A Brilliantly Layered City

Despite having been to Edinburgh numerous times before, today was the first time I’ve climbed up to Carlton Hill. Perhaps even more surprising is that my dad had never made the trip, despite living in Edinburgh for over twenty years.

It truly is an old, majestic city, bursting at the seams with character and a magical charm. From atop the hill, the Firth of Forth spreads as far as the eye can see in one direction. In another, the impossibly carved figure of Arthur’s Seat watches over the city. Then looking back from where you came illustrates the perfect dichotomy of new and old Edinburgh.

The crazy thing is that the new town here predates most residential buildings in Australia entirely. The Georgian era doesn’t strike me as new, but I suppose that’s what makes Edinburgh special.

One small quirk I haven’t been able to get over is just how well certain landmarks and symbols are framed by key streets. I turned around at a random point on our walk to Stockbridge, and right there was striking, narrow gothic facade and red-stained windows of The Hub, perfectly squared between straight rows of old flats. Or St Mary’s Cathedral splitting the middle of Princes Street exactly, as viewed from Carlton Hill.

It’s all a marvel. In architecture, city planning, and history. It makes Edinburgh like no other city on Earth. I love it.