Dunrobin und die Landplagen

by

Even Bookfayries can’t report about the good and the happy only. Today we abduct you to a place which looks quite beautiful at the first glance, but behind this facade there are remorseless cruelties hiding. Karl Marx describes these inhumanities in “Capital” as the last big expropriation in our history. We speak about the Highland Clearances, the forced displacement of the locals from their land to have vast spaces for grazing sheep. Not only whole villages were destroyed, but also the crofters were forced to embark ships to America and Australia to emigrate. The 1. Duke of Sutherland, who was leading in forcing this clearance, was like a biblical plague. That ‘devil’, being the richest British citizen of the 19th c, dominated the Highlands from this castle.
Actually we didn’t want to visit such an evil place but Dina and our Master reckon that we have to visit such places with a historical significance for the sake of education. That they don’t let us suppress the horrible is quite nerve-racking for little fairies – “we don’t need no education …”

Wir Buchfeen können nicht nur über Gutes und Freundliches berichten. Heute entführen wir euch zu einem auf den ersten Blick schönen Ort, hinter dessen anmutiger Fassade sich Grausamkeiten verstecken, die Karl Marx in „Das Kapital“ als den letzten großen Enteignungsprozess der neueren Geschichte beschreibt. Es geht um die Highland Clearances, bei der die einheimische Bevölkerung zugunsten flächendeckender Schafzucht mit Gewalt von ihrem Land vertrieben wurde. Nicht nur wurden ganze Dörfer zerstört, sondern teilweise wurden diese Menschen, die Crofter, auf Auswanderungsschiffe nach Amerika und Australien gezwungen. Wir sehen den 1. Duke of Sunderland, der maßgeblich diese Clearances durchführte, wie eine der biblischen Landplagen. Dieser Duke of Sutherland, der der reichste Brite des 19. Jh. war, herrschte von diesem Schloss aus.
Eigentlich wollten wir solch einen Übelort gar nicht besuchen, aber Dina und Masterchen meinten, wir müssten um unserer Bildung Willen auch böse geschichtsträchtige Orte besuchen. Dass die beiden keine Verdrängung zulassen, ist schon anstrengend für uns feine Feen!

We arrived at this eerily beautiful place that doesn’t fit in this landscape. No wonder because the Dukes of Sutherland were only interested in exploiting the land. Dunrobin is a half accomplished version of Versailles next the sea, a mixture of kitsch and pomposity.

So kamen wir zu diesem schaurigen Ort, der gar nicht in die schottische Landschaft passt. Das ist nicht verwunderlich, da die Herren von Sutherland dem Land nur insoweit verbunden waren, wie es sich ausbeuten ließ. Dunrobin ist eine halbgelungene Nachahmung von Versailles am Meer zwischen Kitsch und Großspurigkeit.

We were far from being the only ones arriving. With us came 5 big busses from a cruise ship. The place of the old plague seems to attract the modern plague, the masses of cruise ship tourists who fall upon this place like the locusts did in old Egypt. “Evil attracts evil“, was our dear Masters comment, who wanted immediately to turn back to our road as the parking space was overcrowded.

Wir kamen keineswegs alleine. Mit uns erreichten u.a. 5 Reisebusse von einem Kreuzfahrtschiff diesen Platz. Der Ort der Landplage zieht wohl magisch die moderne Landplage an, die Massen der Kreuzfahrttouristen, die wir wie die Heuschreckenplage erlebten, die einst das Land Ägypten heimsuchten. „Übel zieht Übel an“, meinte Masterchen, der sogleich umkehren wollte, da der Parkplatz eh überfüllt war.

As good fairies we didn’t want turn away without having done anything. We could try to dissolve the evil spell from this castle. For this reason we tried to fly up to a high battlement. We needed 3 attempts but all magic is based on the number 3 and so we didn’t mind. Oh dear, it was that gruesome up there, the dirty nesting place of aggressive birds who wanted to chase us away. But they couldn’t frighten us brave Bookfayries away. We danced up there old Gaelic magic spells muttering always watching not to tread in bird’s shit.

Als gute Feen wollten wir dann doch nicht unverrichteter Dinge umkehren. Vielleicht konnten wir den bösen Zauber von diesem Schloss auflösen. Also versuchten wir zu einer der hohen Zinnen zu fliegen, was erst beim dritten Versuch klappte; aber alle Magie lebt von der Drei und so waren wir guter Dinge. Huch, war’s da oben gruselig, ein dreckiger Wohnort aggressiver Vögel, die uns fast vertrieben hätten. Aber so leicht lassen wir uns nicht vertreiben. Alt gälische Zaubersprüche nurmelnd tanzten wir in luftigen Höhen unseren hochgeheimen Feentanz, immer auf der Hut nicht in den Vogelkot zu treten.

We were happy to return to our dear Master and Dina. You may ask if we have succeeded. Well, one can’t change history, but it may have helped that the masses don’t admire naively all this wealth any longer, but remember the crofters who had to pay for it.

Wie waren wir froh, wieder zu Masterchen und Dina zurückzukehren. Ob’s genutzt hat? fragt ihr uns. Naja, man kann die Geschichte nicht ändern, aber vielleicht hilft es ein wenig, dass die Massen nicht mehr so blauäugig den Reichtum bestaunend sich durch die Hallen drängen, sondern auch beachten, auf welche Kosten er errungen wurde.

Mit lieben Grüßen
Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma 👭 Bookfayries next the Sea

 

© Text and illustrations, Hanne Siebers and Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea, 2017

 

 

321 thoughts

  3. If there’s anything better than a pun, it may be a bilingual pun. The name “Dunrobin,” which means Robin’s Hill (or Fort) in Gaelic, may have been given by Robert, the 6th Earl of Sutherland, who died in 1427. Whether he was “done robbin'” the people of the area is unclear.

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  4. As beautiful as the castle appears, I really like the view down the rocky shore of the beach. The photos prove that this has been a trip to remember, Klaus.
    Have a pleasant weekend, one and all,
    Ω

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    • Dear Cindy
      unfortunately you are right. Especially living in England we see those big estates everywhere still owned by the old nobility.
      Thank you for liking Dina’s pictures.
      We wish you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  6. Interesting. Land ownership in the UK is quite weird by Continental standards. I understand most of London’s land (not buildings) still belong to one or the other noble family. Duke of something or the other. 😉

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  10. I took my mother and stepfather on a British Isles cruise this summer, but alas, I was not one of those tourists on the buses you saw. We never went to this castle. I was in Edinburgh though. What a beautiful city. So different than my own digs. Would love to see this castle someday though!

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    • Dear Carrie
      we spent a holiday in Edinburgh as well and liked it very much there.
      The dramatic scenery of Scotland starts in the NW and very N – as we see it.
      We just read that you are a writer as well. Our dear Master was a writer and psychoanalyst too. More than 50 of his books are mostly published by Random House and filmed by the German TV. Where did you publish your books? With which agent do you work together?
      Wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

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    • Fifty books–that’s impressive! I’m currently with a boutique publisher that specializes in science thrillers (ScienceThrillers Media). Hopefully they’ll have my next book out within the next six months. I’m currently outlining a new novel that incorporates my recent British Isles cruise. I took lots of notes!

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    • Dear Carrie
      It’s funny I am just writing a novel in which the protagonist is going on an icebreaker up the NE Greenland coast. I took part in an expedition to this most beautiful part of the world and filled books of handwritten notes as well which are the basis of this novel. So we are working on something quite similar. The anti-cruise ship literature and especially crime stories taken place on such ships are quite in right now. Actually they are all written in the tradition of A. Christie’s “Murder on the Nile”: closed setting, clever plot.
      All the best
      Klausbernd

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    • Fortunately I have all the time I need and more. I am not that keen any longer having a book of mine published. I take it easy doing my garden and a bit of blogging and writing if I feel like.

