We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

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PEOPLE AND GROWING

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I love Dundee’s resilience: its irreverent bachchat. It has a wonderful sense of who it is and it always has an answer to those who criticise or deride it. The exciting things that are happening to the city , through its regeneration, are a symbol of Dundee’s determination not to lie down! I can’t wait to see what will happen next in my brilliant city!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has a wonderful, supportive creative community, who welcome new makers to the city. It also has some great green spaces, like Magdalen Green, which are used to hold all kinds of community events.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Frida Kahlo visited the Tay Bridge Bar (acc M Marra)... AND EVERYONE IS FRIENDLY!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Botanic Gardens ...one of my most favourite places in Dundee.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I am originally from Switzerland and made Dundee my home 9 years ago. Many friends who have come to visit agree that Dundee is like an insider tip for travellers. Often ignored by the usual tourist trail its hidden treasures stay unseen. We need to put Dundee back on the map! It deserves to be known again, for its sights, its great location and most of all its unique and creative people.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The DCA, one of Dundee's many cultural gems
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My daughter first came to Dundee 5 years ago to study medicine, it was very daunting for us as parents to send our first born to little known to us city in a foreign country. We needn't have worried she fitted in like a duck to water from the very minute she moved there and now it seems she has met the love of her life a local Dundee lad.. She has never felt unsafe in Dundee and on our many visits we have always enjoyed ourselves immensely, one of Dundee's greatest assets is it's close proximity to the sea, there's nothing we like more than taking the bus to Broughty Ferry. It's wonderful to see the amount of work in progress in Dundee and when it's all complete soon it will have undergone an amazing transformation. People of Dundee should be proud of their wonderful city!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is a wonderful place. It is beautiful, the Tay gives the city an amazing backdrop. It embraces freedom of experience. My daughters learnt Highland dance in school but also grew up steeped in Bharatnatyam (Indian dance culture) and this was supported by the Dundee City Council and Creative Scotland. There is much personal space, Dundonians get on with their lives, the city's culture is one of non-interference and mutual respect. My daughters now study in Edinburgh and Riga, I work in Brighton, but we are looking forward to experiencing the magic of Dundee over Christmas and Hogmanay.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> quite simply the people, the friendships and the fantastic weather!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Its marvelous setting
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> set on the Firth of Tay to the south, country side within 5 minutes drive to north and a beach to the east. How diverse scenery can you get? Are we mad? You bet judging by this picture of The Broughty New year Dook.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> This is one of the events that excites me about Dundee, Dundee Blues Bonanza, this free 3 day festival is unique to the city. Blues music is in the blood of Dundonians and this 18 year old event has grown in to a national and internation event. 12,000 people attend what is thought to be the biggest free blues event in Europe and it's a real gem in Dundee's musical heritage.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Blue Sky Photo Club is run by an exceptional and inspirational young photographer, Ross Fraser McLean and operates out of DCA. Around 25 digital camera enthusiasts from semi professional to absolute beginners explore the artistic and technical challenges of the medium on a weekly basis. There are regular exhibitions in Roseangle Cafe Arts ( another hidden gem) in which members share and display their best work.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Broughty Ferry on a sunny day, the views of the Tay are spectacular and it's always nice having a castle!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has the most beautiful setting of any city I know. It is built on hills which allow amazing views of the Tay, sometimes from places you don't expect. The view driving down West Park Road never ceases to take my breath away. This, coupled with amazing green spaces and parks, makes it the perfect place to live...and walk, and run.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> As a teenager Dundee Contemporary Arts was my first experience of seeing a contemporary art exhibition. I still remember first setting foot in the wonderful galleries and how intrigued I was. A few years later I was excepted into art college. I vividly remember nattering on about several of DCA's exhibitions in my interview. A few years later I was lucky enough to work at DCA. From here I discovered an organisation always striving to bring the best of the visual arts to the city while continuing to welcome as diverse an audience as possible. Every year it introduces many more young people to the possibilities of the visual arts through its excellent education, cinema and gallery programmes. DCA is there for you from the beginning. Its brilliant.