Unicorn gate post – Holyrood Palace
The Lion and the Unicorn – Holyrood Palace
Since so many people seem to like my photos of Edinburgh, I’ve decided to do a regular Tuesday post called Tuesdays Taste of Edinburgh. Today’s collection was all taken at Holyrood Palace, at the foot of the Royal Mile.
Front door, Holyrood Palace
Front Face – Holyrood Palace
Mythical beasts abound, and the whole area is peppered with unicorns, crowns and deer, everywhere you look. I love that my country’s symbol is a fierce magical beast, who can only be tamed by a gentle maiden. No wonder I have a vivid imagination.
Royal Unicorn – Holyrood Palace
Royal street lamp – Holyrood Palace
It’s amazing to think of the famous feet which have walked these cobbles before me. History has literally poured out from this ancient centre of Royal power, and so have the myths and tales of magic. The Palace sits on the site of the even older Holyrood Abbey…I will take some photos of this another day…and the spot was chosen because the king, while hunting in the Royal Park stumbled upon a stag with a golden cross shining out from between his antlers. Magic sits just beneath the skin of the land here, seeping out unnoticed through the cracks and pores.
Goldilocks Gate house – Holyrood Palace
Rapunzel’s Twin Towers – Holyrood Palace
Great photos! I love it when even the street lights wear crowns.
Yes all very regal, and I imagine these crowned lights having rights which your everyday streetlight can only dream of 🙂
I love the shots of the chimney pots and such a great sky day you chose for these shots.
The palace looks wonderful against the moody skies.
What a wonderful idea to share photos of your magnificent city with us every week. I look forward to all of your posts, but will especially anticipate the Tuesday posts. Thanks for sharing with all of us!
Con regard,
Athena
Oh I’m so happy you like the idea of the Tuesday post. I thought it would give me a good reason to keep taking my camera to different bits of Edinburgh. This blog give me such good motivation to keep taking pictures, and sharing them with everyone is so much fun 🙂
gorgeous shots!!!
and thank you for stopping by my space/blog!!
Thanks, glad you liked them 🙂
Loving the dramatic skies, they add so much contrast to the historic buildings and mythical undertones 🙂
Thanks Carl. The skies were quite dramatic yesterday. We went from sunshine to a snow storm in what felt like the blink of an eye, and just before the snow fell we got that lovely dramatic backlighting…couldn’t have planned it better!
Majestic old buildings, love to visit someday! Beautiful photos, Mackenzie!
Looking forward to the new Tuesdays Taste of Edinburgh 🙂
Thanks so much for your enthusiasm. That’s what drives me out, even in the snow to capture new photos 🙂
May I ask if you are a native of these places? I cannot imagine what it feels like to simply live surrounded by such history and such beauty… I only “know” Edinburgh from 44 Scotland Street, and always wondered if it was the skill of the writer or is this city truly such a powerful place of beauty…
Yup born and bred native of Edinburgh, but I never take the place for granted, it’s just too beautiful 🙂 The history and the stories sort of creep in under your skin, and the place is so full of colourful characters!
Regarding not taking things for granted – it is an amazing thing, I grew up in a big mining town with no wild life to speak of, not even a zoo. My son, however, is growing up thinking it is absolutely normal for deer, racoons, squirrels, large cranes and small bunnies to wonder randomly into his backyard. Moreover on weekends we often go to the local amusement park, where we take a small train through a wilderness area where he sees giraffes, zebras and other large animals within a hands reach, without any fences. I am always afraid if we ever have to move back up north, he will start asking me where are his deer and giraffes. He definitely takes all these miracles of nature for granted now! 🙂
Aw but be sounds as though he’s still very little. We adapt, and appreciate as we age 🙂
He is very little and I am sure he will be OK. 🙂
I just love the historical architecture shots.
That’s great to hear. I plan to post more of these sort of photos from different parts of Edinburgh each week…so keep checking back 🙂
Holyrood is one of my must visit places next time I get back to Edinburgh – somehow I’ve just never managed to get there! Thanks for reminding me 🙂
My pleasure, I suppose its a little off the very central core of things to do, but if you combine it with a walk on Arthur’s Seat, or a visit to Dynamic Earth, or the Scottish Parliament, or even the Queens Gallery and tea rooms, it makes a nice wee package 🙂
“Magic sits just beneath the skin of the land here, seeping out unnoticed through the cracks and pores” Gorgeously stated. Beautiful pictures. I long to experience the history of Scotland…one day, one day…till then I shall live vicariously through your Tuesday posts.
It will be my pleasure to bring Edinburgh to you every Tuesday…and the rest of Scotland in my other posts 🙂
Nice, should be an interesting series 🙂
Thanks, I hope people will enjoy looking as much as I enjoy shooting the pictures 🙂
Good idea to post more from Edinburgh too – love it!
Glad you like the idea Ann-Christine 🙂
stunning, and the lowering sky adds just the right extra texture…
Thanks! That lowering sky was a snow storm sweeping in. The temperature plunged and we were swirled back into winter…I took a few more shots but then hurried back to the warmth and dry of indoors 🙂
Keep those pics coming…. it looks like I will be flying into Edinnburgh during my summer trip and looking forward to visit these amazing pieces of architecture, remnants from a long tradition…
Glad I’m wetting your appetite for all things Scotland 🙂 there is just so much history that sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. By summer hopefully things will have warmed up a little, it’s still so cold at the moment .
My favourite city; the place I was born. Sadly I now live on the other side of the world and don’t visit often enough, so I appreciate your photos. Thank you, they’re lovely.
I’m very happy to bring you little snap shots of our shared homeland. It’s unbelievably cold here at the moment though, so photos are a great way to see the sights! Today while I walked around taking these shots it was snowing on and off.
Thank you; I’ve been getting weather reports from my mum in England and a cousin in Kirkcaldy. Much as I do miss Scotland, I guess I don’t miss the winters.
Edinburgh is my favorite city in all the world and you’ve captured it beautifully in word and picture! It truly is a magical, powerful place – you can feel it in the air. My husband and I will be moving to Edinburgh in July. We are beside ourselves with excitement!
Im so glad you can feel the magic too! No wonder you’re excited. I’m sure you will love living here, it’s such a beautiful city with so many places to explore. If you check back each Tuesday you will see more bits of the city to look forward to 🙂 Are you moving for work or pleasure?
We worked in Europe for many years and have owned a flat in Edinburgh for 15 years. Now we’re retiring and will split our time between Edinburgh, mainland Europe, and the US. Good times. 🙂
Great photos – we look forward to moving to Scotland (Perth) this summer. Your blog makes it all the more fun to anticipate.
Thanks, glad you’re enjoying a sneak preview. Perth and Perthshire are so beautiful. Are you moving for work or pleasure?
You’re lucky to live in a place with such history … I’m envious. D
I love the layers of history, and all the stories, and I feel lucky everyday 🙂