Trams in Edinburgh

One of the most - if not the most - contentious issues in Edinburgh at the moment is the Tram Project. After an absence of about 50 years, trams are being reintroduced in the city - but not without a lot of upheaval, roadworks and bitter complaints by what I believe to be a very vocal minority. Personally I think they will be a good thing, and the only possible fast, clean, potentially non-carbon form of transportation across the city. However, in order for it to function as a 'network' we will need more than the one line + loop currently being built. But hey, you have to start somewhere!

So - in order to win the battle of the hearts and minds of the people of Edinburgh, this mock-up tram has been erected on Princes Street. And yes - the new urban myth of people asking when it's leaving (not till 2011!) is absolutely true, because it happened even as I was chatting to the man looking after it!

Circus Place

Driving along Circus Place in New Town this morning, I noticed that despite the colder weather there are still plenty of autumn colours around. Like many of the green spaces in the New Town,

the Royal Circus gardens (either side of this road, see here) are only accessible by those who live around them and who have a key. Remember the scene from Notting Hill in which Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts try to sneak into a private garden? Same thing.

Walking to Work - Pilrig Street

My walk to work takes me along Newhaven Road which turns into Pilrig Street at the crossing with Bonnington Road. I took this picture from the crossing, looking eastward with the Crags and Arthur's Seat looming in the distance.

As you can see, this photograph also demonstrates the well-known fact that buses either don't turn up or turn up two at a time. These ones are returning from town and one of them must have been delayed by rush hour traffic.

Accidental kilt van

A truly Scottish offering for you today. I was trying to take a picture of the gorgeous Ramsay Garden apartments below the castle, when this van turned up and stopped right in front of me on the Mound, as if trying to say - here I am! Pick me! Pick me! So I did.

In Scotland today, kilts - and particularly the full Highland Dress outfits such as shown here - are a perfectly acceptable alternative to a suit or morning suit. They're often worn at weddings and other official events. At ceilidhs (Scottish dances, best thing ever!) kilts are often worn with a more informal, 'Jacobite' shirt - mainly because it'd be way too hot to wear the kind of heavy jacket seen above!

July Theme day: "No..!"

Today's theme is a sign that says 'no'.

To see how the other 171 participating City Daily Photo Bloggers interpreted this month's theme, go here.

Sunset on Royal Yacht

This is the Royal Yacht Britannia by sunset, in front of Ocean Terminal. This ship was used for business and pleasure by the Queen from 1953 until it was decommissioned in 1997. It is now permanently moored in Leith and you can visit it - not cheap but highly recommended!

Majestic Tour

The first week of summer also heralds the beginning of the proper tourist season in Edinburgh. Although the city is a popular city break destination throughout the year, during summer - and particularly during the August Festivals - the place goes truly mad. With the Film Festival now underway, it won't be long before the crowds descend onto the city centre and many of them will go on "hop-on hop-off" bus tours such as this one, which has as its main destination the Royal Yacht Britannia, permanently moored at Ocean Terminal in Leith. However, at 9 in the morning this bus is still rather empty!