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Approaching Dundee over the Tay Rail Bridge has to be one of the best ways to arrive into any city in the country. The whole city is laid out before you. Before you reach the station, you'll see beautiful parks, the vibrant university, galleries and museums, modern architecture nestled amongst the old. It's exciting and breathtaking every time.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has created amazing musicians, scholars and passionate people who have shaped the world.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I studied at Duncan of Jordanstone art and design college. The diverse culture and variety in Dundee made it a great place to live in.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Being a Dundonian, it surprises me how people continually tell me that Dundee is so much better than they thought it would be, by what others were saying. Dundee is a city that won't give up on improving itself. Despite the economic situation we are all in, Dundee is adapting and growing.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> for being so small there is loads to see we have done alot with what we have a deserve to win!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love Dundee now. I moved here 30 years ago from England, and was very disappointed with the 4th City of Scotland. Over the last few years I have been really delighted with all the changes; good restaurants, new bands, the Blues Festival, the Rep theatre, the DCA which always has something worth seeing, the parks and walks, the exhibitions and concerts, the wonderful talks every month, the soon to be opening fabulous hotels and the small stores, particularly in the West End, which sell everything I could possibly want. Why would I live anywhere else?
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Nothing can beat looking at the Tay rail bridge on a clear day. What a beautiful city!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The amazing location of the city.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> That we have such a great history of science and research which has taken Dundonians to all ends of the earth.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Theatrical elements of the cultural life in Dundee only exist due to the hard working off stage volunteers (and staff) who spend time on committees, creating costumes, making scenery, dealing with the admin, fundraising, marketing and lots of other tasks. They are often under appreciated.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Overlooking the city is Dundee Law, the plug of a long extinct volcano. The view from the top is spectacular, reaching at least 20 miles east (to the Bell Rock lighthouse) and south (to Fife's Lomond Hills) as well as up the river westward towards Perth. It is the perfect place to see just what a perfect position Dundee is in, on the banks of the silvery Tay.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> the beauty of the Tay the people's pride in their city
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The City itself. It is full of little surprises that you never new about until you accidentally discover them. Old beautiful Buildings you didn't know existed in the middle of the busy high street. Or even some of the people that used to live here. Its strong history gives it a sense of culture I have never seen before.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The hidden work being done to support young people with no hidden agenda except to see the young people develop and reach their potential. The work being done at St Andrews church with the young mother, Hot Chocolate Trust are to name two. Working with these young people are people who believe in the young people of Dundee. The are attempting to play a part in changing the future of Dundee from 'the inside' believing that any sustainable change must be done now to affect the future, and must be done in people not wholly by policies and procedures.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The DCA is amazing, we travel there all the way from Perth regularly to see inspiring films and music we'd never otherwise know about.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Im Proud Dundonian. I Love how GTA was created in Dundee! and look out for the next top selling title to come from our city :)
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> With the whole country in what feels like a downward spiral of negativity, Dundee seems to buck that trend just now and there is a real sense of optimism. The physical transformation of the city undoubtedly contributes to a positive mindset, but in this case the mindset seems to be based on more than just bricks and mortar. Open minds, and a belief that things can be better if you are willing to work to make them better are setting the city up nicely for a great future which does justice to its great history.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee Blues Bonanza and the huge amount of live music available every weekend in the city's pubs.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Amazing ancient archaeology under our feet, just waiting to be discovered: the medieval burial grounds under the Auld Steeple; the mystery of the Bronze Age Balgarthno Stone Circle, and the McManus Galleries with their unique collection of Pictish monuments inspiring us to gaze into the past and wonder who? what? and why?
