:: We Dundee

We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

2791

PEOPLE AND GROWING

Bringing someone who had never been before, I got to see things that I had always taken for granted in a new light. The sarcastic humour of the locals, the warm atmosphere of bars and restaurants, the surroundings of the city (which look as though they could have been designed as a stage set, particularly when coming over the bridge when it looks as though all the buildings of the city are facing forwards, eager to be seen) and the abundance of exhibitions and festivals. i was surprised that I hadn’t noticed that Dundee could be so fascinating.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The resilience of the city and the people - we keep geting knocked down and we still show a unity to keep going until we succeed.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> So many wonderful Victorian buildings and 9 times out of 10 the sun is shining

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Having relocated from Edinburgh over four years ago, I was surprised at how positive and ambitious the city was (and is). There is a real sense of excitement being generated. It's about time Dundee got recognised for how much it has to offer.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Every time I come back to Dundee I don't feel at home until I have walked beside the river. It is a simple walk but the view is constantly changing. This magnificent bit of water can comfort, excite and rejuvenate. Whenever I show someone around Dundee I do the same walk down to the river. Time and again visitors comment not only on the view but how surprised they are at how everyone we pass smiles and says hello as we walk along. It is surprising how the common connection with the Tay connects its admirers and how, at other times when there is no one, there can be such quiet open space and wide horizons so close to a busy city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Great quality of life - great little city with great access to countryside, beach, and bigger cities - best of all worlds. And it's the friendliest place I've ever lived. Lovely parks too, can't beat a sunny afternoon on Magdalen Green overlooking the sparkly Tay!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Is a nice and quite place. It has good universities and everything (shops etc) are all nearby.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Dundee Flower and Food Festival is a huge, fun event, attracting thousands of people to the Camperdown Country Park every September. New visitors and exhibitors are always amazed at the scale of what we do!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The city's very rich cafe culture. Dundee has a surprisingly large number of traditional coffees and modern coffee shops.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Fantastic little city, great energy and richness especially in young artistic community, tremendous sense of history diversity and investment in the future

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It is very dynamic and currently the regeneration near the River is inspiring. Dundee deserves this accolade.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Language, vibe, situation

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> what I love are the hidden and timeless little places such as Strawberry Bank. A steep little road with all its fruit, plums, apples, pears waving at you from over their high walls. I also love the feeling of getting to the tap o' the hill with your leg muscles trembling with relief at getting to the top. and finally the last step up the Law and looking back over the fine city of Dundee and beyond.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The observatory on Balgay Hill- its a gem and free to visit!

<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> Its tenacity

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I grew up in Edinburgh, went to uni in Stirling and worked in other Scottish cities before coming to Dundee in 1989. What has kept me here is how real Dundee is ( oh and my husband whom i met in 1990!) I love the size of the city and the critical energy that seems to gather to support good things like the DCA and the enthusiasm to support campaigns like this. I work in Dundee and every day i drive in from Broughty Ferry i feel so excited to see the city taking shape day by day! Dundee has a uniqueness and a confidence that will continue to grow, it feels like the essence if Scotland because its comfortable in its own skin ( as well as the one that's being created !!!)

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The waterfront location an view over the two bridges is stunning and so unique. It has variety of different architectural styles such as old mills and unique cosy geogrian style flats.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Schools orchestra concerts, nycos choir and youth musicals performed to very high standards...

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's so vibrant and focussed on the future, not the past.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Huge variety of surprises we can find

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My daughter was born in Dundee. She was taught sign language at Oranges & Lemons nursery when she was aged 3-4. She and her class mates performed 2 songs with signing when she moved on to school. The fact that she learnt sign language at nursery shows a great attitude to learning, and an outward looking but also inclusive culture. We love Dundee!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has so much creative talent!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is full of secrets - a walk around the town shows so many hidden things we miss when driving around. The Dundee women's trail, for example and the Time Gun at Dudhope Park. Our parks are glorious!

I also believe we are responsible for the culinary innovation of 'The Mince Roll'. We deserve credit for that.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Only in my second year in Dundee, after going to the Fireworks display in Baxter Park, did me and my flatmate go for a wonder and found ourselves at the city quay. We had never known about it and were amazed, it was night time and looked amazing by moonlight. So we walked about and explored the ship near by....it's a lovely part of the city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> So many different things for a variety of ages etc.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The computer games culture in Dundee is excellent; it's easy to meet industry folks for a pint, particularly (Bert) Wednesdays and I enjoy fighting game action with Giant Attack Dundee as well, also in the pub.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The many miles of green space surrounding the city, each park including Camperdown, Lochee, Balgay, Victoria have their own uniqueness and beauty.

<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> It's forty years since I left Dundee after graduating. I still hold very dear memories of the Deep Sea fish restaurant on the Perth Road. Fifteen years after leaving, on a visit to relatives, my wife and I went to the Deep Sea. It wasn't open so we joined the queue - and got chattinng to the folks in the queue, several of whom knew relatives of mine. And the, the staff remembered us in the restaurant. My wife, who hails from Surrey, still thinks Dundee is the friendliest palce we're been to.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> the amount of development and arts..not everyone knows about such great places such as the Mcmanus

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Great little place with a little bit of everything.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's history and how it has constantly been trying to build itself up to be a more positive place

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> That more people don't know and appreciate it.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> How it has improved since I was a student there in '60s

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I loved Dundee's people and their accent. It took getting used to but I soon came to love it and the many words I never knew exsited.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Small city, big influence

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I have travelled to many parts of the world and been lucky enough to have seen some amazing places. However, each time I return home, there is nothing quite like walking with my family and dogs along the 'Grassy Beach' and I think how lucky I am to live where I do.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Waterfront and beach great places!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The hidden gems of architecture scattered around the city along with the green spaces as your drive into Dundee along the river.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> An English friend of mine lived in London and said he drank in his local for four years before the regulars spoke to him. He visited Dundee once, ended up in the Jimmy Shand of all places, and said he was sat at the bar ten minutes before being adopted as a native son. He loves Dundee and thinks the people are as friendly and welcoming as he's come across anywhere.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is truly magical place, blessed with great people speaking in our own Dundonian dialect. The city is so beautifully set that every time I come in from Fife my heart bounces with pride. Architecture...from Frank Henry at Maggies, set against an amazing world class labyrinth created by Arabella Lennox-Boyd and impressive outside art courtesy of Anthony Gormley. All within a stones throw of world class Ninewells Hospital and Medical School! Into town and there's history and thought at every turn. The Caird Hall used for live music and entertainment, and also in a number if movies! Live music - inspired! Snow Patrol with one of the most famous and recognisable songs 'Run'. Anderson McGinty Webster Ward Fisher with they're folksie Volk music.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The view, from riverside you get stunning vistas of the Tay and Fife, from the Law you get stunning views all around. The people are intelligent, engaged and forward thinking.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It is not the same as its reputation dictates! In spite of being a sizable city it has a welcoming, homely and village-ish feel. You don't feel crowded or far from greenery at any point yet all the amenities that city life provides are right at your fingertips!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The city is physically transforming itself at the present. As a centre for so much learning (education, science, medicine, IT.....) it has changed it's face!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee's setting is utterly stunning, its history is fascinating, its people warm, friendly and honest. From art galleries to community theatre, Dundee's cultural scene is growing and blossoming. What a fantastic choice Dundee would be for City of Culture 2017.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> the architecture and the waterfront

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The return of its self-confidence and ambition - its always been there , but it's now being recognized. Go on Dundee!

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