Friday 31 October 2008

Tron exterior

Stone and drainpipe outside the Tron Kirk on the corner of the High Street and the Bridges. The building hasn't been used as a church for years, but instead served as an tourist information centre until this year when it remained shut. It desperately needs renovation but there's no agreement on a plan and, more importantly, no money.

Apologies for my failure to post over the last few days - will remedy the situation over the weekend.

Tuesday 28 October 2008

Leaves once more

I couldn't help it - one more picture of leaves. It's getting really cold here now, with the first frost even in the city itself and with lots of snow in other parts of Scotland. Could it be winter already?!

Monday 27 October 2008

Blog Awards


On Friday I was suprised but delighted to receive the "Blogging Friends Forever" award from Oslo Daily Photo, and the following day I received the Fabulous Fall award from Selma Daily Photo. It's so nice to realise that people are enjoying your blog as much as you are enjoying theirs! I now have to pass these awards on to five other bloggers.

The "BFF" award is passed on according to the following rules:

1. Only five people are allowed
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world
4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.

So, the award goes to:

1. Willits Daily Photo
2. Ramsay Daily Photo
3. Adelaide Daily Photo
4. A Brush With Art
5. No name necessary

The Fabulous Fall award goes to bloggers who have posted great autumn pictures. These are my picks:

1. Glasgow Daily Photo
2. Vancouver Daily Photo
3. Regina in Pictures
4. Photos from Haninge
5. Seattle One a Day



Sunday 26 October 2008

Night over Newhaven

View of Newhaven village at night as seen from the lighthouse on the other side of the harbour.

Saturday 25 October 2008

Sky over Newhaven

This is the sunset over Newhaven as seen from behind the old Fishmarket building, a few nights ago.

Thursday 23 October 2008

Red or green

This tree can't quite make up its mind. The south-facing side has coloured whereas the north-facing side is still green - can anyone explain to me why this is?

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Chiaroscuro

Under cover of darkness? Or in the spotlight? This is Fleshmarket close, between Cockburn Street and Market Street, famous for housing two great pubs - the Halfway House and Jinglin' Geordie. It's also a convenient shortcut between Old Town and the train station.

Tuesday 21 October 2008

Also Cockburn Street

... and this is the slightly seedier side of Cockburn Street (see yesterday's picture) - with tattoo parlours and alternative fashion shops existing alongside restaurants, cd shops and a very nice wine bar.

Monday 20 October 2008

Cockburn Street

This is the top of Cockburn Street (pronounce Coe-burn or risk getting laughed at), which runs between the Royal Mile and Waverley Bridge.

Sunday 19 October 2008

Stones of Old College

Stones on the north-facing wall of Old College. How's that for an abstract work of art?

Saturday 18 October 2008

Western Harbour developments?

This is a view of Western Harbour, looking towards the new developments at Platinum Point - part of the huge Waterfront regeneration that has been taking place in recent years. Unfortunately, some of the still undeveloped land may now be set to remain like this a while longer, following the recent news that one of the main developers has gone into administration as a result of the economic crisis.

Friday 17 October 2008

More leaves

I couldn't help myself - some more autumn leaves for you! They are probably not the last either, so far the weather has been remarkable still and perfect for colouring the leaves throughout the city.

Thursday 16 October 2008

Proverb

This proverb is embedded in the walls of the Scottish Parliament - a great aspiration!! (and one I'd dearly love to master...)

Wednesday 15 October 2008

Labyrinth

When I am in need of a bit of peace and quiet I sometimes walk the Edinburgh Labyrinth in George Square gardens. It is based on the 13th-century labyrinth in the floor of Chartres cathedral and only has one clear path to the middle and back. Very relaxing!

Tuesday 14 October 2008

Leaves or lungs

Trees are the lungs of the world - anyone else ever noticed the similarity of branches and leaves to veins and tissue?!

Monday 13 October 2008

Burning chimneys

Victorian chimney pots in front of a low autumn sun. When I was walking round taking pictures yesterday it really smelt of autumn; a combination of wet leaves on the ground and wood burning.

Sunday 12 October 2008

Victoria School sunset

This wonderful-looking chimney is part of Victoria School in Newhaven. In recent years the school has suffered from falling school rolls - the result of changing demographics in parts of the city - and for a while it looked like it might have to close. Fortunately there's been a reprieve, though the problem of old, drafty school buildings that are too expensive for their small pupil count is one that remains a sticky (political) issue throughout the city.

Saturday 11 October 2008

Reflections

Ropes and reflections in Newhaven Harbour.

Friday 10 October 2008

Fuchsia in Old Town

A late-flowering fuchsia in a small, damp courtyard in front of some mossy stones, somewhere in Old Town

Wednesday 8 October 2008

Dusk on the Firth of Forth

This is the light you sometimes get over the Firth of Forth (the water to the north of Edinburgh) just before sunset. The slight haziness makes Fife - on the other side of the water - completely invisible. The boat on the left is a pilot I think.

Tuesday 7 October 2008

Calotype?

No this is not a Hill and Adamson calotype - though apart from the bike it could have been one! This is a courtyard off the Canongate, a little haven of peace and quiet.

Monday 6 October 2008

Royal Mile 24 - Tour ends

And with this panorama at the foot of the Royal Mile this tour ends! You can click on the picture for a larger image. On the right you see the entrance to the Scottish Parliament building, and on the left is the Queen's Gallery, part of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The Palace itself is behind these buildings and can't be seen from here. The hill in the middle is part of the Crags/Arthur's Seat in the Queen's Park.

Hope you enjoyed the second part of this tour; you can always look at the entire walk together by clicking on the Tour of Royal Mile label on the right-hand side of the page. And just be thankful that you don't have to walk all the way up the hill again!

Sunday 5 October 2008

Royal Mile 23 - Scottish Parliament

At the bottom of the Royal Mile stands the Scottish Parliament. It was built at great expense but for all that money we did get a truly remarkable building. This carving is a relief of Edinburgh's old town, and the stones on the right are taken from various places in Scotland (there are many more to the right). At some point I'll write a bit more about the Parliament.

Saturday 4 October 2008

Royal Mile 22 - Secret Garden

Along the bottom of the Royal Mile there are some wonderful public gardens tucked away. This one is called Dunbars Close, my favourite one.

Friday 3 October 2008

Royal Mile 21 - Canongate Kirkyard

At the back of Canongate Kirk there is a large atmospheric churchard with great views onto the back of Calton Hill. Famous citizens buried here include the economist Adam Smith, Robert Burns' Clarinda and Mary Queen of Scots' murdered secretary David Rizzio.

Thursday 2 October 2008

Royal Mile 20 - Canongate Tolbooth

We leave Chessel's Court and continue to wander down the Royal Mile. Soon you'll see this incredible building on the other side of the road. The Canongate Tolbooth was built in 1591 and served as toll house, council house, courtroom and prison. The 17th century clock face has since been replaced by this one, dated 1820. The Tolbooth now houses a museum called The People's Story.

Wednesday 1 October 2008

Royal Mile 19 - Chessel's Court


Tenement buildings in Chessel's Court. You can actually see the entrance to the court in yesterday's photo - you pass through the arches on the right-hand side to access it.

I'm going to be away for a few days but the tour should continue!