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The excitement and anticipation I feel when I pass through what will be the new waterfront. It is like a flower waiting to burst into full bloom. I can't wait!!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has an energy all of its own - its hidden gem is it's people. The friendliest, funniest and liveliest that Scotland has to offer. I lived six very happy years by the Tay and still think fondly of sitting out on Magdelene Green in Summer or taking refuge in the DCA for winter warmer or three.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> From the city's dynamic centre, within 15 minutes you are in beautifully peaceful countryside or at the beach with the waves crashing on the shore. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Ease of travel. The DCA, handy city center and a great university city
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The underground music scene. A true variety of musicians, bands ans dj's playing at venues across the city such as Beat Generator, Doghouse, Duke's Corner and the Reading Rooms.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Ive been away 4 years now, near Glasgow and i have to listen to how great Glasgow is and how Dundee is a' wee toon' with nothing in it, mostly from people who think Dundee is in the highlands!! I love nothing better than bringing weegie pals with me when i come home for a visit, i take them through the town, to the Discovery, across the bridge, up the Law at night (that view stuns them) the McManus and Nicolls for a peh! Weegies now in awe of us, job done. I just let 'meh toon' do the talking!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has lots of hidden gems as well as a great and growing music scene.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> From my time studying here, I have found that their are lots of friendly people. Chilling at the law hill with the amazing views. Wondering round an exhibition at DCA/McManus.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I was born in Dundee in the 80s. The city has really changed since then. Dundee has worked so hard on it's cultural side. Every time I go back to visit there is always something new to see or do. Go for it Dundee! You deserve it!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> We love the people. So much energy, so much passion! Some amazing things are going down in Dundee
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The best thing about Dundee that you will never find anywhere else in Europe is our football, the closest grounds in Europe and win, lose or draw, there will always be friendly rivalry (or banter) yes we will wind each other up, but fans can still drink in the same pubs before and after the match, our fans are disciplined, #fact - welcome to Dundee where equality is happy!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I was raised in Dundee but exiled since 1978. A moment of sheer sporting magic should be remembered - the UEFA Cup Final: Dundee United had lost to Swedish opponents but the reaction of the home fans at Tannadice Park was astonishing. A thunderous ovation that went on and on for both sides greeted the final whistle. United fans like me were all disappointed but our team hadn't let us down. It was a spontaneous, heartfelt, memorable gesture that sums up Dundonians' sense of fair play, warmth and generosity. Swedish fans were tearful as they'd never experienced anything like it. I'll never forget that evening.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has something for everyone. For those quiet reflective moments when you can sit &amp; listen to the waves lapping and look at the beautiful view of the Tay, the view changing depending on the weather. There are lots of places to visit like the McManus &amp; DCA, there's retail therapy to be had, a quiet pint in the pub or a night out at a gig. I was brought up in Dundee but haven't lived there for many years. I visit family there regularly and am always struck by the friendliness of the people, and also how the city is always evolving and changing.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The quality of light around our city is amazing. The combination of a huge estuary and big sky means Scotland's sunniest city has a unique quality of light. Not exactly hidden; but perhaps not always noticed and appreciated. It took a spell of 5 years working in Oban Monday to Friday to make me fully appreciate this natural feature of our beautiful city. It lifted my spirit when I drove back into the city every Friday night...
