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 as they roam the streets for adventure and relaxation or as they plod to work of a day. 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 a history and culture that sums up the Edinburgh of 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, some to never leave, and museums and historic sites bring tourists in droves at any time of the year. Yes, the old sits well with the new; an established city steeped in culture and one that vibrates 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 'back home'. Typically American they sat there loudly discussing the sights and were attempting, in the time allotted, to read all in the 101 guide books that were splayed all over their seats, the floor and the neighboring chairs.

American tourists make up a large portion of the visitors who come to Edinburgh. Japanese, Australian and fellow EC Members making up the rest. In some sense though American and Japanese tourists tend to stand out more than say the French or German visitors. For example, one will always spot a Japanese tourist from miles away as he/she is invariably bowed under a mass of tangled cameras and tripods (an attempt to get a photograph of Princess Street or the Royal Mile perhaps). Any local walking past becomes surprised at the size and scale of the equipment and they often wander what has happened to the Digital Camera that was heralded as the equal to all else! Yes, Japanese tourists are always well noted for carrying cameras of disproportionate dimensions.

Americans tend to come to Edinburgh for special reasons and one of these is to "find their roots". Find the Tartan of McDougal or MacHaggis as three hundred years ago they were once related or so the story goes. All Americans have Scottish Roots, even those with an Irish brogue! Strange but true! Others come simply as tourists, extremely well-equipped with all that America has to offer on the touristic spots of Edinburgh, only to buy more on arrival. Maps, guide books and tape dialogues seem to pour out of their pockets, their hair and any other place that one could possible imagine. They do in fact seem to spend more time pouring over the literature than looking at the historical item itself.

View of Waverly Station from Edinburgh Castle
Photo Copyright © Ieuan Dolby, 2006

On this fine day these two typical American tourists sat far back on the bus trying to find a picture and associated literature regarding the Scott Monument. Unfortunately, and quite typically the bus meandered along at a rapid pace and turned onto the road that leads past Waverly Station (Edinburgh's Main Railway Station) and up and around to the Bridges and what would then lead onto The Royal Mile and the Old City. The Scott Monument now an exercise in head twisting as it disappeared in the buses wake!

A Tourist Bus in Edinburgh
Photo Copyright © Ieuan Dolby, 2006

When passing the entrance to Waverly Station the amazing and wonderful site of the old and famous Edinburgh Castle is on the left and high up, and the actual station on the right and low down (a few tracks with some concrete surrounds). Normally visitors look at the all-imposing castle or the Bank of Scotland Building or some other historical site of wonderment that graces the whole city. Our American friends of course where busy with their books and pamphlets, having now found the one for the Scott Monument but discarded that as it was now far behind them and they proceeded to rummage around desperately for the book on the Castle.

Edinburgh Castle receives well over 1,000,000 million visitors every year and this is where the famous and yearly Military Tattoo is held during the Festival Period. Built on the Rock, which was first used long before the Romans ever thought about sailing up the Forth River, the oldest and still remaining building is over 900years old. As one of Britain's biggest Tourist attractions its long and turbulent history is well documented and reveals that never once was the castle taken by storm. The Castle to this day stands alone and proud above the Capital of Scotland, showing to all a symbol of all that is Scottish (and tenuously all that is American).

As the Bus turned away from Princess Street and passed the Railway Station, the husband having momentarily forgotten his search for the relevant literature and having accidentally glanced out of the window, was in immediate awe of the castle as they sailed under it. Turning to his wife who was bent in a double-jointed manner under the seat and presumably looking for the book titled "Edinburgh Castle" he said in a voice filled with respect and awe, "darling, do you know why they built the castle so near to the railway station?"

Ieuan Dolby
Author and Webmaster of SeaDolby.com
Copyright © Ieuan Dolby, Oct. 2002