      Liked by 2 people

  12. It is a truly beautiful place despite its evil historical significance. It looks like the perfectly medieval castle. 😊. Oh, and I read a book that made me think of all of you, it is called: The Fairy-Faith in Celtic countries and is written by W.Y Evans-Wentz. You might find it interesting! 😊

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    • Good afternoon, dear Anneli,
      thanks a lot for your kind words 🙂 🙂
      The landscape around the castle is beautiful. As we wrote, we had the feeling that this castle is a kind of foreign object in the Highlands.
      We wish you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

    • Good afternoon, dear Sue,
      you are absolutely right, hordes of tourists are a problem everywhere. And funnily enough most of the tourist don’t want to be seen as tourists. Well, we think the times have gone when one could travel naively blue eyed. There is no doubt about it that traveling is un-ecological. And it’s no fun any longer because the masses have taken over traveling. Mark Twain was one of the first who wrote critically about traveling and on the continent there were quite some anti-traveling books selling very successfully. An old friend of ours, who has been a traveler all his life, is standing for the idea that conscious people stay at home nowadays.
      Anyway, wishing you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

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    • Dear Sue
      you are absolutely right. We do it with a bad feeling – especially about our last trip to the North of Scotland (I suppose we mentioned it several times).
      We are considering to stop traveling. Actually we have as much fun at home, even more as our dear Master and Siri always say.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

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    • We like staying at home and only sometimes to travel to very special places Dina and our Master will take us. But we are always happy when we are back again.
      Finest fairy dust from
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma, Bookfayries next the Sea

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    • Oh dear, oh dear, vor einigen Jahren besuchten wir Neuschwanstein und sahen vor Japanern und Chinesen nur dessen Zinnen 😉 Was uns immer wieder erstaunt, wie viele Leute diese Zurschaustellung des Reichtums fasziniert – und wenn wir uns erlauben dürfen dies zu sagen, je ärmer desto mehr scheint der Protz zu wirken.
      Herzliche Grüße vom Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

    • … und weißt du, was besonders gemein ist? Solche Schlösser werden dann “fairy tale castles” genannt. Hat NIX mit uns zu tun!
      Finest fairy dust from
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma, Bookfayries next the Sea

      Liked by 2 people

  18. I always wonder at the bad and evil times in those places, but they design with an incredible architecture. I wonder if it goes hand in hand 😀
    The current architecture seems to be boxlike and quite wishy washy…and the ‘rulers’ of the land the same 😀
    Well I hope the Fab Fours shoes are cleaner than those times 😀
    And yes, great pictures as usual Dina, thank you ❤

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    • Dear Mark
      maybe a beautiful facade is shown to hide the evil behind it. On the other hand to show off was seen as sign of power the nobility and church used to impress and rule the people. And it still impresses.
      Actually we like modern architecture as it was started by the Bauhaus. NoChintz or NoKitsch is a slogan we like. It’s the clarity of design we like and, of course, it’s an expression of our cool zeitgeist.
      Thank you very much 🙂 🙂
      We wish you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

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  19. very nice pictures and a well written history story
    I have seen some weapons off those early day’s , they where awful
    sitting in a hotel bar in Lairg after a long day on the bicycle , talking to the bartender
    3 bus loads off noisy Yankees come in , hey do Scotland in 3 day’s , that to was awful
    wishing you an quiet weekend

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    • Thank you very much 🙂 🙂 We had similar experiences in Scotland, Americans and Japanese doing Scotland in 3 days and were proud of it. Unbelievable.
      We wish you a great holiday, happy biking and sunshine
      The Fab Four of Cley

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  20. Dear fairie-sisters,
    Again you make me learning something about Scotlands History. This castle harmonize to scotlands enchanting wilderness like something strange and its white bricks seem to laugh scornful ’bout The people, hard working to have a fire in The Black Houses. It’s a like a foreign matter in Scotland and The Name of The house could Be a shamered little bird. Robin is in Germany a very pretty singbird. And Dun? This means grey and dark braun and this House shimmering white like a peace dove? A Robin is a modest little bird and not shy with us humans, thank- and peaceful picking rainworms from The spade. The Name of this House is derision about modesty, a lie…
    Everyone can See it in this Name ‘Dunrobin’, what spirit its builders had.
    Have Many thanks and great pic, warm Autumn greetings to you fab’s from the fairy from Teutoburger Forest🌲🌳🍂

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    • Liebe Karfunkelfee
      gaaaanz liebe Grüße und feinsten Feenhauch von unseren beiden Feen Siri und Selma und ihren beiden Feenfreundinnen Hildi und Hulda.
      Ja, das Castle drückt Lug und Trug aus und zugleich versucht es Böses durch Pseudo-Schönheit zu verbergen, eine Schönheit, die Gewalt vermittelt. Sie ist ja an dem Absolutismus ausgerichtet, eben an absolute Herrschaft wie zur Zeit des 14. Ludwig in Frankreich.
      Der liebe Robin passt gar nicht, so ein niedlicher Vogel, den unsere beiden Buchfeen sehr lieben.
      Habe herzlichen Dank für deinen ausführlichen Kommentar. Wir wünschen dir ein wunderschönes Wochenende
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 4 people

    • Liebe Feenschwester
      huch, da waren die anderen beiden schneller als wir. Aber dennoch wollen wir unserer lieben teutonischen Feenschwester gaaaanz viel feinsten Feenhauch senden
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma, Bookfayries next the Sea

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  22. Oh dear .. da sind wir ja auch gewesen .. und ich hatte keine Ahnung worauf dieser Reichtum mit den tausenden von Zimmern begründet war. Ich hatte nur komisch grauslige Gefühle bei der Führung .. und auch der Kinder-Trakt war irgendwie gruselig … nun weiß ich warum. Vielen Dank ihr lieben .. ich freue mich jedes mal sehr, wenn ihr Neues für uns entdeckt 🙂 Schwedische Lieblingsgrüße! Lovisa ❤

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    • Guten Tag, liebe Lovisa,
      habe herzlichen Dank für deine lieben Worte. Dunrobin ist ein Ort der Grausamkeiten und der Gier. Wir waren nicht im Castle, sondern beschauten es uns nur von außen. Wir können uns gut vorstellen, dass der absolutistische Protz sich auch innen zeigt. Vielleicht sollte man es als Ort der Abschreckung und Warnung vor Gier rezipieren.
      Ganz liebe Grüße nach Schweden
      The Fab Four of Cley

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    • Grusel, grusel sagen wir nur, die wir alle Schwingungen gaaanz genau aufnehmen können. Und wir glauben einen unglücklichen Geist und Verfluchungen gibt’s hier auch. Alles dunkel, dunkel …
      Finest fairy dust from
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma, Bookfayries next the Sea

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  23. Great! Am besten gefällt mir “flächendeckende Schafzucht”, witzig! Und egal wie hoch Feen fliegen, die Vögel kacken alles voll!?
    Dabei kann sie nützlich sein….(die Vogelkacke…bin allerdings (bio)chemisch nicht so bewandert…)
    It´s all about money and power, horrible..
    Das Einzige, was je aus Schlössern Sinnvolles kam, ist Ballett, loslassen…let go, let dance flow…meine Meinung…
    Es sind dringend Reformen nötig. Was dieses Schloss an Renovierungskosten verschlingen mag?!
    Hier in Lu werden die baufälligen Brücken alle arm machen und der nächste OB heißt auch noch so: Uebel, ja lach ich denn?!
    Mit Ue geschrieben…
    Sende herzliche Grüße und Danke, dass ihr auf die Zinnen geflogen seid und berichtet habt!!
    Ich bin geschockt, lasse es mir aber nicht anmerken!!!
    Eure Pia

