The American Edinburgh
The American Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a lovely place to visit and to live in. Voted as
one of the nicest and most picturesque cities in Europe it gives
a sense of wonderment to all that roam the streets for
adventure, relaxation or just plain having to go to work. Large
buildings stand majestically next to the older and less imposing
structures, each complimenting the other. Windy streets cross
easily over the new whilst cobblestones fit easy patterns next
to newly laid tarmac. All who visit gain a real sense of living
for the future and of being part of history and culture that is
ever so much part of what Edinburgh is all about today!
Edinburgh as the Capital of Scotland has an extremely large and
important financial community and structure. Education with many
well known and respected Universities brings many an
International Student to Edinburgh, and Museums and historic
sites brings tourists in droves at any time of the year. Yes,
the old sits well with the new in an old City steeped in culture
and vibrating with future prospects and everlasting importance
in global stature.
Edinburgh has an excellent transportation system partly built
around the Double Decker Bus. It was on one of these that an
American Couple sat having recently arrived in Edinburgh on a
Tourist Package from some corner of the USA. Typically American
they sat there discussing the sights as they passed them and
tried in the time allotted to read all in the 101 guide books
that were sprayed all over their seats, the floor and
neighboring chairs.
Nothing unusual you may say? And you are right! American
tourists make up a large portion of visitors to Edinburgh.
Japanese, Australians and fellow EC Members make up the rest. I
suppose though that Americans and Japanese tourists tend to
stand out more than do the French or German visitors. For
example, one will always spot a Japanese tourist from miles away
as he is invariably bowed under a mass of tangled cameras and
supports as he tries to get a photograph of Princess Street or
the Royal Mile. At that point the observer always becomes
surprised at the size and scale of the equipment wondering what
has happened to the