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My image says it all, that's what delights me! Being able to walk along the beach every day with the sun beating down on the city gives Dundee its pulse and people the incredible energy they all seem to have! We get more hours of sunshine than most other UK cities (that's official!) and it shines through.. sorry for bad pun!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A city that feels like a village, and where I can be on a beach in 10 minutes or in the mountains in 45. You can't beat that.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the way Dundee is situated next to the River Tay. It is different everyday. You can see a seal bobbing along or an oil platform being towed out to sea. It also gives great views when you're higher up in Dundee.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Dundee I know and love is supercharged with passion, resilience, energy and enthusiasm. Whatever the endeavour - good, talented people come together from all sectors to get results and make a difference. Working together successfully is in our DNA and unleashes creativity and possibilities by the bucketload. Being UK City of Culture 2017 would be another great focus for the city's ambitious regeneration. Dundee is a city of many wonderful discoveries. - prepare to be surprised, enraptured, inspired and fascinated!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's a city in the country. See deer and squirrels while playing golf at Camperdown, a sparrowhawk in the City Square, seals at Riverside, dolphins in the Tay at the Stannergate, and of course the whale at the MacManus! And - it's a city with a thirst for learning. Public lectures and exhibitions from a variety of providers draw curious and interested crowds eager to have something more than the football to talk about!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> That so many Scots have never been here.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> There"s a willingness to make things happen; people listen, consider and act and it feels as if the door is open. It's a city which aspires and inspires.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I believe you can walk anywhere in the City and not feel intimidated.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Howff surprised me.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> In Novemeber, I was involved in, and attended the launch of Hayley Scanlan's first fashion collection. The event was at the McManus Galleries. To see someone from here moving up and gradually becoming a global name in the world of fashion is great for Dundee. It shows the creative side of our city, which may be (unfairly) overshadowed by other which are more normally associated with the arts and creative industries. I.e. Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland and the usual ones south of the border.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee Rep and the Law Hill
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Dundee University campus holds an incredible vibe about it. I remember first starting university and being completely awed by the atmosphere always surrounding the campus and the community spirit of the university. Whether it's your freshers week, a random night out, or even cramming at the library, the fact that all the uni's institutions are contained in this one campus means the place has a constant buzz about it. I doubt there's many other universities that hold the same exciting atmosphere.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The creative resilience of the people. And how much I still like a peh.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has a fabulous and unique history! Shipbuilding, whaling, the mills, the print works, the. Soft fruit and jams! But those days are gone! What isn't gone is the fighting spirit and the desire to make Dundee great again and that's something we need to embrace and support!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Art bar, Reading Rooms and DCA!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee buzzes with creative energy. For a city of its size, it has a large and very active scene. Best of all, it has imaginative, creative, dynamic people who make it special!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> For one weekend every summer the pubs, clubs and music venues around the city are host to the Dundee Blues Bonanza! There loads of bands playing amazing live music, and they come from all over Scotland (and beyond) to do it! It's great planning what gigs to go to in which venues. One of my favorite things about it is it gets me to go to places other than my usual haunts. There is always a really friendly buzz at Blues Fest gigs and I would strongly recommend any visitors to the area to check it out!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It is a fantastic city with fantastic fowk living in it.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Modern architechture mixes with old, a centre of excellence on so many fronts, new shopping facilities, a vibrant nightlife, a varied spread of cultural entertainment-what more could anyone ask for. Already very popular with university students and a safe environment for all.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The incredible contribution to the history of comics is one of the great stories of Dundee. Sure, everyone knows about DC Thomson's The Dandy and The Beano, but who knows about the Amazing Mr X, Britain's first homegrown superhero created by DCT? The lost comics studios of the 1940s? That Grant Morrison, one of the world's most reknowned comics writers, got his start at DCT? I teach the only postgraduate degree in Comics Studies at the University of Dundee, and want to put Dundee on the map as THE centre of Comics study and research! And we need a comics museum in Dundee!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> From it's unique cultural diversity to the well balanced synthesis between large-city and small community living, Dundee offers a unique balance which caters for everyone. Developed with environmental aesthetics in mind, the myriad of green spaces and waterways combine contemporary urban landscapes with more naturalised ones. The small hidden gems are plentiful with many unique shops, cafes, pubs and entertainment venues, representative of the eclectic nature of the city and it's residents.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> City of youth and ambition
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is no longer only a city of Discovery, it is a city which has re-invented itself. Like many places, the loss of industry was a severe blow. However, it has developed new industry, new strengths and new pride. Cancer research, arts, computer games; it's a reinvention based around research, creativity and ingenuity.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The university and industry events, the community of creative people, the museums, the richness of the city
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The views from so many angles are amazing. Both looking in and looking outwards. The struggles too, of many people such as my Granny who worked in the Jute Mills and the struggles too, of many today who can't find work, but keep striving despite the setbacks. It's not just the views, but the people. Their determinism to help others, even when they have so little, brings out the best. I've seen it often in the most surprising places.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The amount of raw talent this city possesses. Eh Write! writing group at Fintry Community Centre, Voices in Harmony singing group at Whitfield Activity Centre, Art Class at Panmurefield village Church. Ordinary citizens with extraordinary skills and abilities being/needing encouraged. Becoming UK city of Culture 2017 will hopefully draw out and highlight these hidden gems. They are there - they only need to be uncovered !!!!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee people are proud of a city which has seen hard times but is reinventing its self as a modern city which embraces change and new opportunities.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The accent - no one sounds like us - bales of jute in every sentence!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I say the Dundee museum of transport will be a be good for the city hopeful in 2017 Dundee will get city of culture i love my Dundee as a city becuse the past what that city got.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> There's so much singing going on! There are loads of choirs in the city, formal and informal, singing so many different kinds of music - sacred choral, chamber music, Renaissance, Baroque, traditional Scottish, contemporary musicals, Gaelic - whatever you want to sing! Loadsaweeminsinging! (And men).