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    • Guten Tag, liebe Pia,
      du wirst es nicht glauben, das Schloss ist immer noch im Privatbesitz. Von dem angehäuften Reichtum können noch immer die Nachfahren bequem leben.
      Dass Euer OB Uebel heißt, ist ja wirklich ist Witz – nomen est omen 😉
      Zu viel Vogelkacke tötet alle Pflanzen. Die Dosis macht es, wie schon Paracelsus feststellte.
      Huch, hier regnet es gerade tropisch.
      Wir wünschen dir ein höchst angenehmes Wochenende
      The Fab Four of Cley

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    • Da bleibt mir schirka (quasi auf pfälzisch) die Schafsmilch im Halse stecken…trinke ich seit neustem…
      Uebel mit “U” – gut für LU, na das wird sich zeigen…
      Die Vorgängerin hat die Innenstadt verwüsten lassen und ein schickes Shoppingcenter am Flussufer gebaut, das Spaßbad hat nicht geklappt…
      Die davor setzten sich jeder sein Denkmal, das dann irgendwann wieder abgerissen wird…
      Ich hoffe, dass sie uns das Theatre lassen, teils ist es schon ein Business-Congress-Center.
      Ich könnte die Schafsmilch ja auch auskotzen?! (Huch?!)
      ..ok..hier regnet es nicht tropisch, aber ab und an, gerade wieder Regenbogen über der BASF, so schnell geben wir die Hoffnung nicht auf!!!!!!!
      Wunderschönes entspanntes Wochenende, das wünsche ich Euch ebenso!

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    • Ach, dass Verdrängung in der Feen – Übersetzung Education heißt, entdecke ich ja jetzt erst!
      Empfehlung des Tages: Minigolf im Ebertpark, es gibt kaum ein besseres Konflikt-Training für Familien…
      Ok, Mensch ärgere dich nicht und Monopoly sind auch nicht schlecht, aber dann ist man nicht draußen an der frischen Luft ..
      …(???)
      Lasst es Euch gut gehen im schönen Cley!!
      Breathe in Life and breathe out, Lucie Silvas

      Und dann haben die auch soooooo viele Bäume abgeholzt wegen dem Moloch mit den Schafen, sind die denn vollkommen meschugge!?

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    • Liebe Pia

      education = Verdrängung
      Dieser Eintrag stammt aus dem
      “Wörterbuch der Feen” von Siri und Selma Buchfee, Lektorat: Hildi und Hulda, Fayrie Press unlimited, Cley 2016, 3. ed.

      Fairy dust von
      Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma, Booksfayries next the Sea

      Liked by 2 people

  24. Some very atmospheric studies here. Not only do they capture the feeling of the setting, but they also manage to capture the feelings of the artist towards the setting.

    For those not familiar with the Scottish vernacular there is a cruel pun in the name Dunrobin. Spoken with a regional accent Dunrobin and ‘done robbing’ sound exactly the same.

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    • Dear Jo
      we visited this castle on a mostly sunny day, but even then one could feel a kind of dark mood.
      We wish you a wonderful weekend too, easy and full of joy 🙂 🙂
      The Fab Four of Cley

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  29. Mir ging es damals bei unserem Schottlandbesuch wie euch. Hatte die Geschichte zu diesem Schloss im Wohnmobil-Führer gelesen und ich hatte eine richtige Abneigung gegen diesen Prunkbau. Wir sahen es uns nur kurz von aussen an und fuhren dann weiter. Der Parkplatz war auch damals überfüllt.

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    • Wir waren auch nicht in diesem Schloss, sondern beschauten es uns nur vom Strand aus. Vorher hatten wir eines über die Geschichte der Crofter gelesen, die im Grunde überall in den Highlands präsent ist. Eigentlich sollte es uns nicht Erstaunen, dass all die Amerikaner und Japaner ohne den Hauch einer historischen Einordnung dieses Castle besuchen. Das Erschreckende neben dem Auftreten in Horden und die Naivität.
      Ganz liebe Grüße von der gerade sehr regnerischen Küste
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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    • Ja, dieses Fremdschämen – welch schönes Wort – kennen wir auch. Dann versuchen wir sogleich wie Einheimische zu wirken. Wir sahen eine Frau im T-Shirt mit der Aufschrift: I am not a tourist – I am living here”. Siri und Selma meinten kichernd, die sei wahrscheinlich eine Touristin.
      Liebe Grüße vom sonnigen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley

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  30. What a lovely post, great photos and cruel story! This castle I only know from driving by. Don’t you think it looks like Disneyland next the sea?
    The hordes of daily tourists from the cruise ships with a restricted time limit is becoming a modern plague indeed. Thank you for ponting it out so clearly. Recently we visited Venice, the beautiful city was absolutely packed with the new crusaders. I felt absolutely choked; , we were all caught in one of the bottlenecks of tourist traffic that clog Venice’s narrow streets and choke its glorious squares. A young American woman commanded her clients from the ship to push on and yelled “sqooozy, we don’t have time!” What a madhouse!
    Hugs, Sarah x

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    • Dear Sarah
      modern tourism is the modern plague that can easily spoil traveling for the individual traveller. It’s a shame!
      Most of the time we love to stay at home and are happy that we don’t have to travel. Travelling is no fun any longer.
      With big HUGs from rainy Norfolk
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

    • Our dear friend Sarah
      we love it: “Disneyland next the Sea”. Great!
      It’s amazing how some people are traveling. We would rather stay at home. We have the feeling we are at the end of the age of traveling. Traveling is done rather virtually as real in the future.
      We were in Venice for a whole winter more than 20 years ago. Then it was fine – but it was winter, well from the end of October until the beginning of March. Even then masses of tourists came streaming in in March.
      Lots and lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley

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  31. Hallo Klausbernd,
    ja, ja, die “lieben” Touristen! Bis vor ca. 4 Jahren waren wir hier in Fredericksburg ja auch nur als Touristen, aber jetzt, nachdem wir hierhin umgezogen sind, schimpfen wir dann ueber die “damned tourists”. 😉 Aber andererseits: das Geld, dass sie bringen, macht auch Vieles hier moeglich – und darunter ist auch Gutes – was wir sonst nicht haetten. Der Balanceakt ist eben das Problem. Was jetzt in den vergangenen Jahren dazu gekommen ist: wir haben hier eine stark zunehmenden “Weintoruismus”, da hier ein Weingut nach dem anderen aufgemacht wird. Und die Touristen, die das anzieht, sind nicht immer die wuenschenwerten. Das veraendert den Charakter von Fredericksburg doch sehr – und eher zum Negativen hin.
    Habt Ihr eigentlich (wegen der Touristen) tatsaechlich auf einen Besuch dort verzichtet?
    Macht’s gut, und liebe Gruesse an die gesamte “Viererbande”, und habt ein feines Wochenende,
    Pit

