplyDelete"Changed Priorities Ahead" inspires an etegami. I'm going to keep this one on the back burner for a while...
ReplyDeleteHaving visited this lovely city twice, I very much agree - a wonderful place!!
ReplyDeleteThe first view over the 'new' plaza suggests that it might actually have some character, but sadly, on the ground it is clear that it is a real design failure. The bigger issue is that the 'old' version was an appropriate/integrated termination of the Prince's Gardens, the greenbelt which runs the entire length between the medieval Old Town with the castle on the hill on the left, and the 18th century New Town to the right. Apparently the city felt a subterranean visitor's center and shopping mall were a better use of the space than the original design, but perhaps they have recognized their mistake, as they are working on it again.... I don't think we ever figured out which 'priorities' were changing ahead, maybe they were just referring to the sunny weather!
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ReplyDeleteOne day I'll get there. My family originated from Leith South (north of Edinburgh)
ReplyDeleteLUV "changed priorities ahead"!! One of the countless joys of travel: learning how others do things, even if it's something as simple as how street signs are worded.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, our priorities worked out quite well! Great to spend time with you!
ReplyDeletexox
Susi from Germany