A visit beyond The Wall

[glenatron]

Went up to Edinburgh for the weekend to visit life_of_tom and Allie. It was really great to see Tom again and to get to know Allie a little better. Also we got to go around Edinburgh and do touristy stuff.


We climbed Arthur's Seat.


Crazy light through the clouds.


The view across the city.


If anything really speaks of the true spirit of Edinburgh it is this- crazy random tat shops selling tartan nonsense. I thought it would be good if one of them sold tartan tat and tart au tatin.


From by the observatory, the sunset on Sunday. This skyline looks a little bit New Crobuzon to me.


Then it appears to have gone all Italy.


Looking down Princes Street. Or some street. I think it was Princes Street though.


My gracious hosts walk off into the sunset.


Hey, dudes in statues, your horses are misbehaving! Sort it out!


I think this is the Bank Of Scotland. I liked the way the light on the dome carries through onto the trees.

An entirely worthwhile weekend with friends I get too little opportunity to see on account of distance and everyone being busy.

Comments

[harnessphoto.livejournal.com]

The sights there are so different from here. Thanks for sharing :)

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

I suspect that much of Edinburgh was old when the US was just a colony- it's certainly a very ornate city. I think being far enough north to have avoided the bombing that destroyed a lot of urban areas in England may have helped it keep this unique atmosphere. It's a heck of a cool town to visit.

[makoiyi.livejournal.com]

Ah, memories. Stayed there when I was a kid, and chipped quartz from Alfred's seat and got told off for it *G*.

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

I thought it seemed shorter than it should have been.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

Fabulous photos! Loved the misbehaving equine statues... I wonder, has anyone ever sculpted a statue where the horse was rearing and the rider was on the ground?

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

I think they ought to have. Or at least kind of piling out the back door or something.

I mean, I can totally understand it in that statue as the poor horse has clearly just been shanked in the mouth with that big old bit, which seems a bit mean.

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

Awesome sunset photos. Really, really pretty.

Edinburgh is a neat city. So much beautiful architecture.

I have a fun Edinburgh story too. When I was living in Scotland for my study abroad I was also reading this book my brother gave me. I think it was kind of a tongue in cheek gift, but also a way for me to learn some history about Scotland. Anyway, one of the chapters was about the Church of Scotland, which is basically the foundation for the American Presbyterian Church. I grew up Presbyterian, so I thought this was cool and decided when I went to Edinburgh, I would try to find this church. After all, it sounded like a very important church in its day.

So, I get to Edinburgh, see the castle, and then set out on my adventure to find this church. I head down the right street and there are so many churches on the road. I come to one and think, "This must be it! It is so beautiful!" So I go inside and am awed by its beauty but learn it is a Catholic church--like so many others in the city. So I continue on my way. And near the end of the street I come to a fairly plain building with two fairly plain steeples, lots of graffiti, a few broken-out windows, and a great big FOR SALE sign hanging off the front. And of course, it turns out to be the church I was looking for. *hangs head* It was kind of a sadly funny moment, reflecting that this (supposedly) supremely important church, the Church of Scotland no less, had succumbed to the waves of history and Catholicism and gone by the way side. Made for a good story though. :)

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

It certainly has no shortage of churches- life_of_tom who I was staying with grew up in Oxford and felt no great lack of spires when he moved to Edinburgh.

Which I guess you could say was inspiring.

[herecirm.livejournal.com]

I miss Edinburgh. D: Such a beautiful city. Great photos!

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

Loads of stone unicorns everywhere too.

Also at the palace at the end of the Royal Mail is a hilarious royal lion with the cross from the centre of the crown obscuring his nads in an Austin Powers style.