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    • Lieber Pit,
      wir schreiben hier aus einem Naturschutzgebiet, das massentourismusfrei ist. Hier möchte keiner solchen Tourismus, was freilich daran liegt, dass es ein Großteil der Bevölkerung nicht nötig hat. Wir kämpften für Pläne, die Straßen hier zu verbessern und den Naturzugang zu vereinfachen. Aber nicht alle Orte der Küste hier gingen diesen Weg. Die wenigen Ausnahmen waren unrühmlich: Was tat’s für die Bevölkerung? Die Haus- und Grundsteuer stieg enorm, auszugehen konnte sich keiner der Locals megs leisten und alle Preise stiegen. Den Profit vom Tourismus steckten sich weitgehend Personen von außerhalb ein, von London meistens. Für junge Leute und Familien gibt es keine affordable houses mehr und die Arbeit in der Tourismusbranche wird vielfach von Personen getätigt, die in der Saison von außerhalb kommen.
      Uns scheint es, dass oft vom Tourismus die einheimische Bevölkerung weniger profitiert als ortsfremde Investoren. Okay, die Leute, die B&B machen, profitieren und einige wenige ortsansässige Geschäftsleute. Was wir sehr bedauern, dass durch den Tourismus die Orte ihren Charakter verlieren und hässlich werden.
      Wir haben hier auch etwas Wander- und einigen Birdwatcher-Tourismus. Dieser Tourismus ist jedoch nicht störend und naturverträglich und nicht massengeprägt. Wir sind uns im Klaren, dass wir previligiert sind, hier zu wohnen und wollen uns auch nicht abschotten. Natur- und kulturverträgliche Touristen sind willkommen, aber zum Glück kämpfen wir dafür, dass unsere Straßen nicht für Reisebusse geeignet bleiben und gegen Individualtouristen hat hier keiner etwas.
      Wenn wir sehen, was wir alles haben, das Meer vor der Haustüre, einen tollen Garten, unsere Sauna, ein Bötchen, da fragen wir uns natürlich, warum wir wegfahren sollen.
      Na, du Lieber, dann mach’s ‘mal gut. Take care.
      Ganz liebe Grüße vom kleinen Dorf am großen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 4 people

    • Lieber Klausbernd,
      da beschreibst Du haargenau das Problem, das wir hier in Fredericksburg haben. Ortsfremde Investoren, z.Zt. Grosskapital aus New York und Californien, kaufe j=hier z.T. ganze Blocks auf, zu fast jedem beliebigen Preis. Das treibt dann die Grundstueckspreise und damit die vom Verkehrswert abhaengige Grundsteuer immer weiter in die Hoehe, so dass die kleinen einheimischen Geschaefte eingehen. Erschwinglicher Wohnraum ist kaum vorhanden, und entsprechend gross sind die Probleme, hier (qualifiziertes) Personal zu bekommen – sogar fuer unser Krankenhaus. Es liegt z.T. auch am Bebauungsplan der Stadt, der im gesamten Stadtgebiet nichts Hoeheres als zweistoeckig zulaesst. Damit lassen sich keine rentablen Mietwohnungen bauen. Nur so ganz langsam setzt sich hier die Meinung durch, dass die Stadt selber eine Verantwortung hat und die Initiative ergreifen muss. Mal sehen, was wird.
      Ein wenig geht es uns ja wie Euch: wir leben direkt am Stadtrand, weg vom Trubel, und haben Texas Hill Country vor der Haustuere, plus unseren schoenen Garten. Eine ehemalige Kollegin hat mich vor Kurzem scherzhaft gefragt, warum wir eigentlich ueberhaupt noch verreisen. Aber dazu kann ich nur sagen: die USA hat so viel Schoenes zu bieten, da wollen wir doch unbedingt etwas von sehen. Zur Zeit bin ich dabei, unsere Reise zur Sonnenfinsternis aufzuarbeiten. Das ist ganz wunderbar, diese Tour so anhand von Marys Tagebuch und unseren Fotos noch einmal zu erleben. Aber es dauert, insbesondere das Sichten, bearbeiten und Katalogisieren der Fotos. Kommt aber. Mittlerweile habe ich ja schon ueber Tag eins und zwei gebloggt. Tag drei [der Tag der Sonnenfinsternis] ist in Arbeit. Leider habe ich keine brauchbaren Fotos von der Sonnenfinsternis, denn das entsprechende Filter fuer das Kameraobjektiv war mur mit weit ueber $150 doch zu teuer. Ich haette es ja nur ein einziges Mal benutzen koennen. So muss dann halt die verbale Beschreibung ausreichen.
      So, dann macht Ihr es auch mal gut. Liebe Gruesse an die Fab Four im kleinen Dorf am grossen Meer,
      Pit

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hi lieber Pit,
      danke für deine E-Mail und den Hinweis, dass du wieder im Spam gelandet bist. Grrrrrrrr … Warum passiert das wohl? Anyway, jetzt bist du aus dem Kerker befreit und ich bedanke mich ganz herzlich für den tollen, ausführlichen Kommentar. Klausbernd wird sich nachher dazu äußern. Ich bereite mich gerade auf den Flug ins Rheinland.
      Sonnige Grüße zu dir und Mary!:-)
      Hanne x

      Liked by 2 people

    • Hallo liebe Dina,
      zuerst mal: danke fuer’s Befreien aus dem Gefaengnis. 😉 Wie schon in meiner Email zu Euch beiden gesagt, es liegt wohl daran, dass ich normalerweise Euer Blog per Firefox [das ist mein voreingestellter Stanardbrowser] besuche und ann beim Kommentieren nicht daran denke, dass Firefox bei Eurem und auch bei einigen anderen Blogs beim Kommentieren Probleme bereitet. Ich hatte diesen Kommentar dann ein zweites Mal per MS IE geschickt, aber das wurde mit dem Hinweis, ich haette diesen gerade schon verschickt, abgeblockt. Doppelkommentare mag WordPress naemlich ueberhaupt nicht. Na ja, wie auch immer, es klappt ja jetzt wieder.
      Liebe Gruesse an Euch Alle, im kleinen Dorf am grossen Meer und/oder in der kleinen Stadt am grossen Fluss,
      Pit

      Liked by 2 people

    • Lieber Pit,
      mein Standatbrowser auf dem Mac und auf dem PC ist auch Firefox, Dina, glaube ich, benutzt ihn auch. Wir haben nicht diese Probleme. Hast du denn die neueste Version des Firefox?
      Wir halten dir fest Daumen und Flügeligen, dass dein Problem bald gelöst ist.
      Bei schönstem Wetter arbeitete ich bis jetzt im Garten. Jetzt bin ich ko und benötige sofort ein Feierabendgetränk!
      Ganz liebe Grüße aus dem sonnig warmen Cley
      The Fab Four
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hallo Klausbernd,
      ich habe die neueste Version von Firefox, aber es ist die spezielle GMX-Version, plus ein paar Add-ons. Und das scheint nicht mit allen WP-Blogs kompatibel zui sein. Dazu kommen dann aber auch noch “hauseigene” WordPress Probleme. Ob das jemals geloest wird? Ich glaube eigentlich nicht daran, denn ich hoere immer wieder von aehnlichen Problemen bei anderen Bloggern. Das Seltsame ist: bei manchen Blogs loesen sich die Probleme nach einiger Zeit ganz von selber, bei anderen scheinen sie bis in alle Ewigkeit bestehen zu wollen.
      Auch wenn das Wetter hier gut ist, so schiebe ich die Gartenarbeit doch vor mir her. Na ja, es ist ja auch wieder etwas warm geworden, mit Temperaturen von ueber 30 Grad. Da habe ich ja jetzt eine Ausrede! 😉
      Geniesse den Abend,
      Pit