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Nothing surprises me about this city, having worked all over the uk the best road in this country is the one from Fife! You see the splendour of its setting and as a colleague from London once said at the top of the Law "what the hell you doing living in London?" Dundee has something which maybe only Glasgow has " its got soul" FIFA paid tribute to our city when Dundee United lost the Eufa cup final they found our friendship so great they brought out the fair play award. This epitomises Dundonians , We have SOUL !
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> to see so many of the population of dundee walking upright
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The people, the University and the views. The huge variety of friendly, helpful people though out dundee, from all across the UK and Europe with a huge sense of community. The Internationally acclaimed university, ranking high in league tables from sciences and medicine to the arts at Duncan of Jordanstone. Finally the views over the Tay with the twin rail and road bridges, from Riverside or from the top of the Law hill, breathtaking and constantly changing.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Our young people Diversity in action
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The people never cease to amaze me, like my late father Denis Naulty, who had such a passion for for the city, its history and civic wellbeing.....
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Discovery Film Festival. I get invited every year and I love going to see films from around the world. Last year the film I saw was in French but I thought it was brilliant. Ava (aged 6)
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The art school is wonderful!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Working in Dundee I love the community feel, co-operation and support for all kinds of creative endeavours across the city. It is a warm, friendly place with a great sense of history and we are all ajust bout to rediscover that amazing Tay....oh, and local bears, Comet and Star, at Camperdown have a broch purpose-designed by international artist,Mark Dion who also featured their paw prints in one of his own print editions. Grrrrrrrrrr.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I took part in Dundee's 48 hour film competition in 2012, which was an amazing opportunity to meet new people from different creative industries
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The beautiful Magdalen Green as it pans down on to the banks of the River Tay. A very special place to me as I have had many romantic walks here, a summer BBQ proposal and then my wedding photos in the bandstand. What a peaceful and inspiring space and view!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> a mélange of cultures, young students from all over the world who feel comfortable and welcome in this city. Dundee has a strong history, and you'll find the roots in every little corner of the town.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It has everything we need in terms of culture: we have the DCA with it's exhibitions and workshops and the cinema which brings films not always shown at Cineworld. Both cinema's have regular showings of live opera from the Met, and cineworld had regular showings of big rock bands. Soon we will have the V&amp;A which I'm so looking forward to. In terms of leisure we have a brand new swimming pool opening soon, and Dundee has two major league football clubs and several amatuer clubs. There are many great places to eat like Marco Polo in the centre of town and several Indian and Turkish restaraunt up the Perth Road. There are many places to drop in for coffee and home made food like the wonderful T An Cake (not sure I've spelled that right) There is also a wide variety of shops including tradtional shops like Braithwaites who are sellers of teas and coffees from around the world. Last, but not least, is the setting of the city itself: there are many green spaces with Camperdown Park as the main place to go for a picnic and a stroll, there are the walks along the Riverside, and there are the beautiful beaches at Broughty Ferry....and beyond, the coastal scenery going toward Monifeith and Carnoustie. I came to Dundee 25 years ago to College and much has changed in the city since, except it's friendliness and welcome of the outsider. With the two universities and colleges and the Duncan of Jordanston School of Art, Dundee is a cosmapolitan city, with students from around the world and Indian, Pakistani, Polish and Romanian folk settling in the city and rubbing along together very well. Dundee has many churches; a beautiful mosque and a Sihk Gudwarra. This melting pot gives the city it's richness and expansiveness. I now live across the water in Fife but feel Dundee is my city.