Here is this weeks collection of delightfully old Edinburgh buildings. They are scattered around the Holyrood area at the foot of the Royal Mile, and I took them last week before we headed off up north.
This area is one of the oldest parts of Edinburgh, and there are buildings from quite a few periods in history clustered closely together. It’s not hard to imagine ladies in long dresses swishing along these cobbles, and men with swords hanging from their sides striding through the doorways. There have also been a few notorious murders here in the past, the most well known was the assassination of Mary Queen of Scots first husband, Lord Darnley.
They had been unhappily married for four years, when his house was blown up, and he was found murdered in the garden. The Queen was implicated, but to me it reads of an obvious set up. I’m certain that had she wanted rid of her husband she could have found a more subtle approach to his demise. However as is the way, it was used as propaganda against her by those who coveted the power of the throne.
Lord Bothwell was probably responsible, and its likely he raped the Queen and then forced her to marry him. Power can bring out the worst in human nature, but I’m always left feeling so sad for beautiful Queen Mary who was not properly protected by her Lords because they were all too busy squabbling over power.
Tales like these pull us into the human drama of history, and remind us that for all our outward advances we are very little changed in our natures. The buildings echo with the sounds of the past as a reminder that emotions can drive us powerfully into behaviour which we might come to regret. Pausing and letting the emotions flow through and on can help to release us from what feels like a powerful grip. Breathing and thinking before acting can help us
breathofgreenair 
Spring is there! How lovely.
Oh I know, if only it would warm up a bit now 🙂
Beautiful photos for this part of the Edinburgh. Thank you for your the sharing the history. Queen Mary had such a sad life…
Glad you enjoyed the photos and the little bit of history. I find Queen Mary’s story fascinating…..but ultimately sad for what it says about human nature 🙂
i shall have to bring a gown to match, the day i come visit, so i can look like i belong in these streets and houses. and a flowy one for standing on top of mountains. 🙂
Oh you must, and you will look perfect, especially on top of mountains 🙂
thank you! i do try. 😛
it’s easy to look good on a mountain though.
Only if you have good taste and excellent poise 🙂
i do aspire to those things…you’ll have to tell me how i manage it. 😀
Seonaid, I love the photos and the bit of history. I’ve been interested in Scotland since I discovered the Melrose line in my father’s family history. I haven’t had a chance to go north yet. I will enjoy reading and seeing some of it through your blog until then.
Thanks for posting!
So glad you’re enjoying the blog and the photos. I’m sure you will eventually be tempted north of the border, and you will love what you find 🙂 Until then I’ll look forward to seeing you here on my blog! (Melrose is a beautiful place by the way)
Thanks for my wee dose of home!
My pleasure as always 🙂
Thanks. 🙂
Always enjoy reading your posts—informative and insightful. Beautiful pictures. The line “reminds us that for all our outward advances we are very little changed in our natures” hit me like a splash of cold water for being honestly true.
Thanks John, I’m also a fan of your short and insightful prose. I’m so glad you found my line refreshingly honest. I find the truth sets me free, even when it feels a little uncomfortable 🙂
Agree. And feeling uncomfortable is the nudge I sometimes need. Thanks for following BREVITY.
This Edinburgh seems very pretty.
I always love the name of that city because it reminds me on my name!
My cousin have name Edin so he always said that Edinburgh is “his” city!
Edin is very common Bosnian name! Eldin is not!
You know that the old name for Edinburgh is Dun Edin, which literally means Edin’s Fort, so I suppose your brother is right, it was his namesakes city. Edin was a mighty warrior who is mentioned in one of the oldest known British poem alongside King Arthur, and he and his warriors marched out of Edinburgh…..
Wow!
I will tell him that!
Thanks!
Ach ai the noo!
Lol….I’m sure you know that nobody actually says that 🙂
Except my friend William McCroock from Adgurh (or something like that) He told me that no one say it but him and his old gradpa who fought in WWII with “bloody krauts”
He wears kilt all the time and drink a lot. He is my very good friend!
He sounds like a wonderful character! Larger than life…..and that is certainly true of lots of Scots!
Oh yeah!
In Bosnia, there is a “RAKIJA” (homemade brandy with alcohol 50+) from every fruit that you can imagine (that grows in huge quantities in Bosnia) and there is one called Viljamovka (it sounds like William´s brandy) and he is always drinking that. Viljamovka is 62 C of alcohol! And he is always in the mood for more of that Viljamovka. (Google it!)
I must say that he is, as you say, “larger than life” and his son in called Odin Casagemas McCrook!
I have read the story of Mary, Queen of Scotland. It is truly a sad one as she never really had the chance to live a happy and fulfilled life.
Such true words, and from what I’ve read she was enchantingly beautiful. Graceful like a swan and ultra dignified. So sad that mans greed crushed her
And woman’s greed (do not forget her cousin, the Queen of England.
Very true
We love visiting Edinburgh, sadly visits also mean running the gauntlet with relatives 😉 This would also more or less qualify as 100 steps! http://chittlechattle.com/todays-100/
Oh relatives can be such a blessing and such a curse, but really you should visit the city more often 🙂 I will tag back to 100 steps, and I’m sure almost all my posts could be linked to your lovely challenge 🙂