      Like

    • Hi lieber Pit,
      ich habe mich sehr gefreut von dir zu lesen und noch mehr über die Tatsache, dass du diesmal nicht im Spam gelandet bist! 🙂
      Liebe Grüße,
      Hanne-Dina

      Liked by 2 people

    • Lieber Pit
      ja, das ist überall das Problem mit dem Tourismus. Zum Glück muss und will fast keiner hier davon leben. Man sieht wachen Auges, wie es touristischen Gebieten ergeht.
      So, jetzt ab in den Garten. Ich finde es übrigens auch sehr fragwürdig, warum wir verreisen sollen.
      Anyway, hab’s fein, liebe Grüße
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Ach ja, weisst Du, lieber Klausbernd, wenn ich hier Dinas Bilder so sehe, und wenn ich meine von unserer letzten Reise betrachte, dann geben die doch schon gute Gruende fuer’s Reisen: es gibt auch ausserhalb der eigenen vier Waende bzw. der eigenen Hecken so viel Schoenes zu sehen und zu bewundern. Und was mir auch sehr wichtig ist: Reisen oeffnet die Augen und das Verstaendnis fuer Andere. Wie meine Mutter zu sagen pflegte, “Reisen bildet!” Oder, um es mit Mark Twain, den ich in meinem Bilderbuch-Blog zitiert habe, auszudruecken, ” Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” Hier und heute wahrer denn je!
      Liebe Gruesse an Euch drei Daheimgebliebenen und an die liebe Dina, die moeglicherweise schon auf dem Weg ins Rheinland ist – oder sogar schon da,
      Euer Pit
      P.S.: mal schauen, wo dieser Kommentar endet. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

    • Danke 🙏 lieber Pit, schön das Mark Twain Zitat! Ob Reisen immer noch bildet, mehr z.B. als Lesen 📖 zu Hause 🏡 . I don’t know 🤷‍♀️
      Dina fährt erst übermorgen los – leider!
      Mach es gut 😊
      Klausbernd

      Liked by 1 person

    • Zum Thema “Lesen”, lieber Klausbernd, zitiere ich immer meine Mutter: “Lesen bildet!” Insofern gebe ich Dir natuerlich recht. Weswegen wir ja jetzt auch einen absolut ungebildeten Typen [um das Wort “Prolet” zu vermeiden] im Weissen Haus sitzen haben. Dem hilft auch Mark Twain nicht weiter. 😦 Aber zurueck zu “Lesen” vs. “Reisen”: ich bin der Meinung, Beides bildet, nur auf andere Art.

      Liked by 1 person

    • P.S.: Nun muss ich aber doch schmunzeln! Ich zitiere: “Dina faehrt erst uebermorgen los – leider!” – Hoffentlich liest die liebe Dina hier nicht mit! 😉 Willst Du sie wirklich lieber heute als morgen loswerden?! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    • This house has 1000 rooms, it’s crazy, isn’t it?! Who needs so many rooms? Everything there is a show off.
      Thanks for liking our post 🙂 🙂
      Have a happy weekend wishing you
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

  35. Excellent storypost, dear friends! What an enormous castle! Many visitors must find it quite sobering to visit such a place directly after having seen the burnt-out village ruins left from the Highland clearances. Done Robbing – a rather tragic testimony to greed. Amazing that they can still keep it private. Shipping in money from the ships, maybe? 😉
    Great photos, Hanne!
    Kram, Annalena x

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Our dear friend Annalena,
      Thank you so much for liking our post 🙂 🙂
      We agree it’s indeed quite sobering seeing the burned down little dark cottages of the crofters and then this castle. Actually it’s scandal and it’s even more a scandal that such a lot of people are naively admiring it.
      They made their money with wool. The Clearances took place a the beginning of the industrialisation, when the mechanic looms were invented. That immediately produced an enormous demand for wool. That was the reason for the Clearances.
      KRAM
      Lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  36. Beautiful photographs! I liked the beach photograph the most. Castle looks sad, actually all castles look sad and lonely! I was not aware of the history attached to this place, it’s cruel, ugly! I feel this is the reason castles have never been a happily inhabited places. Always a bloody past and then they remain as architectural pieces of history gone by.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Nehal,
      we agree, in the end all castle are build with the blood of the local people. Therefore they are all sad and lonely. It’s the lack of human dimension und coyness. They are just for demonstrating power.
      Thank you very much for liking Dina’s photography. She tried to document the mood there.
      The beach is great, we had a nice picnic there 🙂 🙂
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

  37. Some time ago I read about the Dunrobin Castle. It has a ghost thought to be Margaret who was the daughter of the Earl of Sutherland. Margaret haunts the upper floors of Dunrobin Castle. You know how such stories goes … Margaret fell in love with someone who her father did not consider suitable. To prevent her marrying him he locked her in the attic of Dunrobin Castle whilst he arranged for a more suitable marriage.
    Her maid helped to plan her escape and arranged for her lover to wait at the bottom of the Castle with a horse to make their escape to elope whilst she would smuggle a rope to Margaret. As Margaret was climbing out of the window her father came into the room and Margaret was so frightened that she screamed out and lost her hold on the rope, falling to her death. Her ghost still haunts Dunrobin Castle, crying for her lover. A curse was placed on the Earl by her lover. Serves him right, no? 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

  38. Sorry, dear friends, it doesn’t pay to do anything in a hurry … I had so little time and then I was rudely interrupted and had to leave you like I had forgotten all my manners. I hope Siri and Selma will not be locked away in the attic in case Dina and Master don’t approve of their friends!;-) Thanks for the lovely read and the outstanding photos.
    Talk to you on Sunday,
    have a great time,
    Per Magnus

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Our dear friend
      of course Siri and Selma are not locked up in our attic. We would never do this, even if they would like to marry one of her troll-friends.
      Looking forward to Sunday
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

  39. These wonderful photos are perfect for your tale, a fairytale castle and its little sheared shrubs & pruned trees, under a eerie and glowering sky — as you say, beauty but also a bit of Disney kitsch, built on the crofters’ bones. I would love to see the incantations on the ramparts as you sprites dance ‘round the bird droppings! Cheers for a striking post.
    (But take pity on us poor tourists – – perhaps think of us as a minor calamity, like a surfeit of toads (actually, I like toads!) and not a first-class plague of boils, fiery hail or cattle disease.)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Robert
      well, well we were tourists there as well. Actually it is more their behaviour when they appear in crowds. It’s always the behaviour that mattes, doesn’t it. Oh dear, we sound like our parents 😉 really conventional.
      Thanks a lot for your comment.
      We wish you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

    • Even the nicest folks by the busload are too much of a good thing.
      I’ll make up some warning signs to post in the parking lots, to discourage the tour buses “Plague is Present! Have you had your Black Death Innoculation?!! Flee While There’s Still Time!” That might reduce the swarms a bit.
      I hope you folks have a wonderful weekend and thank you for this wonderful post! RPT

      Liked by 2 people

  40. These are interesting times we live in, aware of beauty around us, but aware of the cost for those before us. Dina’s photos are incredible, and the beach looks most beautiful of all. My best to all four of you, and thanks.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  41. I love your darkly, atmospheric photos of that palace to greed. Always, there is someone willing to turn out all his fellows so he can profit off their losses. Always there are those who believe one person is worth more than another, just by virtue of his birth or sex. We don’t have to believe in that, the fairy tale of the rich. We can believe in the fairy tale of equality instead. XOXO

