East Princes Street Gardens

There can't be many capital cities in the world where the main railway station is set amongst gardens like those of Princes Street. This morning despite the grey skies and chilly temperature, the *rhododendrons stood out brightly amongst the universal green of the grass and trees.
It is always a thrill to arrive in Edinburgh by train from the west and see the castle high up at one side of the rail line and Princes Street seen through the gardens on the other.

Just sometimes when I feel unhurried and magnanimous, I can forgive the hordes of tourists for clogging the streets while they share the beauty of the city I grew up in, but which now bears little resemblance to the small town of yesteryear.

*or were they azaleas?