The New Town on a beautiful day
Edinburgh had the rare experience (for this year, at least) of a full day of beautiful sunshine on 31st August, 2024. I'm still not fit and well enough to walk far, but I needed to get some shopping and decided to go to a supermarket I hadn't been to for a few years (as it can't be reached directly by bus from my part of town): Morrison's at Granton. I boarded a Lothian Buses No. 9 at the foot of The Mound, and it took me on a tour through the New Town and the posher northern suburbs of Edinburgh. The city looked fabulous in the sunshine, and I found myself wondering once again how it was possible to create such a beautiful urban environment over two-hundred years ago when everything that's built now lacks natural proportion, form and detail, consists of a random jumble of cubes and rectangles, and could be situated in any city in the world. This massively affects everyone's quality-of-life, yet it's an issue that's never mentioned by the powers-that-be. Architects know best. We ordinary mortals aren't qualified to have an opinion on what's beautiful and what isn't. But I digress...
I took a few photos from the upper deck of the bus as it made its way to Granton. I'd have taken more, but the front seats of the bus kept being hogged by tourists!
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus from Edinburgh University King's Buildings to Muirhouse at the junction of Hanover Street and George Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024. The statue is of King George IV, who visited the city in 1822.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the junction of Hanover Street and George Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the junction of Hanover Street and Queen Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the junction of Dundas Street and Great King Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the junction of Dundas Street and Great King Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus approaching the Royal Botanic Garden in Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the Royal Botanic Garden in Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
A view over East Princes Street Gardens towards the Scott Monument and the Balmoral Hotel from The Mound later in the afternoon of 31st August, 2024.
I took a few photos from the upper deck of the bus as it made its way to Granton. I'd have taken more, but the front seats of the bus kept being hogged by tourists!
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus from Edinburgh University King's Buildings to Muirhouse at the junction of Hanover Street and George Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024. The statue is of King George IV, who visited the city in 1822.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the junction of Hanover Street and George Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the junction of Hanover Street and Queen Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the junction of Dundas Street and Great King Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the junction of Dundas Street and Great King Street, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus approaching the Royal Botanic Garden in Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
The view forward from the upper deck of a No. 9 bus at the Royal Botanic Garden in Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, on 31st August, 2024.
A view over East Princes Street Gardens towards the Scott Monument and the Balmoral Hotel from The Mound later in the afternoon of 31st August, 2024.