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Jacqui
      that was the reason we didn’t went inside and taking a tour as we expected that the guides would try to make us admire this wealth.
      Thank you very much for commenting.
      All the best to you
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  44. My dear Bookfayries,
    You know that Dina and Klausbernd are quite right in having you learn the history. Despite the evil past, the castle is lovely. Just as many countries and the people of the world sometimes have evil histories, but they are beautiful now.
    Have a wonderful weekend knowing that we all await your next adventure,
    GP Cox

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  45. My ancestors were part of the clearances and the Scottish Diaspora. I often think of Sir Walter Scott’s thought on seeking good (Ivanhoe) . “For he that does good, having the unlimited power to do evil, deserves praise not only for the good which he performs, but for the evil which he forbears.” Thank you for another remarkable post that inspires us all! Hugs and love coming to my dear Fab Four of Cley.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Clanmother,
      Thanks a lot for the Sir Walter Scott quote we didn’t know.
      You and your family feel quite Scottish, we suppose. We felt very much at home in Scotland, the people were very friendly, the landscape magnificent and lots of culture. And of course we like the Scottish people most for wanting to stay in the EU.
      HUGS and kisses xxx from
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  48. Hu, was für ein düster-unheimlicher Ort! Toll habt ihr den in Bild und Wort eingefangen! Und auch wenn wir aus der Geschichte lernen, dass wir nichts aus ihr lernen (ich glaube, Hegel hat das so ähnlich gesagt), war es bestimmt eine gute Idee, zu den Zinnen hinauf zu fliegen, um all der negativen Energie ein bisschen gute hinzuzufügen. 😉

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  49. Fair enough. There is, of course, much in the past that disgusts us. But there is also a danger in viewing history through the lens of the present, because we may not understand it out of context. Most of us are victims, in some sense, and little – if anything – remains of the places where our ancestors lived. We can still admire, enjoy the stories – but also learn from – the homes of the wealthy.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Thank you VERY much for your interesting commentary. Actually you touch a basic problem of history. The essence of the works of the German historian Droysen is: There is no history, there is now only. I agree with you and him in this point. History is so to speak a projection of our times on the screen we call the past. On the other hand we must have the right to judge, of course from our standpoint. Especially as a German I would protest to see Hitler without judgement. Without judgement no history. We have to have the right to see the Clearances and the people who forced them as inhuman knowing that our standpoint is a subjective one. As Einstein pointed out (or was it Nils Bohr?) that only objective standpoint is the subjective one.
      How to perceive this castle? First of all it doesn’t belong here. Disneyland next the sea. Okay, fine in the Loire valley but not here. It would be necessary to understand the language of this building with its connotation to our picture of the Middle Ages (especially the pictures in the influential Hour Book by the Duc de Berry) and the castles in the times of Absolutism. Interesting opposition: the architectural ideal is formed by the past, the economical action by the future.
      Anyway, I absolutely agree if we try to read the castle we learn quite a bit about the past and the future. Unfortunately most tours through castles don’t mention this point of view because “normal tourists” aren’t interested. They don’t want to have their naive perception destroyed.
      These were my ideas inspired by your commentary.
      Thanks again and wishing you a relaxing weekend
      Klausbernd
      and the rest of The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 3 people

  50. This castle looks foreboding, wonderful job at creating this feeling. The shot of the beach gives me a great feeling of this place, but the history sure would create a depressing feeling, especially understanding “forced displacement of the locals from their land to have vast spaces for grazing sheep” ~ what the privileged (or rather those who think they are privileged) do without thought or care amazes me even today. We’ve (humankind) has a long way to go in terms of evolution of the spirit 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Dalo,
      we can only hope that humankind will eventually learn from history, even if Hegel thought we don’t.
      The beach was a lovely peaceful place where we had a little stroll and a picnic.
      Thank you for liking Dina’s photography
      With lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  51. Only an expert in the art of taking pictures can make a place with such a somber and evil place so beautiful. I bet the fairies with their magic played a major role. I for my part thoroughly enjoyed your photos. Thank you all, you Four!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  52. Lieben Dank an Euch Vier für solch interessante Infos und beeindruckende Bilder dieses schaurig schönen Gebäudes, das ich niemals in diesen nördlichen Gefilden vermutet hätte. Es hätte vielmehr in die Ebene der Loire gepasst als in den kargen Norden, den Dina hervorragend bidlich eingefangen hat. Nun hoffe ich auf weitere spannende Bidler udn Erzählung von Euch Vier. Ganz liebe Grüße aus dem kühlen Südbaden.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Hi, lieber Konrad,
      ja, unsere clevere Selmafee hat fein recherchiert, nicht nur darin ist sie Meisterin …
      Toll, dass dir Dina’s Bilder gefallen 🙂 🙂
      Dann habt’s ‘mal fein in Südbaden! Mit lieben Grüßen vom kleinen Dorf am großen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 2 people

  58. The highland clearances were indeed an atrocity. The 19th century was a very cruel one indeed. Whilst we had abhorrent slavery, the vast majority of the English working classes were no better than slaves themselves. Working in the most appalling conditions, children too of course, the working classes suffered abject misery to make a very few people incredibly rich. Whilst the Industrial Revolution was a leap forward in so many ways, the human cost was immeasurable. I feel it is the English working classes who, living in hovels and working all hours of the day are the forgotten story that is rarely told. The history we read suggests that the English never had it so good. How very far from the truth that is for the vast majority. Only a tiny minority prospered, a certain class, and these very few are the only one’s that need apologise for the past.
    A fascinating post as always.
    I hope you’re all enjoying a very relaxing enjoyable weekend in Clay. All the very best from Chris and myself.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, dear Adrian, for describing the conditions for the working class at the beginning of industrialization. Friedrich Engels wrote his major work about it. “Die Lage der arbeitenden Klasse in England” was the original title (The Condition of the English Working Class). We shouldn’t forget that modern society is based on suffering.
      Thanks a lot for liking our post 🙂 🙂
      Wishing you and Chris a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  61. hello dina its dennis the vizsla dog hay wow that playse shoor duz hav an ominus luk to it i wuz thinking that eeven befor i red the storry of how it kaym to be with all those poor peepul sent frum their homes!!! i do not no wot i wood do if i wuz sent away frum my home!!! ok bye

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Dennis Dog
      You are in the lucky 🍀 situation that you don’t need to be afraid 😳 of being send away from your home.
      Thanks 🙏 for commenting, wishing you juicy bones and a relaxed Sunday
      💃🚶👭
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

    • Herzlichen Dank!
      “Erzkapitalistisch”, ja das passt bestens, weswegen sich wohl auch Karl Marx der Clearances annahm, von denen er durch seinen Freund Friedrich Engels hörte.
      Wir wünschen dir eine harmonische Woche
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  64. Such an enchanting place and wonderful narrative from you Dina.. And such a wonderful place.. The photos are magical.. And those dark skies make it look even more dramatic… 🙂
    We have had one or two dark skies overhead today delivering Hail and Thunder.. Maybe those faeries are not happy.. lol
    Sending much love over the airways..
    Sue 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Ted
      we hadn’t heard about the Clearances before we came to Scotland. Well, in a way a typical story of early industrialisation, but the dimension was extraordinary.
      Thanks and have a great week
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  66. Wonderful photos as usual… though regardless of its gruesome history, I find that house totally incongruous in the Scottish landscape…
    Have to agree with you about tourists… I count myself lucky that being eighty at my next birthday, I saw so much of our beautiful world before it was over-run by that modern plague… when the world was still unspoiled and comparatively empty … even places like Penang which were unspoiled and remote back then, are now unrecognisable compared to the places I once knew.

