A Different Look at Edinburgh

I have decided to present a few pictures of Edinburgh that do not include the standard tourist spots that may be more easily recognizable.  Perhaps there are others that have visited the city who have seen these sights.  I feel that experiences such as these are an essential part of enjoying the best of what the city has to offer.

I saw a “Close” for the first time in Edinburgh.  Basically these are alleyways between buildings that can lead to other places, or streets that are closed at the end. The Royal mile is full of closes, many of which take you down steps between buildings to a location on a street below it.

Edinburgh has many gardens, including some private ones that you need a key to enter. We were able to to visit the Queen Street private garden shown below.  The second picture is from the botanical gardens.

The history of the city and its overall architecture gives it a unique charm. The first picture is a view on Cockburn Street leading up to the Royal Mile.  The second one is taken in Greyfriars Kirkyard (Greyfriars graveyard).

Here is a picture of the ruins of St. Anthony’s chapel in Holyrood Park.

Here is a scene on the Water of Leith, the river that flows through Edinburgh.

Finally, this is a picture of the tower of the Balmoral Hotel at sunset.

I wonder if these pictures are enough to get someone to feel that Edinburgh is a place worth visiting.  If not, a collection of pictures of the more mainstream tourist destinations may be warranted!