My flat was on Ratcliffe Terrace; located in a largely residential neighborhood just south of the city center, about twenty minutes walk from the university. From our kitchen window on the fifth floor, I could see out over the rooflines of the adjacent buildings. Each featured a fine row of chimneystacks, in formation, and long out of use. With antennas raised and skylights additions built in, these homes adapted to the times. Beyond these rows of shops and apartments are the houses of Morningside and the Braid, some of which are of fine stone exteriors and others of pebbledash. Their likeness is just visible from this distance. The rest of the skyline, even further away, is formed by Blackford Hill. One of Edinburgh’s seven hills, this local nature preserve was a perfect place for walking and reflecting. If I concentrated hard enough I could make out the Royal Observatory near its summit. Finally, along the horizon towards the southwest are the Pentland hills. Extending twenty miles in length, these rolling geologic forms mark the furthest reaches of the city.