    Your comments about English land ownership … Primogeniture meant that the estates always went to the eldest son – so the others had to make their own way and their own living ( a book could be written about that) But what it meant in practice was that unlike France, for instance, estates were not shared among the children, and thus broken up, and so English houses and their land which support the great houses, were preserved and have remained intact, and their treasures have not been dispersed… ( though many have had to be sold – often to the US – in the modern age, to support these places )

    Because of heavy taxation and swinging death duties, fewer and fewer great Houses or estates are now in the possession of their owners, many being owned by The National Trust so that they and their treasures are now the property of the nation. Many of those places still in private hands have had to devise all sorts of ways to survive, so you have zoos at Longleat, amusements parks at the Duke of Bedford’s Woburn, all sorts of amusements for the public at the Duke of Devonshire’s Chatsworth and so on … there is hardly a great house in England which isnl’t trying to survive by paying for itself by opening to the public…most estates/land having been sold over the years to keep up with taxes and death duties…and it was the land which in the past supported these great houses… hope this explanation gives you a brief understanding of land ownership …

    There are still a few magnates like the Duke of Westminster who own vast and lucrative areas of London – but in a recent blog, I explored the amazing philanthropy and altruism of this particular dukedom running through several generations, to the present young Duke, all of whom have used their riches for the public good…I compared them with the owners of super-yachts, etc etc, who don’t seem to feel any sense of responsibility to the poor and deprived…
    This is a very long comment, and it doesn’t really cover a very big subject !!!!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Valerie
      first of all, we like long comments 🙂 🙂
      We are all members of the National Trust and are happy to support the British heritage in this way.
      In Germany and many other countries of the continent you had and have both way of inheritage, the so called “Erbteilung” meaning every child got a part of the land and as well that the oldest son inherits everything. Contemporary law in Germany regulates a division of land and cattle if the heirs are keeping up farming the land and looking after the buildings.
      Of course, a big house is a burden nowadays and the owner has to look to make it pay its enormous expenses. We can well understand this but on the other hand we can’t understand how naively tourist look at these castles and houses. It’s a naiv admiring of wealth like in the glossy papers.
      I am like you VERY happy that I was traveling around world in times when tourism wasn’t a plague. Therefore I am actually not that keen to travel anymore.
      Thank you so much for explaining British ownership.
      Wishing you a happy week
      Klausbernd
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • Jetzt krame ich den Uralt-Schinken hervor: Der einsame Hirte…welchen Panflötenmeiser nehmen wir denn da, oje, die armen Kinder…
      Das Sylphiden-Ballett kann man leider echt nicht bringen…also die Sylphen schon, aber die Hüpferei im Schottenrock, verstörend…

      Like

    • Liebe Pia
      Macht brauchte und brauch immer auch ihre architektonischen Zeichen. Das zeigten bereits Merians Stiche, als die Macht noch von der Kirche ausging, wie auch z.B. hanseatische Kaufmannshäuser und heutige Hochhäuser z.B. von Banken.
      Liebe Grüße vom Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

    • Danke lieber Klausbernd, du hast mir wieder sehr geholfen, habe mal kurz und unglücklich in der Fritz-Frey-Straße in Handschuhsheim gewohnt…Mutter hatte das entschieden, ich wollte lieber direkt am Plöck wohnen, aber es gab wirtschaftliche Gründe…
      Man lernt aus allem…wenn man will…vielen herzlichen Dank!

      Like

    • Ja Danke noch einmal…komisches Fundament hat das Gebäude…der Strand wirkt auch unnatürlich…
      Hier ist alles im Fluss, es wird einfach weiter getanzt im Rheinland, frei, wie es Joy Fleming schon immer besingt im Neckarbrückenblues,
      allerdings machen hier eher die Rheinbrücken Sorgen, wie gesagt…
      Von Pia Odenwald, im Kloster gibt es am Wochenende 5Rhythmentanz, yääh!
      …

      Like

    • Hi, liebe Pia,
      die Fundamente sind wie bei vielen Schlössern und Burgen im Fels verankert. Der Strand ist ein typisch schottischer Strand mit vielen unterschiedlichen Steinen und Angeschwemmtem.
      Mach’s gut, halte dich wacker, keep on dancing
      Liebe Grüße
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

  70. What gorgeous photos, first of all, and the cloudy weather was so perfect for both the castle and that beach – I love that slice of shoreline, so raw and authentic looking, just the opposite of the grand building that was created on the backs of so many people. I like what Adrian (Chillbrook) was saying about the English working class, and I’m glad you pointed out the reality of the situation so clearly in your post. I can imagine how you all felt when you saw the tour groups. And maybe some of them are descendants of the very people who were cast off the land. Anyway, thank you for a thought-provoking post – you had a very fruitful trip, didn’t you?!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Bluebrightly
      thank you very much! We had the feeling seeing those tours through the castle that we had to raise the historical consciousness. We had to keep Siri and Selma from standing at the entrance and tell all the visitors about the brutality of the Clearances. It seemed to us that the working class got their history stolen.
      Wishing you an easy day
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Like

  71. Having ascended upon Dunrobin Castle from a cruise ship last April, I am among those contributing to the “modern plague.” I dare not take it personally though, for without that leisurely introduction to Scotland I possibly would not have ventured into this incredibly beautiful country. I appreciate your perspective of history – it is quite different than the “tour guide” version. If we bypass every historical structure that has a sordid past, there would be nothing in the world to see. I appreciate the beauty that is, and do my best to understand the history that was. Love your photographs. Your images parallel the ominousness of your description perfectly.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Suzanne,
      well, one could say that history is part of a place like its architectural structure. And it’s a pity that tour guides don’t political topics. One doesn’t understand a country without understanding its political history.
      Thanks for liking or post.
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  73. A place with both beauty and sadness in it. Isn’t that the case for all too many places? Yet, the cruelty of the Duke of Sutherland and his forced displacement of the locals from their land most have been an unbearable tragedy. How do we human beings become so cynical and heartless? An important post so we don’t forget.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Dear Otto
      thank you very much.
      We had the feeling that the crofters were not only brutally displaced in the 19th c but nowadays their history was stolen as well.
      We agree, usually castle are built on the bones of the working class.
      The question is: Do we learn from history? Hegel wrote what we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history. Very pessimistic …
      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  74. I was imagining Siri and Selma’s dance on the battlements and I could not help the guffaw that issued next. Thanks for the laugh and the sight of that picture-perfect castle! It does seem straight out of a fairy-tale along with the ‘evil ‘ 😀

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  75. When you take up residence with friendly intentions, you build friendships. When you take up residence with inhuman intentions, you build walls to hide behind. Those are some pretty high walls. I guess the architecture speaks for itself.