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The endless talent and enthusiasm of Dundee's young people never fails to amaze me. As an educator who has been resident in the city for almost 30 years, I am constantly encouraged and often overwhelmed by the talents displayed by our young musicians, dancers, actors and performers through a variety of events ranging from school/local concerts and shows (such as the fantastic DSMT productions and McIntosh Patrick Awards) to representing the city in national events such as the Edinburgh Festival and Rock Challenge - they are a credit to the city!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> That it continues to keep discovering good (and great) things about itself - it continues to grow.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's a vibrant city where something is going on all the time....events vary from concerts, talks, lectures, balls , sports, festivals, nightlife, presentations , art, movies, galleries and exhibitions to parties. Soon the V&amp;A will become the living room of the city so why not support Dundee for the City of culture 2017
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> There is an incredible thirst for knowledge in Dundee as can be seen in the great variety of public meetings and the huge numbers that attend them. Some of the Saturday evening lectures at the university attract 800 people or more.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I left Dundee around 8 years ago and when I returned I barely recognised the place, what a transformation!! It makes me even more proud to be a Dundonian!! Well done and good luck.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is Scotland's sunniest city!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is a perfectly placed city and isn't overcrowded, the small town big city.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Brought Ferry on a summers day is my favourite place in Europe. Lively bars and cafés, a beautiful beach and great views. Culture is something that attracts people. Seeing the ferry in summer certainly does that.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The real characters. The amazing sights. The classic bridges. The underground music scene. The ever growing arts scene. The tastiest steak pies. The shimmering Tay.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love that Dundee is built on a human scale. I can jump on my bike in the north of the town and within 10 minutes I can be sitting drinking a coffee in a coffee shop, wandering round an art exhibition, doing my grocery shopping, walking along a sandy beach or a forest trail, watching a film, dancing the night away or just getting out into the countryside.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Verdant Works is a hidden gem. The volunteers are fantastic and have a welath of knowledge.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is very much in touch with its people, whether the civic development of the city likes it or not. The uprising at the water front area and other less recent developments in the city belie the reality of its people and its heritage. For me, Dundee is about its people, their characters and steely caring nature. Just now most people talking about Dundee and the validity of its cultural heritage don't seem to know the Dundee that Dundonioans know, which is sad. If the rest of the world took some time to challenge their ability to understand people, they would see that Dundee's people, amongst its history and civic setting, are what makes the place so special. Something like Marmite.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Rama Thai restaurant is wonderful as is Parlour Cafe and the city is vegetarian/vegan friendly compared to most, especially of this size.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Great place.....great past, present and future
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The community of young creative people is simply amazing. From hackers to designers to artists, Dundee has them all.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Its the city of discovery
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I moved to Dundee from Nairobi via China and Laos, 5 and a bit years ago. What surprised me about Dundee was how it manages to be a big city with numerous hidden surprises and at the same time a small city with a real sense of community and pride. My favorite surprise in Dundee was when I stumbled across a pop up gallery called the guerrilla gallery at the back of the recycling center. This gave me a glimpse into the world of Artists in Dundee and I was amazed!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is a very peaceful, homogenous and beautiful city. You can go round the town at any time of the day and feel safe. Just love it.

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