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    • Dear Thorsaurus
      we absolutely agree. Something similar wrote the German philosopher Ernst Bloch as well. When we read this architecture we see immediately that it is highly influenced by absolutism. It incorporates the idea of a ruler having total power.
      Thanks for your commentary and wishing you a great weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  77. Here in the US we say many of the wealthiest people are “building monuments to themselves”. We don’t have nobility but we do have a widening gap between the richest vs poorest in our country. Some of the “McMansions” (a widely-used pun disparaging the buildings by comparing them to the McDonalds Hamburger chain) are quite beautiful, as is this castle, but are such as waste of money and effort that could be more generously spent on helping others. History has such amazing examples of the abuse of power, and your post shows us the perfect example. Despite the beauty of the building and its surroundings (photographed wonderfully as always Dina!) we find ourselves feeling sad or angry while admiring it. As for the cruise ships, I am with you 1000%. We are currently engaged in a major battle in our local city, Charleston SC, to limit the size of the ships we allow in our harbor. Alas, I fear we will lose and be overrun by the tourists who arrive on floating hotels. Sigh 😩

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    • Good afternoon, dear Tina,
      fortunately there are wealthy folks like Bill Gates spending a lot of money for social projects. In comparison to the continent Britain is still very conservative. Brought up in Germany and Sweden it was absolutely out to show your wealth, but in Britain the wealth is shown and people naively admire it.
      To the cruise ships: There quite some ports on the continent which started to close their harbours for big cruise ship. They argue that the pollution these ships are causing is just unbearable. On this level they have the law behind them to keep cruise ships away.
      Thank you for liking Dina’s photography.
      Wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

    • I love your comment, Tina. You are spot on. Mass tourism is a massive pain. And it’s tearing a big gap between the tourists and the locals and hence the social structure is changing. Mallorca, one of the beautiful Balearic Isles, is trapped, completely choked. 12 million! holiday makers rule and the locals are forced to go away. Yesterday a big demonstration against mass tourism took place in Palma de Mallorca. 800 flights a day is too much for the small island and the big floating hotels pour thousands of daily tourists on top.
      This summer Norway was confronted with tourists like never before and the government has to restrict the amount of cruise ships. “Going North” is considered quite safe and my home country is widely stretched and perfect for exploring with a car or mobile home. If it wasn’t for the floating hotels …When you get to a scenic point on the west coast, you can be sure there are masses of people hurrying to and from the buses and the queues on the narrow roads are frustrating and when you are on the top of the mountain and want to have a look at the Unesco fjords they are covered with a grey mist from the ships cruising in and out. And Iceland is even worse now, totally overrun with tourists. This problem will increase, every year, I also fear we will lose, but one has to be engaged and do something against it. We keep our fingers crossed that Charleston SC will restrict the amount of vessels and protect your sensitive marshes and wildlife. Sigh .

      Liked by 2 people

    • Good morning, dear Dina,
      we absolutely agree and keep our fingers crossed as well and be active that those big cruise ships will be banned everywhere.
      With lots of love and have a wonderful Sunday
      Siri 🙂 Selma 🙂 Klausbernd 🙂 xxxxx

      Like

    • Thank you, my beloved ones 🚶👭

      I had a lovely sunny 🌤 Sunday in Kottenforst forest. 🙂

      Now it’s evening and I’m confronted with the result of the election in Germany.😢 I need a Schnaps to digest the result, eine herbe Enttäuschung! 😉

      Lots of love from The Rhine Valley,
      wishing you a wonderful evening,
      Dina-Hanne xxx

      Liked by 1 person

    • We did build the garden gate in the sun, what was quite a job.
      Well, the German elections: We suppose people are fed up with the old parties. They don’t feel represented by this neo-liberal politics.
      With lots of love xxxxx
      from the sunny sea
      Siri 🙂 Selma 🙂 Masterchen 🙂
      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

      Liked by 2 people

  83. Dear Steve,
    you quote the end of Goethe’s “Faust”. Das ewig Weibliche is in the words of C.G. Jung the female archetype, the anima. But you can find “Übel zieht Übel an” as well in “Faust”. As Faust gets together with Mephisto the mother of Gretchen (das ewig Weibliche) gets killed and Philemon and Baucis as well although Faust doesn’t want this.
    One could say that Faust get saved because of Gretchen’s love. We wrote “Übel zieht Übel an” but we would also say “Liebe zieht Liebe an”.
    “Faust” is a very complex drama of a classic German intellectual as Goethe was one. One basic question of this drama is fault. And here we find a parallel to the Highland Clearances. Because Mephisto (the alter ego of Faust) wants to win land from the sea he has to force the old couple Philemon and Baucis from their home what is killing them (that’s one of sub-stories of “Faust II”).
    You seem to know German literature quite well. We are impressed and our dear Bookfayries love you for this.
    Thanks and wishing you a wonderful week 🙂 🙂
    The Fab Four of Cley

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I first came across the line not at the end of Faust itself but in the choral ending of Liszt’s A Faust Symphony. Here’s what Wikipedia says about that ending:

      When Liszt rethought the piece three years later, he added a ‘chorus mysticus’, tranquil and positive. The male chorus sings the words from Goethe’s Faust:

      Original German

      Alles Vergängliche
      Ist nur ein Gleichnis;
      Das Unzulängliche,
      Hier wird’s Ereignis;
      Das Unbeschreibliche,
      Hier ist es getan;
      Das Ewigweibliche
      Zieht uns hinan.

      English Translation

      Everything transitory
      Is only an allegory;
      What cannot be achieved,
      Here it will come to pass;
      What cannot be described,
      Here it is accomplished;
      The eternal feminine
      Draws us aloft.

      Liked by 1 person

  84. Dear Steve
    oh dear, we had the whole end of the “Faust” – no only the Chorus Mysticus – to learn by hard when I was in grammar school.
    I have never listened to Liszt’s “A Faust Symphonie”, unfortunately.
    Thanks and have an easy week
    Klausbernd 🙂

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    Reply

  85. Was ist schon wirklich offtopic!? Jonas lernt für seine Physio-Prüfung so viel über graue, weiße und schwarze Substanzen, über Zellen und Ionen, über Zu-und Ableitungen…sehr spannend. Am Wochenende sitzen immer bis zu 7 Damen in unserer Küche und er hält Vorträge für sie, die noch nicht ganz durchblicken. Ich stelle dann Getränke, Brezeln und Muffins bereit und freue mich, denn, wenn man etwas erklären will, muss man es ja wirklich verstehen…
    Welche “Plagen” wir noch loswerden dürfen…geistige Irrungen und Wirrungen, bestimmt jede Menge!!!
    Morgen muss Jonas zu den Frühchen und Säuglingen, Patientenprüfung…Daumen drücken, dass er herausfindet, welche Entwicklungsrückstände sie haben…bitte!!! Danke!!!
    Liebe Grüße von Pia

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ei, ei, Käpt´n, alles klar auf der Andrea Doria, man muss also erst mal seine Motivation klären und im Auge behalten, was die anderen wollen…oder ist der Weg das Ziel? Learning by Doing?
      Ich mache gerne das Machbare…nicht so sehr das machtbare Grauenvolle, was ihr hier beschreibt.
      Und dann kann man ja auch immer an seinem eigenen Balken arbeiten…
      Danke für die guten Wünsche!!!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Wie sie es machen, weiß ich nicht, aber gerade kam wieder ein super Soundtrack herein, von Anja, die mit dem Hirschhausen im Wald war: Die Felsen “Schmetterling”, Musik der Ludwigshafener Kinder…wer Rock erträgt…
      ooooooommmmm…….oder aaaaauuuuuuuummmmmm…….

      Liked by 1 person

  86. The imminent clouds above the castle represent the dark side for what was played behind the walls of this castle! I also love to see this clouds above the sea! My compliments to Dina for her beautiful photography and the master and bookfayries to bring the Story alive and kicking 😉 Have a fine evening…
    Best regards, Heidi

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Heidi
      Thank you very much 🙏🙏 for liking our post. Yes, these clouds are so symbolic, but they were really there. Like in a romantic novel the climate acted symbolic.
      We wish you a happy 😊 day.
      All the best 👋🏼👋🏼
      💃🚶👭
      The Fab Four of Cley

      Liked by 1 person

  87. Pingback: Dunrobin und die Landplagen — The World according to Dina – Suman D. Freelancer

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